# phpman > info > COMP [COMP(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/COMP/1mh/markdown) [COMP(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/COMP/1mh/markdown) NAME comp - compose an nmh message SYNOPSIS comp [-help] [-version] [+folder] [msg] [-form formfile] [-use | -nouse] [-file file] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-editor editor] [-noedit] [-width columns] [-from address] [-to address] [-cc address] [-fcc +folder] [-sub- ject text] [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-build] DESCRIPTION comp is used to create a new message to be mailed. It copies a message form to the draft being composed and then invokes an editor on the draft (unless -noedit is given, in which case the initial edit is sup- pressed). The default message template "components" will direct comp to construct the message draft as follows: From: {from switch} or or To: {to switch} or blank cc: {cc switch} or blank Fcc: {fcc switch} or +outbox ### Subject: {subject switch} or blank If a file named "components" exists in the user's nmh directory, it will be used instead of this form. You may specify an alternate forms file with the switch -form formfile. You may also start comp using the contents of an existing message as the form. If you supply either a +folder or msg argument, that message will be used as the message form. You may not supply both a -form formfile and a +folder or msg argument. The line of dashes or a blank line must be left between the header and the body of the message for the message to be identified properly when it is sent (see [send(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/send/1/markdown)). The switch -use directs comp to continue editing an already started message. That is, if a comp (or dist, repl, or forw) is terminated without sending the draft, the draft can be edited again via "comp -use". The -file file switch says to use the named file as the message draft. Forms that are selected via the -form switch are processed via the nmh template system; see [mh-format(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-format/5/markdown) for details. Drafts constructed from another message or with the -use or -file switches will not be pro- cessed with [mh-format(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-format/5/markdown). In addition to the standard [mh-format(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-format/5/markdown) escapes, the following compo- nent escapes are either new or have an alternate meaning: Escape Returns Description fcc string Any folders specified with `-fcc folder' from string Any addresses specified with `-from address' to string Any addresses specified with `-to address' cc string Any addresses specified with `-cc address' subject string Any text specified with `-subject text' By default the "To:" and "cc:" fields are empty. You may add addresses to these fields with the -to address and -cc address switches. You may give these switches multiple times to add multiple addresses. By default the "From:" field has either the value of the Local-Mailbox profile entry or a system default email address. This default can be overridden by using the -from address switch. The default mailbox in the "Fcc:" field is +outbox. This can be overridden by the -fcc switch. Any text you give to the -subject switch will be placed in the "Sub- ject:" field in the draft. If the draft already exists, comp will ask you as to the disposition of the draft. A reply of quit will abort comp, leaving the draft intact; replace will replace the existing draft with the appropriate form; list will display the draft; use will use the draft for further composition; and refile +folder will file the draft in the given folder, and give you a new draft with the appropriate form. (The +folder argument to refile is required.) The -draftfolder +folder and -draftmessage msg switches invoke the nmh draft folder facility. This is an advanced (and highly useful) fea- ture. Consult the [mh-draft(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-draft/5/markdown) man page for more information. The -editor editor switch indicates the editor to use for the initial edit. Upon exiting from the editor, comp will invoke the whatnow pro- gram (see [whatnow(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/whatnow/1/markdown) for a discussion of available options). The invo- cation of this program can be inhibited by using the -nowhatnowproc switch. (In fact, it is the whatnow program which starts the initial edit. Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.) The -build switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface to nmh. It implies -nowhatnowproc. It causes a file /draft to be created, containing the draft message that would normally be presented to the user for editing. No mail is actually sent. FILES /etc/nmh/components The default message skeleton. /components The user's message skeleton. $HOME/.mh_profile The user's profile. PROFILE COMPONENTS Path: To determine the user's nmh directory. Draft-Folder: To find the default draft-folder. Editor: To override the default editor. Msg-Protect: To set mode when creating a new message (draft). fileproc: Program to refile the message. whatnowproc: Program to ask the "What now?" questions SEE ALSO [dist(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dist/1/markdown), [forw(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/forw/1/markdown), [repl(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/repl/1/markdown), [send(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/send/1/markdown), [whatnow(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/whatnow/1/markdown), [mh-profile(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-profile/5/markdown) DEFAULTS +folder The current folder. msg The current message. -nodraftfolder -nouse CONTEXT None BUGS If whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp uses a built-in whatnow, it does not actually run the whatnow program. Hence, if you define your own whatnowproc, don't call it whatnow since comp won't run it. nmh-1.7.1 2013-10-18 [COMP(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/COMP/1mh/markdown)