{ "mode": "man", "parameter": "whatnow", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/whatnow/1/json", "generated": "2026-09-17T19:44:17Z", "synopsis": "whatnow [-help] [-version] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-edi‐\ntor editor] [-noedit] [-prompt string] [file]", "sections": { "NAME": { "content": "whatnow - prompting front-end for writing nmh messages\n", "subsections": [] }, "SYNOPSIS": { "content": "whatnow [-help] [-version] [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder] [-edi‐\ntor editor] [-noedit] [-prompt string] [file]\n", "subsections": [] }, "DESCRIPTION": { "content": "whatnow is the default program that queries the user about the disposition of a composed\ndraft. It is normally automatically invoked by one of the nmh commands comp, dist, forw, or\nrepl after the initial edit.\n\nWhen started, the editor is started on the draft (unless -noedit is given, in which case the\ninitial edit is suppressed). Then, whatnow repetitively prompts the user with “What now?”\nand awaits a response. The valid responses are:\n\nedit Re-edit using the same editor that was used on the preceding round unless a pro‐\nfile entry “-next: ” names an alternate editor.\n\nedit editor\nInvoke editor for further editing.\n\nrefile +folder\nRefile the draft into folder .\n\nmime Process the draft as a MIME composition file using the buildmimeproc command\nwhich defaults to mhbuild(1).\n\ndisplay\nList the message being replied to or distributed on the terminal.\n\nlist List the draft on the terminal.\n\nsend Send the message.\n\nsend -watch\nSend the message and monitor the delivery process.\n\npush Send the message in the background.\n\nwhom List the addresses to whom the message will go.\n\nwhom -check\nList the addresses and verify that they are acceptable to the transport service.\n\nquit Preserve the draft and exit.\n\nquit -delete\nDelete the draft and exit.\n\ndelete Delete the draft and exit.\n\ncd directory\nUse directory when interpreting attachment file names. This does not change\nwhatnow's process's current working directory so it and child processes, e.g.\nedit's, do not see the change.\n\npwd Print the working directory for attachment files.\n\nls [ls-options]\nList files in the attachment working directory using ls(1).\n\nattach [-v] files\nAdd the named files to the message as MIME attachments; -v displays the mh‐\nbuild(1) directive that send(1) will use.\n\nalist [-ln]\nList the MIME attachments' filenames. -l gives a long listing showing their full\npath. -n numbers them for use with detach .\n\ndetach [-n] files-or-numbers\nRemove MIME attachments, either by file name or by number with -n.\n\nWhen entering your response, you need only type enough characters to uniquely identify the\nresponse.\n\nFor the edit response, any valid switch to the editor is valid.\n\nFor the send and push responses, any valid switch to send(1) is valid (as push merely invokes\nsend with the -push option).\n\nFor the whom response, any valid switch to whom(1) is valid.\n\nFor the refile response, any valid switch to the fileproc is valid.\n\nFor the display and list responses, any valid argument to the lproc is valid. If any non-\nswitch arguments are present, then the pathname of the draft will be excluded from the argu‐\nment list given to the lproc (this is useful for listing another nmh message).\n\nSee mh-profile(5) for further information about how editors are used by nmh. It also dis‐\ncusses how environment variables can be used to direct whatnow's actions in complex ways.\n\nThe -prompt string switch sets the prompting string for whatnow.\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\nIf your nmh was configured with readline enabled, you'll be able to use filename completion\nand other readline features at the prompt. These are particularly useful with the cd, ls,\nattach, and detach commands for managing MIME attachments.\n", "subsections": [] }, "FILES": { "content": "$HOME/.mhprofile The user profile\n/draft The draft file\n", "subsections": [] }, "PROFILE COMPONENTS": { "content": "Path: To determine the user's nmh directory\nDraft-Folder: To specify the default draftfolder\nEditor: To override the default editor\n-next: To name an editor to be used after exit\nfrom \nbuildmimeproc: Program to translate MIME composition files\nfileproc: Program to refile the message\nlproc: Program to list the contents of a message\nsendproc: Program to use to send the message\nwhomproc: Program to determine who a message would go to\n", "subsections": [] }, "SEE ALSO": { "content": "mh-draft(5), send(1), whom(1)\n", "subsections": [] }, "DEFAULTS": { "content": "`-prompt' defaults to “What Now? ”\n", "subsections": [] }, "BUGS": { "content": "If the initial edit fails, whatnow deletes your draft (by renaming it with a site-dependent\nprefix (usually a comma); failure of a later edit preserves the draft.\n\nIf the buildmimeproc fails (returns a nonzero status), whatnow simply prints a “What now?”\nprompt. whatnow depends on the buildmimeproc to tell the user that something went wrong.\n\nIf whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp, dist, forw, and repl use a built-in whatnow, and do not\nactually run the whatnow program. Hence, if you define your own whatnowproc, don't call it\nwhatnow since it won't be run.\n\nIf sendproc is send, then whatnow uses a built-in send, it does not actually run the send\nprogram. Hence, if you define your own sendproc, don't call it send since whatnow won't run\nit.\n\nnmh-1.8 2022-12-22 WHATNOW(1mh)", "subsections": [] } }, "summary": "whatnow - prompting front-end for writing nmh messages", "flags": [], "examples": [], "see_also": [ { "name": "mh-draft", "section": "5", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mh-draft/5/json" }, { "name": "send", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/send/1/json" }, { "name": "whom", "section": "1", "url": "https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/whom/1/json" } ] }