FORW(1mh)

NAME
forw - forward messages

SYNOPSIS

forw [+folder] [msgs] [-annotate | -noannotate] [-form formfile] [-editor editor] [-whatnowproc program] [-build] [-Version] [-help]

forw [+folder] [msgs] [-digest list] [-issue number] [-volume number] [other switches for forw] [-Version] [-help]

DESCRIPTION
Forw may be used to prepare a message containing other messages.

It constructs the new message from a forms (components) file, with a body composed of the message(s) to be forwarded. An editor is invoked as in comp, and after editing is complete, the user is prompted before the message is sent.

The default message form contains the following elements:

    To:
    Cc:
    Fcc: +sent
    Subject:
    --------

If a file named `forwcomps' exists in the user's mmh directory, it will be used instead of this default form. You may also specify an alternate forms file with the switch -form formfile.

If the -annotate switch is given, each message being forwarded will be annotated with the line:

    Forwarded: date

This annotation will be done only if the message is sent directly from forw. If the message is not sent immediately from forw, `comp -use' may be used to re-edit and send the constructed message, but the annotations won't take place. Annotations are always done inplace in order to preserve any links to the message.

See comp(1) for a description of the -editor switch.

Forw generates an attachment header field for the messages to be forwarded. Send will care to encapsulate them using MIME rules.

To send non-MIME forwarded messages, compose a new message (e.g. with comp ) and read in the output of:

    mhl -forwall -form mhl.forward `mhpath MSGS... `

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 -build switch is intended to be used by the Emacs mh-e interface to nmh. It causes a file `draft' in the mail storage root to be created, containing the draft message that would normally be presented to the user for editing. No whatnow program is invoked. No mail is actually sent.

The -digest list, -issue number, and -volume number switches implement a digest facility for mmh. Specifying these switches enables and/or overloads the following escapes:

    Type	Escape	Returns	Description
    component	digest	string	Argument to `-digest'
    function	cur	integer	Argument to `-volume'
    function	msg	integer	Argument to `-issue'

Consult the Advanced Features section of the nmh User's Manual for more information on making digests.

FILES
^/etc/mmh/forwcomps~^The standard message skeleton
^or $HOME/.mmh/forwcomps~^Rather than the standard skeleton
^/etc/mmh/digestcomps~^The message skeleton if `-digest' is given
^or $HOME/.mmh/digestcomps~^Rather than the standard skeleton
^$HOME/.mmh/profile~^The user profile
^+drafts~^The draft folder

PROFILE COMPONENTS
^Path:~^To determine the user's mail storage
^Current-Folder:~^To find the default current folder
^Draft-Folder:~^To set the default draft-folder
^Editor:~^To override the default editor
^Msg-Protect:~^To set mode when creating a new message (draft)
^whatnowproc:~^Program to ask the `What now?' questions

SEE ALSO
mhbuild(1), comp(1), repl(1), send(1), whatnow(1), mh-format(5), Proposed Standard for Message Encapsulation (RFC-934)

DEFAULTS
`+folder' defaults to the current folder
`msgs' defaults to the current message
`-noannotate'

CONTEXT
If a folder is given, it will become the current folder. The first message forwarded will become the current message.

BUGS
When forw is told to annotate the messages it forwards, it doesn't actually annotate them until the draft is successfully sent. If from the whatnowproc, you push instead of send, it's possible to confuse forw by re-ordering the file (e.g. by using `folder -pack') before the message is successfully sent. Dist and repl don't have this problem.