comp(1)comp(1)NAMEcomp - compose a message (only available within the message handling
system, mh)
SYNOPSIScomp [msg] [+folder] [options]
OPTIONS
Specifies the folder in which the draft message is created. If you do
not send the draft, it is stored in this folder.
This option is usually set up in your See mh_profile(4) for more
information. If you have this option set up, you can override it
by using the -nodraftfolder option. Specifies the name of a
file in which a draft message is created. If no absolute path‐
name is given, this file is assumed to be in your Mail direc‐
tory. If the file already exists, the mail system will ask you
what you want to do with its contents before the draft message
is created.
If the named file does not contain a message header, the
-draftmessage option does not create one. If you want to create
a message in an empty file, use the -file option. You cannot use
-draftmessage to specify a file name with the -draftfolder
option. Specifies the editor used to create the draft message.
The default editor is prompter; see prompter(1). You can specify
any approved editor as an alternative.
If you regularly use the same editor, you can specify it in the
Editor: line of your entry sets up vi as the editor you use to
compose mail messages:
Editor: /usr/ucb/vi Uses the named file to create the draft mes‐
sage in. If no absolute pathname is given, the file is assumed
to be in your Mail directory. If the file already exists, the
mail system will ask you what you want to do with its contents
before the draft is created.
Unlike the -draftmessage option, this option creates a message
header for a new draft. This means that you can create a draft
in an empty file and send it successfully. Specifies an alter‐
native mail header for your draft. The named form-file contains
a message header, which comp uses when it creates the draft mes‐
sage. If no absolute pathname is given, it is assumed that the
file is in your Mail directory.
If you do not specify the -form option, comp takes the message
header from the components file in your Mail directory, or, if
this does not exist, it uses the system default header.
You cannot use the -form option with either a +folder or a msgs
argument. Prints a list of the valid options for this command.
Creates a draft without invoking an editor. You are placed imme‐
diately at the What now? prompt, without being given the oppor‐
tunity to edit the draft at all. This option is only useful if
you are sending an existing draft using the -use option to comp.
Otherwise it will produce a draft with no addresses and no con‐
tent. Uses an existing draft as the new draft message. If you
have saved a previous unsent draft in a drafts folder or in the
draft file, you can edit and send it using the -use option. The
previous draft is displayed on your screen and the editor is
invoked to allow you to edit the draft. When you exit from the
editor, you receive the What now? prompt in the usual way.
If you have a draft folder set up, or specify one with the
-draftfolder option, the mail system will use the current draft
in that folder as the new draft message. If you do not have a
draft folder, it will use the contents of the draft file. If you
do not want to use the current message in a folder, you can sup‐
ply a message number. You can also use a message in a file by
giving the file name using the -file or the -draftmessage
options.
If you want to send an existing draft without editing it fur‐
ther, you can supply the -use option in conjunction with the
-noedit option. This will place you at the What now? prompt
without invoking an editor. Specifies an alternative whatnow
program. Normally, comp invokes the default whatnow program.
See whatnow(1) for a discussion of available options. You can
specify your own alternative to the default program using the
-whatnowproc program option. If you do specify your own program,
you should not call it whatnow.
You can suppress the whatnow program entirely by using the
-nowhatnowproc option. However, as the program normally starts
the initial edit, the -nowhatnowproc option will prevent you
from editing the message.
The defaults for comp are:
+foldername defaults to the current folder
msg defaults to the current message
-nodraftfolder
-nouse
DESCRIPTION
Use comp to create a new message for mailing. When you run comp, it
provides a message template for you to fill in and invokes an editor so
that you can complete the message.
The comp command normally creates the new message in your draft folder,
if you have one set up, or in the draft file if you do not have a draft
folder set up. If you wish to use an existing message as the basis of
your new draft message, you can use the msg or +folder arguments. The
+folder argument takes the current message in the named folder as the
basis of the new draft message. The msg argument takes the named mes‐
sage from your draft folder, or if you do not have a draft folder set
up, from your current folder. In both cases, the mail system asks you
what you want to do with the existing message. You cannot use the msg
and +folder arguments together.
A mail message consists of a mail header and the body of the message.
The mail header contains all the information that determines who is
going to receive the mail message. It can also give the recipients some
information about the sender. The body of the message is the actual
text of the message that you want to send. The header is separated from
the body of the text by a blank line or by a line of dashes. The header
must be separated from the body of the message in this way for the mes‐
sage to be identified properly when it is sent; see send(1).
The standard message header looks like this: To: cc: Subject: --------
You can specify an alternative mail header by setting up a file called
components in your Mail directory. This is used instead of the default
mail header by comp.
If you do not have a draft folder set up, comp creates your new draft
in a file called draft in your Mail directory. This file must be empty
before you can create a new draft, which means that you can only store
one draft at a time. If it is not empty, the mail system will ask you
what you want to do with the existing contents. The options are: Aborts
comp, leaving the draft intact. Replaces the existing draft with the
appropriate message form. Allows you to edit the existing draft. Dis‐
plays the draft message. Refiles the existing draft message in the
specified folder, and provides a new message form for you to complete.
If you want to have more than one draft at a time, you can set up a
draft folder in your keep as many unsent drafts as space allows, and
still create new messages as you wish. To do this, make sure that the
following line is in your
Draft-folder: +drafts
For more information on how to do this, see mh_profile(4).
If you set up a draft folder, all draft messages are created in that
folder. If you decide not to send the draft, by typing quit at the What
now? prompt, the message is stored in the draft folder. You can then
re-edit the message, or send it at a later date, by using the -use
option to comp.
PROFILE COMPONENTS
Path: To determine your Mail 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
FILES
The default system template for draft messages. The user-supplied
alternative to the default draft template. Your user profile. The
draft file.
SEE ALSOdist(1), forw(1), prompter(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1), mh_pro‐
file(4)comp(1)