.\" %nmhwarning%
.
.SH NAME
-mh-alias \- format of nmh alias files
+mh-alias \- format of nmh email-address alias files
.SH DESCRIPTION
.PP
Each line of an
.nf
.IR address-group " := " address-list
.RI " | < " file
-.RI " | = " Unix-group
-.RI " | + " Unix-group
.IR address-list " := " address
.RI " | " address-list ", " address
and
.I file
are Unix file names.
-.I Unix-group
-is a group name or number from
-the system's group database.
Alias file contents are case-insensitive, with the exception
of filesystem path names.
.PP
.I address-list
for the alias.
.PP
-If the
-.I address-group
-starts with an \*(lq=\*(rq, the
-system's group database
-is consulted for the Unix-group named after the \*(lq=\*(rq. Each login name
-occurring as a member of the group is added to the
-.I address-list
-for the alias.
-.PP
-In contrast, if the
-.I address-group
-starts with a \*(lq+\*(rq, the system's group database
-is consulted to determine the group-id of the
-Unix-group named after the \*(lq+\*(rq. Each login name occurring in the
-system's password database
-whose group-id is indicated by this group is
-added to the
-.I address-list
-for the alias.
-.PP
In match, a trailing \*(lq*\*(rq on an alias will match just about anything
appropriate.
.PP
fred: frated@UCI.example
b-people: Blind List: bill, betty
Unix\-committee: <unix.aliases
-staff: =staff
-wheels: +wheel
news.*: news
.fi
.RE
.B nmh
directory.
.PP
-\*(lqstaff\*(rq is defined as all users who are listed as members of the
-group \*(lqstaff\*(rq in the
-system's group database, and \*(lqwheels\*(rq
-is defined as all users whose group-id in
-the system's password database
-is equivalent to the \*(lqwheel\*(rq group.
-.PP
Lastly,
.RI \*(lqnews. anything \*(rq
is aliased to \*(lqnews\*(rq;