\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
@setfilename ../info/message
-@settitle Message 5.7 Manual
+@settitle Message 5.9.0 Manual
@synindex fn cp
@synindex vr cp
@synindex pg cp
+@copying
+This file documents Message, the Emacs message composition mode.
+
+Copyright (C) 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Free Software
+Foundation, Inc.
+
+@quotation
+Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
+under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
+any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no
+Invariant Sections, with the Front-Cover texts being ``A GNU
+Manual'', and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below. A copy of the
+license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation
+License'' in the Emacs manual.
+
+(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You have freedom to copy and modify
+this GNU Manual, like GNU software. Copies published by the Free
+Software Foundation raise funds for GNU development.''
+
+This document is part of a collection distributed under the GNU Free
+Documentation License. If you want to distribute this document
+separately from the collection, you can do so by adding a copy of the
+license to the document, as described in section 6 of the license.
+@end quotation
+@end copying
+
+@dircategory Emacs
@direntry
* Message: (message). Mail and news composition mode that goes with Gnus.
@end direntry
@end iftex
@setchapternewpage odd
-@ifinfo
-
-This file documents Message, the Emacs message composition mode.
-
-Copyright (C) 1996 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-
-Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
-this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
-are preserved on all copies.
-
-@ignore
-Permission is granted to process this file through Tex and print the
-results, provided the printed document carries copying permission
-notice identical to this one except for the removal of this paragraph
-(this paragraph not being relevant to the printed manual).
-
-@end ignore
-Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
-manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the
-entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
-permission notice identical to this one.
-
-Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
-into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
-@end ifinfo
-
-@tex
@titlepage
-@title Message 5.7 Manual
+@title Message 5.9.0 Manual
@author by Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen
@page
-
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
-Copyright @copyright{} 1996 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
-
-Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
-this manual provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
-are preserved on all copies.
-
-Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
-manual under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the
-entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
-permission notice identical to this one.
-
-Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
-into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions.
-
+@insertcopying
@end titlepage
@page
-@end tex
-
@node Top
@top Message
* Key Index:: List of Message mode keys.
@end menu
-This manual corresponds to Message 5.7. Message is distributed with
-the Gnus distribution bearing the same version number as this manual
-has.
+This manual corresponds to Message 5.9.0. Message is distributed with
+the Gnus distribution bearing the same version number as this manual.
@node Interface
@section New Mail Message
@findex message-mail
-The @code{message-mail} command pops up a new message buffer.
+The @code{message-mail} command pops up a new message buffer.
Two optional parameters are accepted: The first will be used as the
@code{To} header and the second as the @code{Subject} header. If these
@section New News Message
@findex message-news
-The @code{message-news} command pops up a new message buffer.
+The @code{message-news} command pops up a new message buffer.
This function accepts two optional parameters. The first will be used
as the @code{Newsgroups} header and the second as the @code{Subject}
(setq message-reply-to-function
(lambda ()
(cond ((equal (mail-fetch-field "from") "somebody")
- (mail-fetch-field "sender"))
- (t
+ (list (cons 'To (mail-fetch-field "sender"))))
+ (t
nil))))
@end lisp
should be a cons, where the car should be the name of an header
(eg. @code{Cc}) and the cdr should be the header value
(eg. @samp{larsi@@ifi.uio.no}). All these headers will be inserted into
-the head of the outgoing mail.
+the head of the outgoing mail.
@node Wide Reply
Message uses the normal methods to determine where wide replies are to go,
but you can change the behavior to suit your needs by fiddling with the
@code{message-wide-reply-to-function}. It is used in the same way as
-@code{message-reply-to-function} (@pxref{Reply}).
+@code{message-reply-to-function} (@pxref{Reply}).
-@findex rmail-dont-reply-to-names
-Addresses that match the @code{rmail-dont-reply-to-names} regular
+@findex message-dont-reply-to-names
+Addresses that match the @code{message-dont-reply-to-names} regular
expression will be removed from the @code{Cc} header.
news.
@table @code
-@item message-forward-start-separator
-@vindex message-forward-start-separator
-Delimiter inserted before forwarded messages. The default is@*
-@samp{------- Start of forwarded message -------\n}.
-
-@vindex message-forward-end-separator
-@item message-forward-end-separator
-@vindex message-forward-end-separator
-Delimiter inserted after forwarded messages. The default is@*
-@samp{------- End of forwarded message -------\n}.
-
-@item message-signature-before-forwarded-message
-@vindex message-signature-before-forwarded-message
-If this variable is @code{t}, which it is by default, your personal
-signature will be inserted before the forwarded message. If not, the
-forwarded message will be inserted first in the new mail.
-
-@item message-included-forward-headers
-@vindex message-included-forward-headers
-Regexp matching header lines to be included in forwarded messages.
+@item message-forward-ignored-headers
+@vindex message-forward-ignored-headers
+All headers that match this regexp will be deleted when forwarding a message.
@item message-make-forward-subject-function
@vindex message-make-forward-subject-function
@item message-wash-forwarded-subjects
@vindex message-wash-forwarded-subjects
If this variable is @code{t}, the subjects of forwarded messages have
-the evidence of previous forwards (such as @samp{Fwd:}, @samp{Re:},
+the evidence of previous forwards (such as @samp{Fwd:}, @samp{Re:},
@samp{(fwd)}) removed before the new subject is
constructed. The default value is @code{nil}.
+@item message-forward-as-mime
+@vindex message-forward-as-mime
+If this variable is @code{t} (the default), forwarded messages are
+included as inline MIME RFC822 parts. If it's @code{nil}, forwarded
+messages will just be copied inline to the new message, like previous,
+non MIME-savvy versions of gnus would do.
@end table
@vindex message-ignored-resent-headers
Headers that match the @code{message-ignored-resent-headers} regexp will
be removed before sending the message. The default is
-@samp{^Return-receipt}.
+@samp{^Return-receipt}.
@node Bouncing
bounced mail message, pop up a message buffer stripped of the bounce
information. A @dfn{bounced message} is typically a mail you've sent
out that has been returned by some @code{mailer-daemon} as
-undeliverable.
+undeliverable.
@vindex message-ignored-bounced-headers
Headers that match the @code{message-ignored-bounced-headers} regexp
@chapter Commands
@menu
+* Buffer Entry:: Commands after entering a Message buffer.
* Header Commands:: Commands for moving to headers.
* Movement:: Moving around in message buffers.
* Insertion:: Inserting things into message buffers.
+* MIME:: @sc{mime} considerations.
* Various Commands:: Various things.
* Sending:: Actually sending the message.
* Mail Aliases:: How to use mail aliases.
+* Spelling:: Having Emacs check your spelling.
@end menu
+@node Buffer Entry
+@section Buffer Entry
+@cindex undo
+@kindex C-_
+
+You most often end up in a Message buffer when responding to some other
+message of some sort. Message does lots of handling of quoted text, and
+may remove signatures, reformat the text, or the like---depending on
+which used settings you're using. Message usually gets things right,
+but sometimes it stumbles. To help the user unwind these stumblings,
+Message sets the undo boundary before each major automatic action it
+takes. If you press the undo key (usually located at @kbd{C-_}) a few
+times, you will get back the un-edited message you're responding to.
+
+
@node Header Commands
@section Header Commands
Describe the message mode.
@item C-c C-f C-t
-@kindex C-c C-f C-t
+@kindex C-c C-f C-t
@findex message-goto-to
Go to the @code{To} header (@code{message-goto-to}).
@item C-c C-f C-b
-@kindex C-c C-f C-b
+@kindex C-c C-f C-b
@findex message-goto-bcc
Go to the @code{Bcc} header (@code{message-goto-bcc}).
-@item C-c C-f C-f
-@kindex C-c C-f C-f
+@item C-c C-f C-w
+@kindex C-c C-f C-w
@findex message-goto-fcc
Go to the @code{Fcc} header (@code{message-goto-fcc}).
@item C-c C-f C-c
-@kindex C-c C-f C-c
+@kindex C-c C-f C-c
@findex message-goto-cc
Go to the @code{Cc} header (@code{message-goto-cc}).
@item C-c C-f C-s
-@kindex C-c C-f C-s
+@kindex C-c C-f C-s
@findex message-goto-subject
Go to the @code{Subject} header (@code{message-goto-subject}).
@item C-c C-f C-r
-@kindex C-c C-f C-r
+@kindex C-c C-f C-r
@findex message-goto-reply-to
Go to the @code{Reply-To} header (@code{message-goto-reply-to}).
@item C-c C-f C-n
-@kindex C-c C-f C-n
+@kindex C-c C-f C-n
@findex message-goto-newsgroups
Go to the @code{Newsgroups} header (@code{message-goto-newsgroups}).
@item C-c C-f C-d
-@kindex C-c C-f C-d
+@kindex C-c C-f C-d
@findex message-goto-distribution
Go to the @code{Distribution} header (@code{message-goto-distribution}).
-@item C-c C-f C-o
-@kindex C-c C-f C-o
+@item C-c C-f C-f
+@kindex C-c C-f C-f
@findex message-goto-followup-to
Go to the @code{Followup-To} header (@code{message-goto-followup-to}).
@item C-c C-f C-k
-@kindex C-c C-f C-k
+@kindex C-c C-f C-k
@findex message-goto-keywords
Go to the @code{Keywords} header (@code{message-goto-keywords}).
@item C-c C-f C-u
-@kindex C-c C-f C-u
+@kindex C-c C-f C-u
@findex message-goto-summary
Go to the @code{Summary} header (@code{message-goto-summary}).
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-b
-@kindex C-c C-b
+@kindex C-c C-b
@findex message-goto-body
Move to the beginning of the body of the message
-(@code{message-goto-body}).
+(@code{message-goto-body}).
@item C-c C-i
-@kindex C-c C-i
+@kindex C-c C-i
@findex message-goto-signature
Move to the signature of the message (@code{message-goto-signature}).
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-y
-@kindex C-c C-y
+@kindex C-c C-y
@findex message-yank-original
Yank the message that's being replied to into the message buffer
-(@code{message-yank-original}).
+(@code{message-yank-original}).
+
+@item C-c C-M-y
+@kindex C-c C-M-y
+@findex message-yank-buffer
+Prompt for a buffer name and yank the contents of that buffer into the
+message buffer (@code{message-yank-buffer}).
@item C-c C-q
-@kindex C-c C-q
+@kindex C-c C-q
@findex message-fill-yanked-message
Fill the yanked message (@code{message-fill-yanked-message}). Warning:
Can severely mess up the yanked text if its quoting conventions are
just remember that @kbd{C-x u} (@code{undo}) is available and you'll be
all right.
-
@item C-c C-w
-@kindex C-c C-w
+@kindex C-c C-w
@findex message-insert-signature
Insert a signature at the end of the buffer
-(@code{message-insert-signature}).
+(@code{message-insert-signature}).
+
+@item C-c M-h
+@kindex C-c M-h
+@findex message-insert-headers
+Insert the message headers (@code{message-insert-headers}).
@end table
to quote the person you are answering. Inserting quoted text is done by
@dfn{yanking}, and each quoted line you yank will have
@code{message-yank-prefix} prepended to it. The default is @samp{> }.
-If it is @code{nil}, just indent the message.
@item message-indentation-spaces
@vindex message-indentation-spaces
@item message-signature-file
@vindex message-signature-file
-File containing the signature to be inserted at the end of the buffer.
-The default is @samp{~/.signature}.
+If non-@code{nil} the name of a file containing the signature to be
+inserted at the end of the buffer. This is ignored if the file
+doesn't exist. The default is @samp{~/.signature}.
@end table
that you are silly and have nothing important to say.
+@node MIME
+@section MIME
+@cindex MML
+@cindex MIME
+@cindex multipart
+@cindex attachment
+
+Message is a @sc{mime}-compliant posting agent. The user generally
+doesn't have to do anything to make the @sc{mime} happen---Message will
+automatically add the @code{Content-Type} and
+@code{Content-Transfer-Encoding} headers.
+
+The most typical thing users want to use the multipart things in
+@sc{mime} for is to add ``attachments'' to mail they send out. This can
+be done with the @code{C-c C-a} command, which will prompt for a file
+name and a @sc{mime} type.
+
+You can also create arbitrarily complex multiparts using the MML
+language (@pxref{Composing, , Composing, emacs-mime, The Emacs MIME
+Manual}).
+
@node Various Commands
@section Various Commands
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-r
-@kindex C-c C-r
+@kindex C-c C-r
@findex message-caesar-buffer-body
Caesar rotate (aka. rot13) the current message
(@code{message-caesar-buffer-body}). If narrowing is in effect, just
@kindex C-c C-e
@findex message-elide-region
Elide the text between point and mark (@code{message-elide-region}).
-The text is killed and an ellipsis (@samp{[...]}) will be inserted in
-its place.
+The text is killed and replaced with the contents of the variable
+@code{message-elide-ellipsis}. The default value is to use an ellipsis
+(@samp{[...]}).
@item C-c C-z
@kindex C-c C-x
> And here's more quoted text.
@end example
-@samp{*} says where point will be placed.
+@samp{*} says where point will be placed.
@item C-c C-t
-@kindex C-c C-t
+@kindex C-c C-t
@findex message-insert-to
Insert a @code{To} header that contains the @code{Reply-To} or
@code{From} header of the message you're following up
-(@code{message-insert-to}).
+(@code{message-insert-to}).
@item C-c C-n
-@kindex C-c C-n
+@kindex C-c C-n
@findex message-insert-newsgroups
Insert a @code{Newsgroups} header that reflects the @code{Followup-To}
or @code{Newsgroups} header of the article you're replying to
@table @kbd
@item C-c C-c
-@kindex C-c C-c
+@kindex C-c C-c
@findex message-send-and-exit
Send the message and bury the current buffer
-(@code{message-send-and-exit}).
+(@code{message-send-and-exit}).
@item C-c C-s
-@kindex C-c C-s
+@kindex C-c C-s
@findex message-send
-Send the message (@code{message-send}).
+Send the message (@code{message-send}).
@item C-c C-d
@kindex C-c C-d
expansions have to be done explicitly.
+@node Spelling
+@section Spelling
+@cindex spelling
+@findex ispell-message
+
+There are two popular ways to have Emacs spell-check your messages:
+@code{ispell} and @code{flyspell}. @code{ispell} is the older and
+probably more popular package. You typically first write the message,
+and then run the entire thing through @code{ispell} and fix all the
+typos. To have this happen automatically when you send a message, put
+something like the following in your @file{.emacs} file:
+
+@lisp
+(add-hook 'message-send-hook 'ispell-message)
+@end lisp
+
+@vindex ispell-message-dictionary-alist
+If you're in the habit of writing in different languages, this can be
+controlled by the @code{ispell-message-dictionary-alist} variable:
+
+@lisp
+(setq ispell-message-dictionary-alist
+ '(("^Newsgroups:.*\\bde\\." . "deutsch8")
+ (".*" . "default")))
+@end lisp
+
+@code{ispell} depends on having the external @samp{ispell} command
+installed.
+
+The other popular method is using @code{flyspell}. This package checks
+your spelling while you're writing, and marks any mis-spelled words in
+various ways.
+
+To use @code{flyspell}, put something like the following in your
+@file{.emacs} file:
+
+@lisp
+(defun my-message-setup-routine ()
+ (flyspell-mode 1))
+(add-hook 'message-setup-hook 'my-message-setup-routine)
+@end lisp
+
+@code{flyspell} depends on having the external @samp{ispell} command
+installed.
+
@node Variables
@chapter Variables
@item message-generate-headers-first
@vindex message-generate-headers-first
-If non-@code{nil}, generate all headers before starting to compose the
-message.
+If non-@code{nil}, generate all required headers before starting to
+compose the message.
+
+The variables @code{message-required-mail-headers} and
+@code{message-required-news-headers} specify which headers are required.
@item message-from-style
@vindex message-from-style
generated @code{Message-ID} is deleted, and a new one generated. If
this isn't done, the entire empire would probably crumble, anarchy would
prevail, and cats would start walking on two legs and rule the world.
-Allegedly.
+Allegedly.
@item message-default-headers
@vindex message-default-headers
@item message-subject-re-regexp
@vindex message-subject-re-regexp
Responses to messages have subjects that start with @samp{Re: }. This
-is @emph{not} an abbreviation of the English word ``response'', but in
+is @emph{not} an abbreviation of the English word ``response'', but is
Latin, and means ``in response to''. Some illiterate nincompoops have
failed to grasp this fact, and have ``internationalized'' their software
-to use abonimations like @samp{Aw: } (``antwort'') or @samp{Sv: }
+to use abominations like @samp{Aw: } (``antwort'') or @samp{Sv: }
(``svar'') instead, which is meaningless and evil. However, you may
have to deal with users that use these evil tools, in which case you may
set this variable to a regexp that matches these prefixes. Myself, I
just throw away non-compliant mail.
+@item message-alternative-emails
+@vindex message-alternative-emails
+A regexp to match the alternative email addresses. The first matched
+address (not primary one) is used in the @code{From} field.
+
@end table
@vindex message-required-mail-headers
@xref{News Headers}, for the syntax of this variable. It is
@code{(From Date Subject (optional . In-Reply-To) Message-ID Lines
-(optional . X-Mailer))} by default.
+(optional . User-Agent))} by default.
@item message-ignored-mail-headers
@vindex message-ignored-mail-headers
Regexp of headers to be removed before mailing. The default is
-@samp{^[GF]cc:\\|^Resent-Fcc:}.
+@samp{^[GF]cc:\|^Resent-Fcc:\|^Xref:}.
@item message-default-mail-headers
@vindex message-default-mail-headers
@node Mail Variables
-@section Mail Variables
+@section Mail Variables
@table @code
@item message-send-mail-function
messages via MH. Set it to @code{nil} if your MH can handle these
headers.
+@item message-send-mail-partially-limit
+@vindex message-send-mail-partially-limit
+The limit on the size of messages sent as @samp{message/partial}.
+This is the minimum message size in characters beyond which the
+message should be sent in several parts. If it is @code{nil}, the
+size is unlimited.
+
@end table
@item Subject
@cindex Subject
-This required header will be prompted for if not present already.
+This required header will be prompted for if not present already.
@item Newsgroups
@cindex Newsgroups
@findex system-name
@cindex Sun
This required header will be generated by Message. A unique ID will be
-created based on the date, time, user name and system name. Message will
-use @code{mail-host-address} as the fully qualified domain name (FQDN)
-of the machine if that variable is defined. If not, it will use
-@code{system-name}, which doesn't report a FQDN on some machines --
-notably Suns.
-
-@item X-Newsreader
-@cindex X-Newsreader
-This optional header will be filled out according to the
-@code{message-newsreader} local variable.
+created based on the date, time, user name and system name. Message
+will use @code{system-name} to determine the name of the system. If
+this isn't a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), Message will use
+@code{mail-host-address} as the FQDN of the machine.
-@item X-Mailer
+@item User-Agent
+@cindex User-Agent
This optional header will be filled out according to the
-@code{message-mailer} local variable, unless there already is an
-@code{X-Newsreader} header present.
+@code{message-newsreader} local variable.
@item In-Reply-To
This optional header is filled out using the @code{Date} and @code{From}
Valid checks are:
@table @code
-@item subject-cmsg
+@item subject-cmsg
Check the subject for commands.
@item sender
@cindex Sender
-Insert a new @code{Sender} header if the @code{From} header looks odd.
-@item multiple-headers
+Insert a new @code{Sender} header if the @code{From} header looks odd.
+@item multiple-headers
Check for the existence of multiple equal headers.
-@item sendsys
+@item sendsys
@cindex sendsys
Check for the existence of version and sendsys commands.
@item message-id
Check whether the @code{Message-ID} looks ok.
@item from
Check whether the @code{From} header seems nice.
-@item long-lines
+@item long-lines
@cindex long lines
Check for too long lines.
@item control-chars
something only moderators should include.
@item empty
Check whether the article is empty.
+@item invisible-text
+Check whether there is any invisible text in the buffer.
@item empty-headers
Check whether any of the headers are empty.
@item existing-newsgroups
-Check whether the newsgroups mentioned in the @code{Newsgroups} and
+Check whether the newsgroups mentioned in the @code{Newsgroups} and
@code{Followup-To} headers exist.
@item valid-newsgroups
Check whether the @code{Newsgroups} and @code{Followup-to} headers
@item message-send-news-function
@vindex message-send-news-function
Function used to send the current buffer as news. The default is
-@code{message-send-news}.
+@code{message-send-news}.
@item message-post-method
@vindex message-post-method
@section Various Message Variables
@table @code
+@item message-default-charset
+@vindex message-default-charset
+@cindex charset
+Symbol naming a @sc{mime} charset. Non-ASCII characters in messages are
+assumed to be encoded using this charset. The default is @code{nil},
+which means ask the user. (This variable is used only on non-@sc{mule}
+Emacsen.
+@xref{Charset Translation, , Charset Translation, emacs-mime,
+ Emacs MIME Manual}, for details on the @sc{mule}-to-@sc{mime}
+translation process.
+
@item message-signature-separator
@vindex message-signature-separator
Regexp matching the signature separator. It is @samp{^-- *$} by
-default.
+default.
@item mail-header-separator
@vindex mail-header-separator
@item message-directory
@vindex message-directory
-Directory used by many mailey things. The default is @file{~/Mail/}.
+Directory used by many mailey things. The default is @file{~/Mail/}.
@item message-signature-setup-hook
@vindex message-signature-setup-hook
Hook run when initializing the message buffer. It is run after the
-headers have been inserted but before the signature has been inserted.
+headers have been inserted but before the signature has been inserted.
@item message-setup-hook
@vindex message-setup-hook
@item message-header-setup-hook
@vindex message-header-setup-hook
-Hook called narrowed to the headers after initializing the headers.
+Hook called narrowed to the headers after initializing the headers.
For instance, if you're running Gnus and wish to insert a
@samp{Mail-Copies-To} header in all your news articles and all messages
@lisp
(add-hook 'message-send-hook 'my-message-add-content)
(defun my-message-add-content ()
- (message-add-header
- "Mime-Version: 1.0"
- "Content-Type: text/plain"
- "Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit"))
+ (message-add-header "X-In-No-Sense: Nonsense")
+ (message-add-header "X-Whatever: no"))
@end lisp
This function won't add the header if the header is already present.
@table @code
-@item message-fcc-handler-function
-@vindex message-fcc-handler-function
+@item message-fcc-handler-function
+@vindex message-fcc-handler-function
A function called to save outgoing articles. This function will be
-called with the name of the file to store the article in. The default
-function is @code{message-output} which saves in Unix mailbox format.
+called with the name of the file to store the article in. The default
+function is @code{message-output} which saves in inbox format.
@item message-courtesy-message
@vindex message-courtesy-message
newsgroups the article has been posted to will be inserted there. If
this variable is @code{nil}, no such courtesy message will be added.
The default value is @samp{"The following message is a courtesy copy of
-an article\nthat has been posted to %s as well.\n\n"}.
+an article\nthat has been posted to %s as well.\n\n"}.
@end table
When Message is being used from a news/mail reader, the reader is likely
to want to perform some task after the message has been sent. Perhaps
return to the previous window configuration or mark an article as
-replied.
+replied.
@vindex message-kill-actions
@vindex message-postpone-actions
and @kbd{C-c C-k} which kills the message buffer. Each of these actions
have lists associated with them that contains actions to be executed:
@code{message-send-actions}, @code{message-exit-actions},
-@code{message-postpone-actions}, and @code{message-kill-actions}.
+@code{message-postpone-actions}, and @code{message-kill-actions}.
Message provides a function to interface with these lists:
@code{message-add-action}. The first parameter is the action to be