# man > COMP(1mh) - Compare files interactively:: `comp` - Compare two specified files:: `comp path\to\file1 path\to\file2` - Compare two sets of files:: `comp path\to\directory1\* path\to\directory2\*` - Display differences in decimal format:: `comp {{path}} path\to\file1 path\to\file2` - Display differences in ASCII format:: `comp {{path}} path\to\file1 path\to\file2` - Display line numbers for differences:: `comp {{path}} path\to\file1 path\to\file2` - Compare files case-insensitively:: `comp {{path}} path\to\file1 path\to\file2` - Compare only the first 5 lines of each file:: `comp {{path}}=5 path\to\file1 path\to\file2` *Source: cheat.sh* --- [_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_] [**-subject** _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 be‐ ing composed and then invokes an editor on the draft (unless **-noedit **is given, in which case the initial edit is suppressed). 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 iden‐ tified 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 processed 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 _component_ 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 Any text you give to the **-subject **switch will be placed in the “Subject:” 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) feature. Consult [_mh-draft_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-draft/5/markdown) 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 **program (see [_whatnow_(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/whatnow/1/markdown) for a discussion of available options). The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using the **-nowhatnow‐** **proc **switch. (In fact, it is the _whatnow_ program which starts the initial edit. Hence, ### -nowhatnowproc The **-build **switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface to **nmh**. It implies ### -nowhatnowproc 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 specify the default draftfolder. 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-draft_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-draft/5/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-1.8 2022-12-22 [_COMP_(1mh)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/COMP/1mh/markdown)