NAME

       comp - compose a message

SYNOPSIS

       comp [+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] [-version] [-help]

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 suppressed).

       The default message template “components” will direct comp to construct the message  draft
       as follows:

            From: {from switch} or <Local-Mailbox> or <username@hostname>
            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)).

       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) for details.  Drafts constructed from another message or with the -use or
       -file switchs will NOT be processed with mh-format(5).

       In addition to the standard mh-format(5) 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 switch.

       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 the  mh-draft(5)  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 program.  See whatnow(1) for a discussion of
       available  options.   The  invocation  of  this  program  can  be  inhibited  by using the
       -nowhatnowproc switch.  (In truth of 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 <mh-dir>/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 standard message skeleton.
       <mh-dir>/components An alternative to the standard 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), forw(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1), mh-profile(5)

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.