dist(1mh)dist(1mh)Namedist - redistribute a message to additional addresses
Syntaxdist [ msg ] [ +folder ] [ options ]
Description
Use to redistribute a message to addresses that are not on the original
address list.
You can specify the message which you want to redistribute by giving a
message number as the msg argument. If you do not supply a message
number, takes the current message. You can only redistribute one mes‐
sage at a time. You can also specify a message in another folder by
giving the +folder argument. This argument can be used in conjunction
with the msg argument.
The program is similar to The main difference between the two commands
is that encapsulates the message, whereas merely resends it. You can‐
not add any new text of your own to a message that you re-distribute
using A message that has been forwarded will appear to have been sent
by the person who forwarded the message. A message that has been
redistributed using will appear to have come from the sender of the
original message. This is shown in the scan listing of the messages.
In the following example, messages 1 and 2 are identical apart from the
method used to send the message on to additional recipients:
1 20/06 goodman ULTRIX <<As you will see from th
2+ 21/06 John As previous, but forwarded <<---
When you use you will get a message form to fill in with the details of
the additional recipients. The default message form contains the fol‐
lowing elements:
Resent-To:
Resent-cc:
If the file named exists in your Mail directory, standardly it is used
instead of the standard mail header. If the option -form formfile is
given, it overrides both of these.
You can only put recognized header lines in your message form. The
program recognizes values in the following fields:
Resent-To:
Resent-cc:
Resent-Bcc:
Resent-Fcc:
Resent-Xmts:
The headers and the body of the original message are copied to the
draft when the message is sent. You cannot add any new body text of
your own when redistributing a message with
If you do not have a draft folder set up, creates the message form in a
file called 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 asks you what you want
to do with the existing contents. The options are:
quit Aborts leaving the draft intact.
replace Replaces the existing draft with the appropriate message
form.
list Displays the draft message.
refile Refiles the existing draft message in the specified folder,
and provides a new message form for you to complete.
If you want to be able to have more than one draft at a time, you can
set up a draft folder in your This allows you to 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
You cannot store unsent messages created using in your draft folder.
If you attempt to do so, only the message form is stored. This does
not contain the original message that you are redistributing, so you
will not be able to send it later.
If you use to reply to a message resent to you by the reply will go to
the sender of the original message, rather than the person who for‐
warded it to you. The command ignores the Resent-xxx: fields when cre‐
ating the header for your draft reply.
Options-annotate
-noannotate
Annotates the message that you are redistributing. The fol‐
lowing lines are added to the message that you are redis‐
tributing:
Resent: date
Resent: addrs
The first line records the time at which the message was
redistributed; the second records the addresses of the recip‐
ients of the redistributed message.
The command only annotates messages when they are success‐
fully sent. If you do not send the message immediately and
file the unsent draft, it will not be annotated.
-draftfolder +folder
-nodraftfolder
Specifies the folder in which the draft message is created.
If you do not send the draft, the mail system will store it
in this folder.
This option is usually set up in your See for more informa‐
tion. If you have this option set up, you can override it by
using the -nodraftfolder option.
-draftmessage file-name
Specifies the file in which the draft message is created. If
no absolute pathname is given, the file is assumed to be in
your Mail directory, standardly If you do not send the mes‐
sage, it is stored in the named file until you delete it, or
send it at a later date.
-editor editorname
Specifies the editor that you want to use to edit your for‐
warded message.
You can also set up an editor in your file; see for more
information.
-form formfile
Specifies the message header to be used in the draft message.
If this option is present, takes the header of the draft mes‐
sage from the named file. If this option is not present, the
header is taken from the file in your Mail directory, or
failing that, from the mail system default header.
-inplace
-noinplace
Causes annotation to be done in place, to preserve links to
the annotated message. This option only works with the
-annotate option.
-help Prints a list of the valid options for this command.
-noedit Suppresses editing of the draft message altogether.
-whatnowproc program
-nowhatnowproc
Specifies an alternative program. Normally, invokes the
default program. See 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
You can suppress the program entirely by using the -nowhat‐
nowproc option. However, as the program normally starts the
initial edit, the -nowhatnowproc option will prevent you from
editing the message.
The defaults for are:
+folder defaults to the current folder
msg defaults to cur
-noannotate
-nodraftfolder
-noinplace
Profile Components
Path: To determine your Mail directory (<mh-dir>)
Draft-Folder: To find the default draft folder
Editor: To override the default editor
fileproc: Program to refile the message
whatnowproc: Program to ask the What now? questions
Files
The default system template for re-distributed messages.
The user-supplied alternative to the default system template.
The user profile.
The draft file.
See Alsocomp(1mh), forw(1mh), repl(1mh), send(1mh), whatnow(1mh)dist(1mh)
