NAME

dist − redistribute a message to additional addresses

SYNOPSIS

dist [ +folder ] [ msg ] [ −form formfile ] [ −editor editor ] [ −annotate ] [ −noannotate ] [ −inplace ] [ −noinplace ] [ −help ]

DESCRIPTION

Dist is similar to forw.  It prepares the specified message for redistribution to addresses that (presumably) are not on the original address list.  The file “distcomps” in the user’s MH directory, or a standard form, or the file specified by ‘−form formfile’ will be used as the blank components file to be prepended to the message being distributed.  The standard form has the components “Distribute-to:” and “Distribute-cc:”.  When the message is sent, “Distribution-Date: date”, “Distribution-From: name”, and “Distribution-Id: id” (if ‘−msgid’ is specified to send;) will be prepended to the outgoing message.  Only those addresses in “Distribute-To”, “Distribute-cc”, and “Distribute-Bcc” will be sent.  Also, a “Distribute-Fcc: folder” will be honored (see send;). 

Send recognizes a message as a redistribution message by the existence of the field “Distribute-To:”, so don’t try to redistribute a message with only a “Distribute-cc:”. 

If the ‘−annotate’ switch is given, each message being distributed will be annotated with the lines:

      Distributed: date
     Distributed: Distribute-to: names
 

where each “to” list contains as many lines as required.  This annotation will be done only if the message is sent directly from dist.  If the message is not sent immediately from dist (i.e., if it is sent later via send;), “comp −use” may be used to re-edit and send the constructed message, but the annotations won’t take place.  The ’−inplace’ switch causes annotation to be done in place in order to preserve links to the annotated message. 

See comp for a description of the ‘−editor’ switch and for options upon exiting from the editor. 

If a +folder is specified, it will become the current folder, and the current message will be set to the message being redistributed. 

FILES

/etc/mh/componentsThe message skeleton
or <mh-dir>/componentsRather than the standard skeleton
$HOME/mh_profileThe user profile
<mh-dir>/draftThe default message file
/usr/bin/sendTo send the composed message

PROFILE COMPONENTS

Path:To determine the user’s MH directory
Editor:To override the use of /bin/ned as the default editor
<lasteditor>−next:editor to be used after exit from <lasteditor>

DEFAULTS

‘+folder’ defaults to the current folder
‘msg’ defaults to cur
‘−editor’ defaults to /bin/ned
‘−noannotate’
‘−noinplace’

4th Berkeley Distribution  —  3 August 1983