Added note that suffixes were removed from filenames of temporary files.

[nmh] / man / mh-alias.man

diff --git a/man/mh-alias.man b/man/mh-alias.man
index 451ea63b33f0f555d8b1a9fee11349432f392984..d765f887dc3c04ffceff6c429c98ee22ca1a0982 100644 (file)
--- a/man/mh-alias.man
+++ b/man/mh-alias.man
@@ -1,198 +1,212 @@
+.TH MH-ALIAS %manext5% "Oct 14, 2012" "%nmhversion%"

 .\"
 .\" %nmhwarning%
 .\"
 .\" %nmhwarning%

-.\" $Id$

 .\"
 .\"

-.\" include the -mh macro file
-.so %etcdir%/tmac.h
-.\"
-.TH MH-ALIAS %manext5% MH.6.8 [%nmhversion%]

 .SH NAME
 .SH NAME

-mh-alias \- alias file for nmh message system
-.SH SYNOPSIS
-.in +.5i
-.ti -.5i
-any \fInmh\fR command
-.in -.5i
+mh-alias \- format of nmh alias files

 .SH DESCRIPTION
 .SH DESCRIPTION

-This describes both \fInmh\fR personal alias files and
-the global alias file for nmh mail delivery, the file
-
-       %etcdir%/MailAliases
-
-It does \fBnot\fR describe aliases files used by the message transport system.
-Each line of the alias file has the format:
-
-       alias : address\-group
-.br
-or
-.br
-       alias ; address\-group
-.br
-or
-.br
-       < alias\-file
-.br
-or
-.br
-       ; comment
-.br
-
+.PP
+Each line of an
+.B nmh
+alias file takes one of the following forms:
+.PP
+.RS 5
+.I alias
+.B :
+.I address\-group
+.RE
+.sp
+.RS 5
+.I alias
+.B ;
+.I address\-group
+.RE
+.sp
+.RS 5
+.B <
+.I alias\-file
+.RE
+.sp
+.RS 5
+.B ;
+|
+.B :
+|
+.B #
+.I comment
+.RE
+.PP

 where:
 where:

-
-       address\-group  :=  address\-list
-.br
-                      |   \*(lq<\*(rq file
-.br
-                      |   \*(lq=\*(rq UNIX\-group
-.br
-                      |   \*(lq+\*(rq UNIX\-group
-.br
-                      |   \*(lq*\*(rq
-
-.br
-       address\-list   :=  address
-.br
-                      |   address\-list, address
-.br
-
-Continuation lines in alias files end with `\\' followed by the newline
-character.
-
-Alias\-file and file are UNIX file names.  UNIX\-group is a group name
-(or number) from \fI/etc/group\fR.  An address is a \*(lqsimple\*(rq
-Internet\-style address.  Througout this file, case is ignored, except
-for alias\-file names.
-
-If the line starts with a `<', then the file named after the `<' is
+.PP
+.RS 5
+.nf
+.IR address\-group "   := " address\-list
+.RI "                  |  < " file
+.RI "                  |  = " UNIX\-group
+.RI "                  |  + " UNIX\-group
+                       |  *
+
+.IR address\-list "    := " address
+.RI "                  |  " address\-list ", " address
+.fi
+.RE
+.PP
+Continuation lines end with \*(lq\\\*(rq followed by a newline
+character.  This also applies to comment lines.  Thus, the line following a
+\*(lq\\\*(rq\-terminated
+comment line is a continuation of
+that comment line.
+.PP
+.I Alias\-file
+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
+If the line starts with a \*(lq<\*(rq, the file named after the \*(lq<\*(rq is

 read for more alias definitions.  The reading is done recursively, so a
 read for more alias definitions.  The reading is done recursively, so a

-`<' may occur in the beginning of an alias file with the expected results.
-
-If the address\-group starts with a `<', then the file named after the
-`<' is read and its contents are added to the address\-list for the alias.
-
-If the address\-group starts with an `=', then the file \fI/etc/group\fR
-is consulted for the UNIX\-group named after the `='.  Each login name
-occurring as a member of the group is added to the address\-list for
-the alias.
-
-In contrast, if the address\-group starts with a `+', then the file
-\fI/etc/group\fR is consulted to determine the group\-id of the
-UNIX\-group named after the `+'.  Each login name occurring in the
-\fI/etc/passwd\fR file whose group\-id is indicated by this group is
-added to the address\-list for the alias.
-
-If the address\-group is simply `*', then the file \fI/etc/passwd\fR is
-consulted and all login names with a userid greater than some magic number
-(usually 200) are added to the address\-list for the alias.
-
-In match, a trailing * on an alias will match just about anything
-appropriate.  (See example below.)
-
-An approximation of the way aliases are resolved at posting time is
-(it's not really done this way):
-
-.in +.5i
-1) Build a list of all addresses from the message to be delivered,
+\*(lq<\*(rq may occur in the beginning of an alias file with the expected results.
+.PP
+If the
+.I address\-group
+starts with a \*(lq<\*(rq, the file named after the
+\*(lq<\*(rq is read and its contents are added to the
+.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
+If the
+.I address\-group
+is simply \*(lq*\*(rq, the system's password database
+is consulted and all login names with a userid
+greater than some magic number (usually 200) are added to the
+.I address\-list
+for the alias.
+.B
+This feature is obsolescent and will be removed in a future release.
+.PP
+In match, a trailing \*(lq*\*(rq on an alias will match just about anything
+appropriate.
+.PP
+An approximation of the way aliases are resolved at posting time is:
+.IP 1)
+Build a list of all addresses from the message to be delivered,

 eliminating duplicate addresses.
 eliminating duplicate addresses.

-
-2) If this draft originated on the local host, then for those addresses in
+.IP 2)
+If this draft originated on the local host, then for those addresses in

 the message that have no host specified, perform alias resolution.
 the message that have no host specified, perform alias resolution.

-
-3) For each line in the alias file, compare \*(lqalias\*(rq against all of
+.IP 3)
+For each line in the alias file, compare \*(lqalias\*(rq against all of

 the existing addresses.  If a match, remove the matched \*(lqalias\*(rq
 from the address list, and add each new address in the address\-group to
 the address list if it is not already on the list.  The alias itself is
 not usually output, rather the address\-group that the alias maps to is
 the existing addresses.  If a match, remove the matched \*(lqalias\*(rq
 from the address list, and add each new address in the address\-group to
 the address list if it is not already on the list.  The alias itself is
 not usually output, rather the address\-group that the alias maps to is

-output instead.  If \*(lqalias\*(rq is terminated with a `;' instead of
-a `:', then both the \*(lqalias\*(rq and the address are output in the
-correct format.  (This makes replies possible since \fInmh\fR aliases
-and personal aliases are unknown to the mail transport system.)
-.in -.5i
-
-Since the alias file is read line by line, forward references work, but
-backward references are not recognized, thus, there is no recursion.
-
-.ne 10
-\fBExample:\fR
+output instead.  If \*(lqalias\*(rq is terminated with a \*(lq;\*(rq instead of
+a \*(lq:\*(rq, then both the \*(lqalias\*(rq and the address are output in the
+correct format (with the alias quoted if necessary and the address
+wrapped in <>).
+.PP
+Since the
+.I mh-alias
+file is read line by line, forward references work, but
+backward references are not recognized.
+.SS
+Example Alias File
+.PP
+.RS 5

 .nf
 .nf

-.in +.5i

 <%etcdir%/BBoardAliases
 <%etcdir%/BBoardAliases

+fred: frated@UCI.example

 sgroup: fred, fear, freida
 sgroup: fred, fear, freida

-b-people: Blind List: bill, betty;
-fred: frated@UCI
+b-people: Blind List: bill, betty

 UNIX\-committee: <unix.aliases
 staff: =staff
 wheels: +wheel
 UNIX\-committee: <unix.aliases
 staff: =staff
 wheels: +wheel

-everyone: *

 news.*: news
 news.*: news

-.in -.5i

 .fi
 .fi

-
+.RE
+.PP

 The first line says that more aliases should immediately be read from
 The first line says that more aliases should immediately be read from

-the file \fI%etcdir%/BBoardAliases\fR.  Following this, \*(lqfred\*(rq
-is defined as an alias for \*(lqfrated@UCI\*(rq, and \*(lqsgroup\*(rq
-is defined as an alias for the three names \*(lqfrated@UCI\*(rq,
+the file
+.BR %etcdir%/BBoardAliases .
+Following this, \*(lqfred\*(rq
+is defined as an alias for \*(lqfrated@UCI.example\*(rq, and \*(lqsgroup\*(rq
+is defined as an alias for the three names \*(lqfrated@UCI.example\*(rq,

 \*(rqfear\*(rq, and \*(rqfreida\*(rq.
 \*(rqfear\*(rq, and \*(rqfreida\*(rq.

-.sp
+.PP

 The alias \*(lqb-people\*(rq is a blind list which includes the addresses
 The alias \*(lqb-people\*(rq is a blind list which includes the addresses

-\*(lqbill\*(rq and \*(lqbetty\*(rq; the message will be delieved to those
-addresses, but the message header will  show only \*(lqBlind List: ;\*(rq
-(not the addresses).
-.sp
+\*(lqbill\*(rq and \*(lqbetty\*(rq; the message will be delivered to those
+addresses, but the message header will show only \*(lqBlind List: ;\*(rq
+(not the addresses).  The alias must not be terminated with, or contain,
+a semicolon.
+Note that blind lists are not supported with the
+.B sendmail/pipe
+mail transport method.
+.PP

 Next, the definition of \*(lqUNIX\-committee\*(rq is given by
 Next, the definition of \*(lqUNIX\-committee\*(rq is given by

-reading the file \fIunix.aliases\fR in the users \fInmh\fR directory,
+reading the file
+.I unix.aliases
+in the user's
+.B nmh
+directory,

 \*(lqstaff\*(rq is defined as all users who are listed as members of the
 \*(lqstaff\*(rq is defined as all users who are listed as members of the

-group \*(lqstaff\*(rq in the \fI/etc/group\fR file, and \*(lqwheels\*(rq
-is defined as all users whose group\-id in \fI/etc/passwd\fR is equivalent
-to the \*(lqwheel\*(rq group.
-.sp
-Finally, \*(lqeveryone\*(rq is defined as all users with a user\-id
-in \fI/etc/passwd\fR greater than 200, and all aliases of the form
-\*(lqnews.<anything>\*(rq are defined to be \*(lqnews\*(rq.
-
-The key thing to understand about aliasing in \fInmh\fR is that aliases
-in \fInmh\fR alias files are expanded into the headers of messages posted.
-This aliasing occurs first, at posting time, without the knowledge of the
-message transport system.  In contrast, once the message transport system
-is given a message to deliver to a list of addresses, for each address
-that appears to be local, a system\-wide alias file is consulted.  These
-aliases are \fBNOT\fR expanded into the headers of messages delivered.
-.Hh
-To use aliasing in \fInmh\fR quickly, do the following:
-
-.in +.5i
-First, in your \fI\&.mh\(ruprofile\fR, choose a name for your alias
-file, say \*(lqaliases\*(rq, and add the line:
-
-.nf
-.in +.5i
-Aliasfile: aliases
-.\" ali: \-alias aliases
-.\" send: \-alias aliases
-.\" whom: \-alias aliases
-.in -.5i
-.fi
-
-Second, create the file \*(lqaliases\*(rq in your \fInmh\fR directory.
-
-Third, start adding aliases to your \*(lqaliases\*(rq file as appropriate.
-.in -.5i
-.Fi
-^%etcdir%/MailAliases~^global nmh alias file
-.Pr
-^Aliasfile:~^For a default alias file
-.Sa
-ali(1), send(1), whom(1), group(5), passwd(5), conflict(8), post(8)
-.De
-None
-.Co
-None
-.Bu
-Although the forward-referencing semantics of \fImh\-alias\fR files
-prevent recursion, the \*(lq<\ alias\-file\*(rq command may defeat this.
-Since the number of file descriptors is finite (and very limited), such
+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.
+.SH "PROFILE COMPONENTS"
+.TP 20
+Aliasfile:
+Default alias file.
+.SH FILES
+.TP 20
+%etcdir%/MailAliases
+System-wide default alias file.
+.SH "SEE ALSO"
+.IR ali (1),
+.IR send (1),
+.IR whom (1),
+.IR getgrent (3),
+.IR getpwent (3),
+.IR conflict (8),
+.IR post (8)
+.SH BUGS
+Although the forward-referencing semantics of
+mh\-alias
+files prevent recursion, the
+.B alias\-file
+directive may defeat this.
+Since the number of file descriptors is finite, such

 infinite recursion will terminate with a meaningless diagnostic when
 all the fds are used up.
 infinite recursion will terminate with a meaningless diagnostic when
 all the fds are used up.

-.sp
-Forward references do not work correctly inside blind lists.
-.En
+.PP
+Earlier versions of this man page showed a semicolon at the end of the
+blind list example.  That caused the preceding alias to not be
+expanded.  There must not be a semicolon at the end of, or within, the
+address group of a blind list.
+.B post
+will append the semicolon to the blind list name.