1 10/21/83  send_mail request:  qedx, qx
 2 
 3 Syntax:  qx {-control_args}
 4 
 5 
 6 Function:  invokes the Multics qedx editor to edit the message text
 7 and, optionally, the message header.
 8 
 9 
10 Control arguments:
11 -auto_write
12    specifies that this request will automatically update the message
13    when the user quits the editor.
14 -no_auto_write
15    specifies that this request will require the user to use the write
16    request to update the message before quitting the editor.  Any
17    attempt to exit without writing will result in a query.
18 -fill, -fi
19    specifies that the message text should be reformatted after editing.
20 -no_fill, -nfi
21    specifies that the message text should not be reformatted.
22 
23 
24 -line_length N, -ll N
25    specifies the line length to use when reformatting the message text.
26    If this control argument is not given, the line length specified on
27    the send_mail command line will be used; if, however, no line length
28    was specified on the send_mail command line, a line length of 72
29    will be used.
30 -header, -he
31    specifies that the message header is to be edited in addition to the
32    message text.
33 -no_header, -nhe
34    specifies that only the message text should be edited.  (Default)
35 
36 
37 Notes:
38 The default for reformatting the message after editing is dependent on
39 the original source of the message text.  If terminal input was used,
40 the default is to reformat the message; if file input was used, the
41 default is to not reformat the message.  This default may be changed by
42 use of the -fill and -no_fill control arguments on the send_mail
43 command line.  Additionally, whatever default is specified may be
44 overriden for one invocation of the qedx request by use of the control
45 arguments described above.
46 
47 
48 For compatibilty with the qedx command, the behavior described above
49 for -no_auto_write is the default mode of operation for this request.
50 This default may be changed by use of the -auto_write and
51 -no_auto_write control arguments on the send_mail command line.
52 Additionally, whatever default is specified may be overidden for one
53 invocation of the qedx request by the use of these control arguments on
54 the qedx request line.
55 
56 The message text (and header if requested) are placed in buffer 0.  If
57 -auto_write is in effect, the quit (q) request will automatically
58 reflect any changes made to the message back to send_mail.  When
59 -no_auto_write is in effect, the write (w) request must be used to
60 reflect any changes back to send_mail.  In either case, the write
61 request may be used as often as desired to checkpoint the editing
62 process.
63 
64 
65 If the quit (q) request is issued with -no_auto_write in effect and the
66 message has been modified since it was last written, qedx will query
67 for permission to exit.  If permission is given, any changes to the
68 message since the last write request (if any) will be lost.  The
69 quit-force (qf) request may be used to abort unwanted editing of the
70 message without being queried.
71 
72 The read (r) and write (w) requests will accept pathnames when used in
73 buffer 0 (the message) but they will never change the default pathname
74 of the buffer.  Thus, when used without a pathname, read and write will
75 always refer to send_mail's copy of the message.  When used with a
76 pathname, the read request will insert a segment into the message and
77 the write request will make a copy of the message in a segment for
78 later use.
79 
80 
81 If issued before use of the write request, the request line
82      1,$dr
83 will restore the original message text to the buffer.  If given after a
84 write request, this request line will restore the message text as saved
85 by the last write request given in the buffer.
86 
87 If the -header control argument is specified, both the message header
88 and text will be given to the editor.  After editing is complete,
89 send_mail will analyze the new message and then update the message's
90 subject, lists of primary/secondary/"blind" recipients, authors, and
91 list of recipients for future replies.  For detailed information on the
92 content of the message header, type:
93      help message_format.gi