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From: jdpeek@RODAN.ACS.SYR.EDU (Jerry Peek)
Newsgroups: comp.mail.mh
Subject: Re: Using Dist for a mailing list
Message-ID: <9007312051.AA08501@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 31 Jul 90 21:51:13 GMT
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> I'd like to set up a simple mailing list using the dist command for mh.
> The man pages mention that there can be a file named distcomp but show
> no example of that file.  Could someone post or mail such an example?
> I'm expecting from 10-30 people on the mailing list if that matters.

The dist command is for re-sending a single existing message.  A lot of
people use the "forw -digest" command instead.  It can even keep track of
volume and issue numbers -- very nice.

If you do want to use dist, you might want to make a special distcomps-type
file that has the mailing list addresses built into it.  For instance,
you could make a file named "distlist" that looks like this:

Resent-To: joe@somewhere, jane@someplaceelse, judy@bigmachine,
	kelly@whatever, ......., ........, .........,
	etc@etc, andso@on
Resent-Fcc: listcopies
Resent-Note:
-------

Put that file in your MH directory (which is usually named "Mail").
It automatically addresses your message to the people in the "resent-to"
line, and puts a copy in the folder named "listcopies".
It prompts you for a one-line note, too, which you can leave blank.

To distribute the current message to your list, you just type:
	% dist -form distlist
You can't type any text after the row of ------ when you use "dist".


If you want an empty distcomps file anyhow, it looks like this:

Resent-to:
Resent-cc:
-------

You can add "resent-fcc:", "resent-bcc:", and "resent-note:" lines to it. 
Put the file in your MH directory.
The prompter(1) manual page has more information.

--Jerry Peek; Syracuse University Academic Computing Services; Syracuse, NY
  jdpeek@rodan.acs.syr.edu, JDPEEK@SUNRISE.BITNET        +1 315 443-3995