Commands Reference, Volume 6

whom Command

Purpose

Manipulates Message Handler (MH) addresses.

Syntax

whom [ -alias File ... ] [-nocheck | -check ] [ { -draftfolder +Folder | -nodraftholder | File }{ -draftmessage Message | -draftFile } ]

Description

The whom command does the following:

Expands the headers of a message into a set of addresses.
Lists the addresses of the proposed recipients of a message.
Verifies that the addresses are deliverable to the transport service.

Note: The whom command does not guarantee that addresses listed as being deliverable will actually be delivered.

A message can reside in a draft folder or in a file. To specify where a message resides, use the -draft, -draftfolder, or -draftmessage flag.

If you do not specify the -draftfolder flag or if the Draft-Folder: entry in the $HOME/.mh_profile file is undefined, the whom command searches your MH directory for a draft file. Specifying a message after the -draftfolder +Folder flag is the same as specifying the -draftmessage flag.

Flags

-alias File	Specifies a file to search for mail aliases. By default, the system searches the /etc/mh/MailAliases file.
-draft	Uses the header information in the UserMhDirectory/draft file if it exists.
-draftfolder +Folder	Uses the header information from the draft message in the specified folder. If you specify a draft folder that doesn't exist, the system creates one for you.
-draftmessage Message	Uses the header information from the specified draft message.
-help	Lists the command syntax, available switches (toggles), and version information. Note: For MH, the name of this flag must be fully spelled out.
Message	Specifies the message draft. Use the following to specify messages: *Number* Number of the message. cur or . (period) Current message. This is the default. first First message in a folder. last Last message in a folder. next Message following the current message. prev Message preceding the current message.
-nodraftfolder	Undoes the last occurrence of the -draftfolder +Folder flag.

Note: Two other flags, -check and -nocheck, are also available. These flags have no effect on how the whom command performs verification. The -check and -nocheck flags are provided for compatibility only.

Profile Entries

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

`Draft-Folder:`	Sets your default folder for drafts.
`postproc:`	Specifies the program used to post messages.

Examples

To list and verify the addresses of the proposed recipients of a message, enter the addressees and subject of the message at the respective prompt, as follows:

To: d77@nostromo
Subject: a test

When prompted again, enter the text of the message:

-------Enter initial text
test
-------

After the whatnow prompt, enter the whom command:

whatnow>>> whom

The address of the proposed recipients of the message is then displayed:

lance...
d77@nostromo... deliverable

Files

$HOME/.mh_profile	Specifies the MH user profile.
/usr/bin/whom	Contains the whom command.

Related Information

The ali command, post command, whatnow command.

The mh_alias file format, mh_profile file format.

Mail Overview in AIX 5L Version 5.1 System User's Guide: Communications and Networks.