forw Command

Purpose

Forwards messages.

Syntax

forw [ + Folder ] [ -draftfolder +Folder | -nodraftfolder ] [ Message ] [ -draftmessage Message ] [ -digest Name [ -issue Number ] [ -volume Number ] ] [ -form FormFile ] [ -editor Editor | -noedit ] [ -whatnowproc Program | -nowhatnowproc ] [ -filterFile] [ -annotate [ -inplace | -noinplace ] | -noannotate ] [ -format| -noformat ] [ -help ]

Description

The forw command starts an interface for forwarding messages. By default, the forw command interface:

Opens for editing a UserMhDirectory/draft file.
Prompts the user to enter forwarding information based on the template defined in the /etc/mh/mhl.forward file.
Prompts the user to enter any additional text that must accompany the forwarded message.

To complete editing of the UserMhDirectory/draft file, press the Ctrl-D sequence. The forw command appends the current message from the current folder to the draft file. If you want to append more than one message, use the Messages parameter.

Note: A 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 when it is sent.

Upon exiting the editor, the forw command starts the What Now? prompt. Press the Enter key to see a list of the available whatnow subcommands. These subcommands enable you to continue to edit the message, list the message, direct the disposition of the message, or end the processing of the forw command.

The forw command allows you to change the format of the forwarded message with the -form flag. By default, the command uses the default message format that is located in your UserMhDirectory/forwcomps file. If you have not defined your own forwcomps file, the /etc/mh/forwcomps file is used.

Use the -annotate flag to annotate the original message with forwarding information. To ensure annotation, send the forwarded note before exiting the forw command interface.

Note: The -annotate flag is not preserved over multiple executions of the forw command on the same draft.

Flags

Table 1. Flags
Item	Description
-annotate	Annotates the forwarded messages with the lines: `Forwarded: Date Forwarded: Addresses` Use the -inplace flag to force the annotation in place. This preserves links to the annotated message.
-digest `Name`	Uses the digest facility to create a new issue for the digest specified by the `Name` variable. The forw command expands the format strings in the components file (by using the same format string mechanism that is used by the repl command) and composes the draft by using the standard digest encapsulation algorithm. After the draft has been composed, the forw command writes out the volume and issue entries for the digest and starts the editor. Unless you specify the -form flag, the forw command uses the format in the `UserMhDirectory`/digestcomps file. If this file does not exist, the command uses the default that is specified in the /etc/mh/digestcomps file.
`-draftfolder +Folder`	Places the draft message in the specified folder. If you do not specify this flag, the forw command selects a default draft folder according to the information supplied in the Message Handler (MH) profiles. If `+Folder` is not specified, the `Current-Folder` is assumed. You can define a default draft folder in the $HOME/.mh_profile file. Note: If `-draftfolder +Folder` is followed by a `Message` parameter, it is the same as specifying the -draftmessage flag.
-draftmessage `Message`	Identifies a draft message. If you specify -draftfolder without the -draftmessage flag, then the default message is `new`.
-editor `Editor`	Specifies the initial editor for preparing the message.
-filter `File`	Reformats each message being forwarded and places the reformatted message in the draft message. The -filter flag accepts formats that are used by the mhl command.
`+Folder`	Specifies the folder that contains the messages you want to forward. If a folder is not specified, `Current-Folder` is assumed.
-form `FormFile`	Displays the forw command output in the format that is specified by the `FormFile` variable. The forw command treats each line in the specified file as a format string. If the -digest flag is also specified, the forw command uses the form that is specified by the `File` variable as the format of the digest. If the -form flag is not specified when the -digest flag is used, the digest filter file becomes the form default.
-format	Using the mhl command and a default format file, reformats each message being forwarded and places the reformatted message in the draft message. If the `UserMhDirectory`/mhl.forward file exists, it contains the default format. Otherwise, the /etc/mh/mhl.forward file contains the default format.
-help	Lists the command syntax, available switches (toggles), and version information. Note: For MH, the name of this flag must be fully spelled out.
-inplace	Forces annotation to be done in place to preserve links to the annotated message.
-issue `Number`	Specifies the issue number of the digest. The default issue number is one greater than the current value of the `DigestName-issue-list` entry in the `UserMhDirectory`/context file.
`Message`	Specifies a message. You can specify several messages, a range of messages, or a single message. Use the following references when specifying messages: `Number` Number of the message. `Sequence` A group of messages specified by the user. Recognized values include: `all` All messages in the folder. `cur` or `.` (period) Current message. This is the default. `first` First message in a folder. `last` Last message in a folder. `new` A new message that is created. `next` Message following the current message. `prev` Message preceding the current message The default message is the current message in the current folder. When you specify several messages, the first message that is forwarded becomes the current message. When you specify a folder, that folder becomes the current folder.
-noannotate	Prevents annotation of the original message. This flag is the default.
-nodraftfolder	Places the draft in the `UserMhDirectory`/draft file.
-noedit	Suppresses the initial edit.
-noformat	Prevents reformatting of the messages being forwarded. This flag is the default.
-noinplace	Prevents annotation in place. This flag is the default.
-nowhatnowproc	Prevents interactive processing of the forw command. With this flag, no editing occurs.
-volume `Number`	Specifies the volume number of the digest. The default volume number is the current value of the `DigestName-volume-list` entry in the `UserMhDirectory`/context file.
-whatnowproc `Program`	Starts the specified program to guide you through the forwarding tasks. Note: If you specify the whatnow command for `Program`, the forw command starts an internal whatnow procedure instead of a program with the file name whatnow.

Profile Entries

The following entries are entered in the UserMhDirectory/.mh_profile file:

Table 2. Profile Entries
Item	Description
`Current-Folder:`	Sets the default current folder.
`Draft-Folder:`	Sets the default folder for drafts.
`Editor:`	Sets the default editor.
`fileproc:`	Specifies the program that is used to refile messages.
`mhlproc:`	Specifies the program that is used to filter messages being forwarded.
`Msg-Protect:`	Sets the protection level for the new message files.
`Path:`	Specifies the `UserMhDirectory`.
`whatnowproc:`	Specifies the program that is used to prompt `What now?` questions.

Security

Attention RBAC users: This command can perform privileged operations. Only privileged users can run privileged operations. For more information about authorizations and privileges, see Privileged Command Database in Security. For a list of privileges and the authorizations that are associated with this command, see the lssecattr command or the getcmdattr subcommand.

Examples

To forward the current message to another person, enter:
```
forw
```
The system prompts you to enter information in the header fields. To skip a field, press the Enter key. Enter your information in the To: field. The system responds with:
```
---------Enter initial text
```
Enter the text that you want displayed before the text of the forwarded message, and press the Ctrl-D key sequence. The text of the forwarded message is displayed, and you are prompted with What now? Enter send after the What now? prompt to forward the message.
To forward message 5 from the inbox folder, enter:
forw +inbox 5

Files

Table 3. Files
Item	Description
/etc/mh/digestcomps	Defines the MH default message form when the -digest flag is specified.
/etc/mh/mhl.forward	Contains the default MH message filter.
`UserMhDirectory`/digestcomps	Specifies a user's default message form when the -digest flag is specified. (If it exists, it overrides the MH default message filter.)
`UserMhDirectory`/forwcomps	Contains a user's default message form.
`UserMhDirectory`/mhl.forward	Contains a user's default message filter. (If it exists, it overrides the MH default message filter.)
/usr/bin/forw	Contains the executable form of the forw command.
$HOME/.mh_profile	Contains the file that customizes MH for an individual user.
`UserMhDirectory`/draft	Contains the draft that is created for editing messages.
/etc/mh/forwcomps	Defines components for the messages that are created by the forw command.