NAME
whatnow - prompting front-end for sending messages
SYNOPSIS
whatnow [-draftfolder +folder] [-draftmessage msg] [-nodraftfolder]
[-editor editor] [-noedit] [-prompt string] [file] [-version]
[-help] [-attach header-field-name]
DESCRIPTION
Whatnow is the default program that queries the user about the
disposition of a composed draft. It is normally automatically invoked
by one of the nmh commands comp, dist, forw, or repl after the initial
edit.
When started, the editor is started on the draft (unless -noedit is
given, in which case the initial edit is suppressed). Then, whatnow
repetitively prompts the user with “What now?” and awaits a response.
The valid responses are:
edit re-edit using the same editor that was used on
the preceding round unless a profile entry
“<lasteditor>-next: <editor>” names an alternate
editor
edit <editor> invoke <editor> for further editing
refile +folder refile the draft into the given folder
mime process the draft as MIME composition file using
the buildmimeproc command (mhbuild by default)
display list the message being distributed/replied-to on
the terminal
list list the draft on the terminal
send send the message
send -watch send the message and monitor the delivery process
push send the message in the background
whom list the addresses that the message will go to
whom -check list the addresses and verify that they are
acceptable to the transport service
quit preserve the draft and exit
quit -delete delete the draft and exit
delete delete the draft and exit
cd directory use the directory when interpreting attachment
file names
pwd print the working directory for attachment files
ls [ls-options] list files in the attachment working directory
using the ls command
attach files add the named files to the draft as MIME
attachments
alist [-ln] list the MIME attachments, either short, long
[-l] or numbered [-n]
detach [-n] files-or-numbers
remove MIME attachments, either by file name or
by number with -n
When entering your response, you need only type enough characters to
uniquely identify the response.
For the edit response, any valid switch to the editor is valid.
For the send and push responses, any valid switch to send(1) is valid
(as push merely invokes send with the -push option).
For the whom response, any valid switch to whom(1) is valid.
For the refile response, any valid switch to the fileproc is valid.
For the display and list responses, any valid argument to the lproc is
valid. If any non-switch arguments are present, then the pathname of
the draft will be excluded from the argument list given to the lproc
(this is useful for listing another nmh message).
See mh-profile(5) for further information about how editors are used by
nmh. It also discusses how environment variables can be used to direct
whatnow’s actions in complex ways.
The -prompt string switch sets the prompting string for whatnow.
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.
FILES
$HOME/.mh_profile The user profile
<mh-dir>/draft The draft file
PROFILE COMPONENTS
Path: To determine the user’s nmh directory
Draft-Folder: To find the default draft-folder
Editor: To override the default editor
<lasteditor>-next: To name an editor to be used after exit
from <lasteditor>
automimeproc: If value is 1, and the draft is a MIME
composition file, then automatically call
buildmimeproc prior to sending.
buildmimeproc: Program to translate MIME composition files
fileproc: Program to refile the message
lproc: Program to list the contents of a message
sendproc: Program to use to send the message
whomproc: Program to determine who a message would go to
SEE ALSO
send(1), whom(1)
DEFAULTS
‘-prompt’ defaults to “What Now? ”
CONTEXT
None
BUGS
The argument to the -prompt switch must be interpreted as a single
token by the shell that invokes whatnow. Therefore, one must usually
place the argument to this switch inside double-quotes.
If the initial edit fails, whatnow deletes your draft (by renaming it
with a leading comma); failure of a later edit preserves the draft.
If the buildmimeproc fails (returns a nonzero status), whatnow simply
prints a “What now?” prompt. whatnow depends on the buildmimeproc to
tell the user that something went wrong.
If whatnowproc is whatnow, then comp, dist, forw, and repl use a
built-in whatnow, and do not actually run the whatnow program. Hence,
if you define your own whatnowproc, don’t call it whatnow since it
won’t be run.
If sendproc is send, then whatnow uses a built-in send, it does not
actually run the send program. Hence, if you define your own sendproc,
don’t call it send since whatnow won’t run it.