{ "mode": "man", "parameter": "dist", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/dist/1/json", "generated": "2026-09-18T23:55:18Z", "synopsis": "dist [-help] [-version] [+folder] [msg] [-form formfile] [-annotate | -noannotate] [-inplace\n| -noinplace] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-editor edi‐\ntor] [-noedit] [-width columns] [-from address] [-to address] [-cc address] [-fcc\n+folder] [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-atfile] [-noatfile]", "sections": { "NAME": { "content": "dist - distribute an nmh message to additional addresses\n", "subsections": [] }, "SYNOPSIS": { "content": "dist [-help] [-version] [+folder] [msg] [-form formfile] [-annotate | -noannotate] [-inplace\n| -noinplace] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-editor edi‐\ntor] [-noedit] [-width columns] [-from address] [-to address] [-cc address] [-fcc\n+folder] [-whatnowproc program] [-nowhatnowproc] [-atfile] [-noatfile]\n", "subsections": [] }, "DESCRIPTION": { "content": "dist is similar to forw. It prepares the specified message for redistribution to addresses\nthat (presumably) are not on the original address list.\n\nThe default message form contains the following elements:\n\nResent-From: {from switch} or or \nResent-To: {to switch} or blank\nResent-cc: {cc switch} or blank\nResent-fcc: {fcc switch} or blank\n\nIf a file named “distcomps” exists in the user's nmh directory, it will be used instead of\nthis default form. You may specify an alternate forms file with the switch -form formfile.\nForms are processed via the nmh template system; see mh-format(5) for details. Components\nfrom the redistributed message are available as standard component escapes in the forms file.\n\nIn addition to the standard mh-format(5) escapes, the following component escapes are also\nsupported:\n\nEscape Returns Description\nfcc string Any folders specified with `-fcc folder'\nnmh-from string Addresses specified with `-from address'\nnmh-to string Addresses specified with `-to address'\nnmh-cc string Addresses specified with `-cc address'\n\nSee forw(1) for descriptions of the -from, -to, -cc, and -fcc switches.\n\nIf the draft already exists, dist will ask you as to the disposition of the draft. A reply\nof quit will abort dist, leaving the draft intact; replace will replace the existing draft\nwith a blank skeleton; and list will display the draft.\n\nOnly those addresses in “Resent-To:”, “Resent-cc:”, and “Resent-Bcc:” will be sent. Also, a\n“Resent-Fcc: folder” will be honored (see send(1)). Note that with dist, the draft should\ncontain only “Resent-xxx:” fields and no body. The headers and the body of the original mes‐\nsage are copied to the draft when the message is sent. Use care in constructing the headers\nfor the redistribution.\n\nBecause the draft is minimal, the prompter(1) editor is quite useful with dist.\n\nIf the -annotate switch is given, the message being distributed will be annotated with the\nlines:\nResent: date\nResent: addrs\nwhere each address list contains as many lines as required. This annotation will be done\nonly if the message is sent directly from dist. If the message is not sent immediately from\ndist, “comp -use” may be used to re-edit and send the constructed message, but the annota‐\ntions won't take place. Normally annotations are done in place in order to preserve any\nlinks to the message. You may use the -noinplace switch to change this.\n\nSee comp(1) for a description of the -editor and -noedit switches. Note that while in the\neditor, with -atfile and if the current directory is writable, the message being resent is\navailable through a link named “@” (assuming the default whatnowproc). In addition, the ac‐\ntual pathname of the message is stored in the environment variable $editalt, and the pathname\nof the folder containing the message is stored in the environment variable $mhfolder. The\ncreation of the “@” file is controlled via the -atfile and -noatfile options.\n\nThe -draftfolder +folder and -draftmessage msg switches invoke the nmh draft folder facility.\nThis is an advanced (and highly useful) feature. Consult mh-draft(5) for more information.\n\nUpon exiting from the editor, dist will invoke the whatnow program. See whatnow(1) for a\ndiscussion of available options. The invocation of this program can be inhibited by using\nthe -nowhatnowproc switch. (In fact, it is the whatnow program which starts the initial\nedit. Hence, -nowhatnowproc will prevent any edit from occurring.)\n", "subsections": [] }, "FILES": { "content": "/etc/nmh/distcomps The default message skeleton.\n/distcomps The user's message skeleton.\n$HOME/.mhprofile The user's profile.\n/draft The draft file.\n", "subsections": [] }, "PROFILE COMPONENTS": { "content": "Path: To determine the user's nmh directory.\nCurrent-Folder: To find the default current folder.\nDraft-Folder: To specify the default draftfolder.\nEditor: To override the default editor.\nfileproc: Program to refile the message.\nwhatnowproc: Program to ask the “What now?” questions.\n", "subsections": [] }, "SEE ALSO": { "content": "comp(1), forw(1), mh-draft(5), prompter(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1)\n", "subsections": [] }, "DEFAULTS": { "content": "+folder The current folder.\nmsg The current message.", "subsections": [ { "name": "-noannotate", "content": "" }, { "name": "-nodraftfolder", "content": "" }, { "name": "-inplace", "content": "" }, { "name": "-noatfile", "content": "" } ] }, "CONTEXT": { "content": "If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The message distributed will become\nthe current message.\n", "subsections": [] }, "HISTORY": { "content": "dist originally used headers of the form “Distribute-xxx:” instead of “Resent-xxx:”. In or‐\nder to conform with the ARPA Internet standard, RFC 822, the “Resent-xxx:” form is now used.\ndist will recognize “Distribute-xxx:” type headers and automatically convert them to “Re‐\nsent-xxx:”.\n", "subsections": [] }, "BUGS": { "content": "dist does not rigorously check the message being distributed for adherence to the transport\nstandard, but post called by send does. The post program will balk (and rightly so) at\npoorly formatted messages, and dist won't correct things for you.\n\nIf whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp uses a built-in whatnow, it does not actually run the\nwhatnow program. Hence, if you define your own whatnowproc, don't call it whatnow since comp\nwon't run it.\n\nnmh-1.8 2022-12-22 DIST(1mh)", "subsections": [] } }, "summary": "dist - distribute an nmh message to additional addresses", "flags": [], "examples": [], "see_also": [ { "name": "comp", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/comp/1/json" }, { "name": "forw", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/forw/1/json" }, { "name": "mh-draft", "section": "5", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-draft/5/json" }, { "name": "prompter", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/prompter/1/json" }, { "name": "repl", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/repl/1/json" }, { "name": "send", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/send/1/json" }, { "name": "whatnow", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/whatnow/1/json" } ] }