1 10/21/83  send_mail request:  apply, ap
 2 
 3 Syntax:  ap {-control_args} command_line
 4 
 5 
 6 Function:  passes the message text and, optionally, the message header
 7 to an arbitrary Multics command line which is then executed in order to
 8 possibly edit the message.
 9 
10 
11 Arguments:
12 command_line
13    is the Multics command line to be executed.  See the Notes below for
14    an explanation of how the message is supplied to the command line.
15 
16 
17 Control arguments:
18 -fill, -fi
19    specifies that the message text should be reformatted after the
20    command line has been executed.
21 -no_fill, -nfi
22    specifies that the message text should not be reformatted.
23 -line_length N, -ll N
24    specifies the line length to use when reformatting the message text.
25    If this control argument is not given, the line length specified on
26    the send_mail command line will be used; if, however, no line length
27    was specified on the send_mail command line, a line length of 72
28    will be used.
29 -header, -he
30    specifies that the message header is to be passed to the command
31    line in addition to the message text.
32 -no_header, -nhe
33    specifies that only the message text is to be passed to the command
34    line.  (Default)
35 
36 
37 Notes:
38 The supplied command line need not be enclosed in quotes.  However, if
39 there are (), [], or "'s in the command line which should be processed
40 by the Multics command processor, they should be enclosed in quotes to
41 prevent processing by send_mail's request processor.
42 
43 The message is passed to the Multics command line by placing the
44 message text and header (if requested) into a temporary segment.  The
45 pathname of this segment is then appended to the command line which is
46 then executed.  The content of the segment after execution then
47 replaces the prior message text (and header).
48 
49 This request may be used to edit the message with an editor other than
50 qedx.  For example, the request
51       apply emacs
52 will invoke the Emacs text editor on the message text.
53 
54 
55 The default for reformatting the message after execution of the command
56 line is dependent on the original source of the message text.  If
57 terminal input was used, the default is to reformat the message; if
58 file input was used, the default is to not reformat the message.  This
59 default may be changed by use of the -fill and -no_fill control
60 arguments on the send_mail command line.  Additionally, whatever
61 default is specified may be overriden for one invocation of the apply
62 request by use of the control arguments described above.
63 
64 If the -header control argument is specified, both the message header
65 and text will be passed to the command line.  After execution is
66 complete, send_mail will analyze the new message and then update the
67 message's subject, lists of primary/secondary/"blind" recipients,
68 authors, and list of recipients for future replies.  For detailed
69 information on the content of the message header, type:
70      help message_format.gi
71