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.
editeditor
Invoke editor for further editing.
refile+folder
Refile the draft into folder.mime Process the draft as a MIME composition file using the buildmimeproc command which defaults
to mhbuild(1).
display
List the message being replied to or distributed 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 to whom the message will go.
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.
cddirectory
Use directory when interpreting attachment file names. This does not change whatnow's
process's current working directory so it and child processes, e.g. edit's, do not see the
change.
pwd Print the working directory for attachment files.
ls [ls-options]
List files in the attachment working directory using ls(1).
attach[-v]files
Add the named files to the message as MIME attachments; -v displays the mhbuild(1) directive
that send(1) will use.
alist[-ln]
List the MIME attachments' filenames. -l gives a long listing showing their full path. -n
numbers them for use with detach.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 -promptstring switch sets the prompting string for whatnow.
The -draftfolder+folder and -draftmessagemsg switches invoke the nmh draft folder facility. This is an
advanced (and highly useful) feature. Consult mh-draft(5) for more information.
If your nmh was configured with readline enabled, you'll be able to use filename completion and other
readline features at the prompt. These are particularly useful with the cd, ls, attach, and detach
commands for managing MIME attachments.
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