Provided by: nmh_1.6-8build1_amd64 
NAME
mh-format - format file for nmh message system
DESCRIPTION
Several nmh commands utilize either a format string or a format file during their
execution. For example, scan uses a format string which directs it how to generate the
scan listing for each message; repl uses a format file which directs it how to generate
the reply to a message, and so on.
There are a few alternate scan listing formats available in nmh/etc/scan.time,
nmh/etc/scan.size, and nmh/etc/scan.timely. Look in nmh/etc for other scan and repl
format files which may have been written at your site.
It suffices to have your local nmh expert actually write new format commands or modify
existing ones. This manual section explains how to do that. Note: familiarity with the C
printf routine is assumed.
A format string consists of ordinary text, and special multi-character escape sequences
which begin with `%'. When specifying a format string, the usual C backslash characters
are honored: `\b', `\f', `\n', `\r', and `\t'. Continuation lines in format files end
with `\' followed by the newline character. A literal `%' can be inserted into a format
file by using the sequence `%%'.
SYNTAX
Format strings are built around escape sequences. There are three types of escape
sequences: header components, built-in functions, and flow control. Comments may be
inserted in most places where a function argument is not expected. A comment begins with
`%;' and ends with a (non-escaped) newline.
A component escape is specified as `%{component}', and exists for each header found in the
message being processed. For example `%{date}' refers to the “Date:” field of the
appropriate message. All component escapes have a string value. Normally, component
values are compressed by converting any control characters (tab and newline included) to
spaces, then eliding any leading or multiple spaces. However, commands may give different
interpretations to some component escapes; be sure to refer to each command's manual entry
for complete details. Some commands (such as ap and mhl) use a special component
`%{text}' to refer to the text being processed; see their respective man pages for details
and examples.
A function escape is specified as `%(function)'. All functions are built-in, and most
have a string or numeric value. A function escape may have an argument. The argument
follows the function escape: separating whitespace is discarded: `%(function argument)'.
In addition to literal numbers or strings, the argument to a function escape can be
another function, a component, or a control escape. When the argument is a function or a
component, they are listed without a leading `%'. When control escapes are used as
function arguments, they written as normally, with a leading `%';
Control escapes
A control escape is one of: `%<', `%?', `%|', or `%>'. These are combined into the
conditional execution construct:
%< condition format-text
%? condition format-text
...
%| format-text
%>
Extra white space is shown here only for clarity. These constructs may be nested without
ambiguity. They form a general if-elseif-else-endif block where only one of the format-
texts is interpreted. In other words, `%<' is like the "if", `%?' is like the "elseif",
`%|' is like "else", and `%>' is like "endif".
A `%<' or `%?' control escape causes its condition to be evaluated. This condition is a
component or function. For integer valued functions or components, the condition is true
if the function return or component value is non-zero, and false if zero. For string
valued functions or components, the condition is true if the function return or component
value is a non-empty string, and false for an empty string.
The `%?' control escape is optional, and may there may be more than one `%?' control
escape in a conditional block. The `%|' control escape is also optional, but may be
included at most once.
Function escapes
Functions expecting an argument generally require an argument of a particular type. In
addition to the number and string types, these include:
Argument Description Example Syntax
literal A literal number %(func 1234)
or string %(func text string)
comp Any component %(func{in-reply-to})
date A date component %(func{date})
addr An address component %(func{from})
expr Nothing %(func)
or a subexpression %(func(func2))
or control escape %(func %<{reply-to}%|%{from}%>)
The types date and addr have the same syntax as comp, but require that the header
component be a date string, or address string, respectively.
Most arguments not of type expr are required. When escapes are nested (via expr
arguments), evaluation is done from inner-most to outer-most. As noted above, for the
expr argument type, functions and components are written without a leading `%'. Control
escape arguments must use a leading `%', preceded by a space.
For example,
%<(mymbox{from}) To: %{to}%>
writes the value of the header component “From:” to the internal register named str;
then (mymbox) reads str and writes its result to the internal register named num; then the
control escape evaluates num. If num is non-zero, the string “To:” is printed followed
by the value of the header component “To:”.
Evaluation
The evaluation of format strings is performed by a small virtual machine. The machine is
capable of evaluating nested expressions as described above, and in addition has an
integer register num, and a text string register str. When a function escape that accepts
an optional argument is processed, and the argument is not present, the current value of
either num or str is used as the argument: which register is used depends on the function,
as listed below.
Component escapes write the value of their message header in str. Function escapes write
their return value in num for functions returning integer or boolean values, and in str
for functions returning string values. (The boolean type is a subset of integers with
usual values 0=false and 1=true.) Control escapes return a boolean value, setting num to
1 if the last explicit condition evaluated by a `%<' or `%?' control succeeded, and 0
otherwise.
All component escapes, and those function escapes which return an integer or string value,
evaluate to their value as well as setting str or num. Outermost escape expressions in
these forms will print their value, but outermost escapes which return a boolean value do
not result in printed output.
Functions
The function escapes may be roughly grouped into a few categories.
Function Argument Result Description
msg integer message number
cur integer message is current (0 or 1)
unseen integer message is unseen (0 or 1)
size integer size of message
strlen integer length of str
width integer column width of terminal
charleft integer bytes left in output buffer
timenow integer seconds since the UNIX epoch
me string the user's mailbox (username)
myhost string the user's local hostname
myname string the user's name
localmbox string the complete local mailbox
eq literal boolean num == arg
ne literal boolean num != arg
gt literal boolean num > arg
match literal boolean str contains arg
amatch literal boolean str starts with arg
plus literal integer arg plus num
minus literal integer arg minus num
divide literal integer num divided by arg
modulo literal integer num modulo arg
num literal integer Set num to arg.
num integer Set num to zero.
lit literal string Set str to arg.
lit string Clear str.
getenv literal string Set str to environment value of arg
profile literal string Set str to profile component arg
value
nonzero expr boolean num is non-zero
zero expr boolean num is zero
null expr boolean str is empty
nonnull expr boolean str is non-empty
void expr Set str or num
comp comp string Set str to component text
compval comp integer Set num to “atoi(comp)”
decode expr string decode str as RFC 2047 (MIME-encoded)
component
unquote expr string remove RFC 2822 quotes from str
trim expr trim trailing whitespace from str
putstr expr print str
putstrf expr print str in a fixed width
putnum expr print num
putnumf expr print num in a fixed width
putlit expr print str without space compression
zputlit expr print str without space compression;
str must occupy no width on display
bold string set terminal bold mode
underline string set terminal underlined mode
standout string set terminal standout mode
resetterm string reset all terminal attributes
hascolor boolean terminal supports color
fgcolor literal string set terminal foreground color
bgcolor literal string set terminal background color
formataddr expr append arg to str as a
(comma separated) address list
concataddr expr append arg to str as a
(comma separated) address list,
including duplicates,
see Special Handling
putaddr literal print str address list with
arg as optional label;
get line width from num
The (me) function returns the username of the current user. The (myhost) function returns
the localname entry in mts.conf, or the local hostname if localname is not configured.
The (myname) function will return the value of the SIGNATURE environment variable if set,
otherwise will return the passwd GECOS field (truncated at the first comma if it contains
one) for the current user. The (localmbox) function will return the complete form of the
local mailbox, suitable for use in a “From” header. It will return the “Local-Mailbox”
profile entry if it is set; if it is not, it will be equivalent to:
%(myname) <%(me)@%(myhost)>
The following functions require a date component as an argument:
Function Argument Return Description
sec date integer seconds of the minute
min date integer minutes of the hour
hour date integer hours of the day (0-23)
wday date integer day of the week (Sun=0)
day date string day of the week (abbrev.)
weekday date string day of the week
sday date integer day of the week known?
(1=explicit,0=implicit,-1=unknown)
mday date integer day of the month
yday date integer day of the year
mon date integer month of the year
month date string month of the year (abbrev.)
lmonth date string month of the year
year date integer year (may be > 100)
zone date integer timezone in hours
tzone date string timezone string
szone date integer timezone explicit?
(1=explicit,0=implicit,-1=unknown)
date2local date coerce date to local timezone
date2gmt date coerce date to GMT
dst date integer daylight savings in effect? (0 or 1)
clock date integer seconds since the UNIX epoch
rclock date integer seconds prior to current time
tws date string official RFC 822 rendering
pretty date string user-friendly rendering
nodate date integer returns 1 if date is invalid
These functions require an address component as an argument. The return value of
functions noted with `*' is computed from the first address present in the header
component.
Function Argument Return Description
proper addr string official RFC 822 rendering
friendly addr string user-friendly rendering
addr addr string mbox@host or host!mbox rendering*
pers addr string the personal name*
note addr string commentary text*
mbox addr string the local mailbox*
mymbox addr integer List has the user's address? (0 or 1)
host addr string the host domain*
nohost addr integer no host was present (0 or 1)*
type addr integer host type* (0=local,1=network,
-1=uucp,2=unknown)
path addr string any leading host route*
ingrp addr integer address was inside a group (0 or 1)*
gname addr string name of group*
(A clarification on (mymbox{comp}) is in order. This function checks each of the
addresses in the header component “comp” against the user's mailbox name and any
“Alternate-Mailboxes”. It returns true if any address matches, however, it also returns
true if the “comp” header is not present in the message. If needed, the (null) function
can be used to explicitly test for this case.)
Formatting
When a function or component escape is interpreted and the result will be immediately
printed, an optional field width can be specified to print the field in exactly a given
number of characters. For example, a numeric escape like %4(size) will print at most 4
digits of the message size; overflow will be indicated by a `?' in the first position
(like `?234'). A string escape like %4(me) will print the first 4 characters and truncate
at the end. Short fields are padded at the right with the fill character (normally, a
blank). If the field width argument begins with a leading zero, then the fill character
is set to a zero.
The functions (putnumf) and (putstrf) print their result in exactly the number of
characters specified by their leading field width argument. For example,
%06(putnumf(size)) will print the message size in a field six characters wide filled with
leading zeros; %14(putstrf{from}) will print the “From:” header component in fourteen
characters with trailing spaces added as needed. For putstrf, using a negative value for
the field width causes right-justification of the string within the field, with padding on
the left up to the field width. The functions (putnum) and (putstr) are somewhat special:
they print their result in the minimum number of characters required, and ignore any
leading field width argument. The (putlit) function outputs the exact contents of the str
register without any changes such as duplicate space removal or control character
conversion. The (zputlit) function similarly outputs the exact contents of the str
register, but requires that those contents not occupy any output width. It can therefore
be used for outputting terminal escape sequences.
There are a limited number of function escapes to output terminal escape sequences. These
sequences are retrieved from the terminfo(5) database according to the current terminal
setting. The (bold), (underline), and (standout) escapes set bold mode, underline mode,
and standout mode respectively.
(hascolor) can be used to determine if the current terminal supports color. (fgcolor) and
(bgcolor) set the foreground and background colors respectively. Both of these escapes
take one literal argument, the color name, which can be one of: black, red, green, yellow,
blue, magenta, cyan, white. (resetterm) resets all terminal attributes back to their
default setting.
All of these terminal escape should be used in conjunction with (zputlit) (preferred) or
(putlit), as the normal (putstr) function will strip out control characters.
The available output width is kept in an internal register; any output past this width
will be truncated. The one exception to this is (zputlit) functions will still be
executed in case a terminal reset code is being placed at the end of the line.
Special Handling
A few functions have different behavior depending on what command they are being invoked
from.
In repl the (formataddr) function stores all email addresses encountered into an internal
cache and will use this cache to suppress duplicate addresses. If you need to create an
address list that includes previously-seen addresses you may use the (concataddr)
function, which is identical to (formataddr) in all other respects. Note that
(concataddr) will NOT add addresses to the duplicate-suppression cache.
Other Hints and Tips
Sometimes to format function writers it is confusing as to why output is duplicated. The
general rule to remember is simple: If a function or component escape is used where it
starts with a %, then it will generate text in the output file. Otherwise, it will not.
A good example is a simple attempt to generate a To: header based on the From: and Reply-
To: headers:
%(formataddr %<{reply-to}%|%{from})%(putaddr To: )
Unfortuantely if the Reply-to: header is NOT present, the output line that is generated
will be something like:
My From User <from@example.com>To: My From User <from@example.com>
What went wrong? When performing the test for the if clause (%<), the component is not
output because it is considered an argument to the if statement (hence the rule about the
lack of % applies). But the component escape in our else statement (everything after the
`%|') is NOT an argument to anything; the syntax is that it is written with a %, and thus
the value of that component is output. This also has the side effect of setting the str
register, which is later picked up by the (formataddr) function and then output by
(putaddr). This format string has another bug as well; there should always be a valid
width value in the num register when (putaddr) is called, otherwise bad formatting can
take place.
The solution is to use the (void) function; this will prevent the function or component
from outputting any text. With this in place (and using (width) to set the num register
for the width, a better implementation would look like:
%(formataddr %<{reply-to}%|%(void{from})%(void(width))%(putaddr To: )
It should be noted here that the side-effects of functions and component escapes still are
in force: as a result each component test in the if-elseif-else-endif clause sets the str
register.
As an additional note, the (formataddr) and (concataddr) functions have special behavior
when it comes to the str register. The starting point of the register is saved and is
used to build up entries in the address list.
You will find the fmttest utility invaluable when debugging problems with format strings.
Examples
With all this in mind, here's the default format string for scan. It's been divided into
several pieces for readability. The first part is:
%4(msg)%<(cur)+%| %>%<{replied}-%?{encrypted}E%| %>
which says that the message number should be printed in four digits. If the message is
the current message then a `+' else a space should be printed; if a “Replied:” field is
present then a `-' else if an “Encrypted:” field is present then an `E' otherwise a space
should be printed. Next:
%02(mon{date})/%02(mday{date})
the month and date are printed in two digits (zero filled) separated by a slash. Next,
%<{date} %|*%>
If a “Date:” field was present, then a space is printed, otherwise a `*'. Next,
%<(mymbox{from})%<{to}To:%14(decode(friendly{to}))%>%>
if the message is from me, and there is a “To:” header, print “To:” followed by a “user-
friendly” rendering of the first address in the “To:” field; any MIME-encoded characters
are decoded into the actual characters. Continuing,
%<(zero)%17(decode(friendly{from}))%>
if either of the above two tests failed, then the “From:” address is printed in a mime-
decoded, “user-friendly” format. And finally,
%(decode{subject})%<{body}<<%{body}>>%>
the mime-decoded subject and initial body (if any) are printed.
For a more complicated example, next consider a possible replcomps format file.
%(lit)%(formataddr %<{reply-to}
This clears str and formats the “Reply-To:” header if present. If not present, the else-
if clause is executed.
%?{from}%?{sender}%?{return-path}%>)\
This formats the “From:”, “Sender:” and “Return-Path:” headers, stopping as soon as one of
them is present. Next:
%<(nonnull)%(void(width))%(putaddr To: )\n%>\
If the formataddr result is non-null, it is printed as an address (with line folding if
needed) in a field width wide with a leading label of “To:”.
%(lit)%(formataddr{to})%(formataddr{cc})%(formataddr(me))\
str is cleared, and the “To:” and “Cc:” headers, along with the user's address (depending
on what was specified with the “-cc” switch to repl) are formatted.
%<(nonnull)%(void(width))%(putaddr cc: )\n%>\
If the result is non-null, it is printed as above with a leading label of “cc:”.
%<{fcc}Fcc: %{fcc}\n%>\
If a -fcc folder switch was given to repl (see repl(1) for more details about %{fcc}), an
“Fcc:” header is output.
%<{subject}Subject: Re: %{subject}\n%>\
If a subject component was present, a suitable reply subject is output.
%<{message-id}In-Reply-To: %{message-id}\n%>\
%<{message-id}References: %<{references} %{references}%>\
%{message-id}\n%>
--------
If a message-id component was present, an “In-Reply-To:” header is output including the
message-id, followed by a “References:” header with references, if present, and the
message-id. As with all plain-text, the row of dashes are output as-is.
This last part is a good example for a little more elaboration. Here's that part again in
pseudo-code:
if (comp_exists(message-id)) then
print (“In-reply-to: ”)
print (message-id.value)
print (“\n”)
endif
if (comp_exists(message-id)) then
print (“References: ”)
if (comp_exists(references)) then
print(references.value);
endif
print (message-id.value)
print (“\n”)
endif
One more example: Currently, nmh supports very large message numbers, and it is not
uncommon for a folder to have far more than 10000 messages. Nontheless (as noted above)
the various scan format strings are inherited from older MH versions, and are generally
hard-coded to 4 digits of message number before formatting problems start to occur. The
nmh format strings can be modified to behave more sensibly with larger message numbers:
%(void(msg))%<(gt 9999)%(msg)%|%4(msg)%>
The current message number is placed in num. (Note that (msg) is an int function, not a
component.) The (gt) conditional is used to test whether the message number has 5 or more
digits. If so, it is printed at full width, otherwise at 4 digits.
SEE ALSO
scan(1), repl(1), fmttest(1),
CONTEXT
None