[Emacs-diffs] /srv/bzr/emacs/trunk r106748: Update Sending Mail chapter of Emacs manual.

[Chong Yidong]

------------------------------------------------------------
revno: 106748
committer: Chong Yidong <address@hidden>
branch nick: trunk
timestamp: Fri 2011-12-30 18:19:42 +0800
message:
  Update Sending Mail chapter of Emacs manual.
  
  * sending.texi (Sending Mail): Document initial mail buffer name,
  and changed multiple mail buffer behavior.
  (Mail Format): Put the example at the top of the section.
  (Mail Headers): Move discussion of "From" to the top.
  (Mail Sending): Document sendmail-query-once.
  (Citing Mail): Make it less Rmail-specific.
modified:
  admin/FOR-RELEASE
  doc/emacs/ChangeLog
  doc/emacs/sending.texi
  etc/NEWS

=== modified file 'admin/FOR-RELEASE'
--- a/admin/FOR-RELEASE 2011-12-26 10:36:41 +0000
+++ b/admin/FOR-RELEASE 2011-12-30 10:19:42 +0000
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@
 rmail.texi        
 screen.texi       cyd
 search.texi       cyd
-sending.texi      
+sending.texi      cyd
 text.texi         cyd
 trouble.texi      
 vc-xtra.texi      cyd

=== modified file 'doc/emacs/ChangeLog'
--- a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog       2011-12-29 15:58:42 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog       2011-12-30 10:19:42 +0000
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+2011-12-30  Chong Yidong  <address@hidden>
+
+       * sending.texi (Sending Mail): Document initial mail buffer name,
+       and changed multiple mail buffer behavior.
+       (Mail Format): Put the example at the top of the section.
+       (Mail Headers): Move discussion of "From" to the top.
+       (Mail Sending): Document sendmail-query-once.
+       (Citing Mail): Make it less Rmail-specific.
+
 2011-12-29  Chong Yidong  <address@hidden>
 
        * text.texi (Org Mode): Copyedits.  Refer to Outline Format for

=== modified file 'doc/emacs/sending.texi'
--- a/doc/emacs/sending.texi    2011-09-10 08:26:12 +0000
+++ b/doc/emacs/sending.texi    2011-12-30 10:19:42 +0000
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@
 
 @kindex C-x m
 @findex compose-mail
-  To send an @dfn{e-mail} message in Emacs, type @kbd{C-x m}.  This
-selects and initializes a buffer named @samp{*mail*}, where you can
-edit the text and headers of the message.  Finally, type @kbd{C-c C-s}
-or @kbd{C-c C-c} to send the message.
+  To send an email message from Emacs, type @kbd{C-x m}.  This
+switches to a buffer named @samp{*unsent mail*}, where you can edit
+the text and headers of the message.  When done, type @kbd{C-c C-s} or
address@hidden C-c} to send it.
 
 @table @kbd
 @item C-x m
@@ -30,37 +30,28 @@
 (@code{message-send-and-exit}).
 @end table
 
+  The mail buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, so you can switch to
+other buffers while composing the mail.  If you want to send another
+mail before finishing the current one, type @kbd{C-x m} again to open
+a new mail buffer whose name has a different numeric suffix
+(@pxref{Misc Buffer}).  If you invoke the command with a prefix
+argument, @address@hidden C-x m}}, Emacs switches back to the last mail
+buffer, and asks if you want to erase the message in that buffer; if
+you answer no, this lets you pick up editing the message where you
+left off.
+
 @kindex C-x 4 m
 @findex compose-mail-other-window
 @kindex C-x 5 m
 @findex compose-mail-other-frame
address@hidden
-The command @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) does the
-same as @kbd{C-x m}, except it displays the mail buffer in a different
-window.  The command @kbd{C-x 5 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-frame})
-creates a new frame for the mail buffer.
-
-  Because the mail buffer is an ordinary Emacs buffer, you can switch
-to other buffers while in the middle of composing mail, and switch
-back later (or never).  If you type @kbd{C-x m} again when you have
-been composing another message but have not sent it, Emacs asks for
-confirmation before erasing the old message.  If you answer @kbd{n},
-Emacs selects the mail buffer with its old contents, so you can finish
-the old message and send it.  @kbd{C-u C-x m} is another way to do
-this.  Sending the message marks the mail buffer ``unmodified,'' which
-avoids the need for confirmation when @kbd{C-x m} is next used.
-
-  If you want to send another message before finishing the current
-message, use the command @kbd{M-x rename-uniquely} to rename the
-current mail buffer (@pxref{Misc Buffer}).  Then you can use @kbd{C-x
-m} to make a new mail buffer, and work with each mail buffer
-independently.
-
-  Before using Emacs to send mail, you may need to customize the
-variable @code{send-mail-function} if your system is not set up to
-deliver mail directly via SMTP (@pxref{Mail Sending}).  In addition,
-you may need to customize @code{user-mail-address} if the system
-cannot receive mail via SMTP (@pxref{Mail Headers}).
+  The command @kbd{C-x 4 m} (@code{compose-mail-other-window}) does
+the same as @kbd{C-x m}, except it displays the mail buffer in a
+different window.  The command @kbd{C-x 5 m}
+(@code{compose-mail-other-frame}) does it in a new frame.
+
+  When you type @kbd{C-c C-c} or @kbd{C-c C-s} to send the mail, Emacs
+may ask you how it should deliver the mail---either directly via SMTP,
+or using some other method.  @xref{Mail Sending}, for details.
 
 @menu
 * Format: Mail Format.        Format of a mail message.
@@ -75,77 +66,91 @@
 @node Mail Format
 @section The Format of the Mail Buffer
 
-  An email message must contain certain pieces of information, called
address@hidden, which specify the message's sender, recipient(s), and
-so on.
-
-  At the top of the mail buffer is a set of @dfn{header fields}, where
-you can enter this information.  You can insert and edit header fields
-using ordinary editing commands.  @xref{Header Editing}, for commands
-specific to editing header fields.
-
-  Some header fields are automatically pre-initialized in the buffer,
-when appropriate; other headers, such as @samp{Date} and
address@hidden, are normally omitted from the mail buffer and
+  Here is an example of the contents of a mail buffer:
+
address@hidden
+To: subotai@@example.org
+CC: mongol.soldier@@example.net, rms@@gnu.org
+Subject: Re: What is best in life?
+From: conan@@example.org
+--text follows this line--
+To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the
+lamentation of their women.
address@hidden example
+
address@hidden
+At the top of the mail buffer is a set of @dfn{header fields}, which
+are used for specifying information about the email's recipient(s),
+subject, and so on.  The above buffer contains header fields for
address@hidden, @samp{Cc}, @samp{Subject}, and @samp{From}.  Some header
+fields are automatically pre-initialized in the mail buffer, when
+appropriate.
+
+  The line that says @samp{--text follows this line--} separates the
+header fields from the @dfn{body} (or @dfn{text}) of the message.
+Everything above that line is treated as part of the headers;
+everything below it is treated as the body.  The delimiter line itself
+does not appear in the message actually sent.
+
+  You can insert and edit header fields using ordinary editing
+commands.  @xref{Header Editing}, for commands specific to editing
+header fields.  Certain headers, such as @samp{Date} and
address@hidden, are normally omitted from the mail buffer and are
 created automatically when the message is sent.
 
address@hidden mail-header-separator
-  The line in the buffer that says
-
address@hidden
---text follows this line--
address@hidden smallexample
-
address@hidden
-separates the header fields from the @dfn{body} (or @dfn{text}) of the
-message.  Everything above this line is treated as part of the
-headers; everything below it is treated as the body.  The delimiter
-line itself does not appear in the message actually sent.  The text
-used for the delimiter line is controlled by the variable
address@hidden
-
-  Here is an example of what the headers and text in the mail buffer
-might look like.
-
address@hidden
-To: gnu@@example.org
-CC: lungfish@@example.com, byob@@example.net
-Subject: The Emacs Manual
---text follows this line--
-Please ignore this message.
address@hidden example
-
 @node Mail Headers
 @section Mail Header Fields
 @cindex headers (of mail message)
 
   A header field in the mail buffer starts with a field name at the
 beginning of a line, terminated by a colon.  Upper and lower case are
-equivalent in field names (and in mailing addresses also).  After the
-colon and optional whitespace comes the contents of the field.
+equivalent in field names.  After the colon and optional whitespace
+comes the contents of the field.
 
   You can use any name you like for a header field, but normally
-people use only standard field names with accepted meanings.  Here is
-a table of commonly-used fields.  Emacs pre-initializes some of these,
-depending on various options you can set.  You can delete or alter any
-header field before you send the message, if you wish.
+people use only standard field names with accepted meanings.
+
address@hidden user-full-name
address@hidden user-mail-address
+  The @samp{From} header field identifies the person sending the email
+(i.e.@: you).  This should be a valid mailing address, as replies are
+normally sent there.  The default contents of this header field are
+computed from the variables @code{user-full-name} (which specifies
+your full name) and @code{user-mail-address} (your email address).  On
+some operating systems, Emacs initializes these two variables using
+environment variables (@pxref{General Variables}).  If this
+information is unavailable or wrong, you should customize the
+variables yourself (@pxref{Easy Customization}).
+
address@hidden mail-from-style
+  The value of the variable @code{mail-from-style} specifies how to
+format the contents of the @samp{From} field:
+
address@hidden @asis
address@hidden @code{nil}
+Use just the address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}.
address@hidden @code{parens}
+Use both address and full name, as in:@*
address@hidden@@grassland.com (Elvis Parsley)}.
address@hidden @code{angles}
+Use both address and full name, as in:@*
address@hidden Parsley <king@@grassland.com>}.
address@hidden any other value
+Use @code{angles} normally.  But if the address must be ``quoted'' to
+remain syntactically valid under the @code{angles} format but not
+under the @code{parens} format, use @code{parens} instead.  This is
+the default.
address@hidden table
+
+  Apart from @samp{From}, here is a table of commonly-used fields:
 
 @table @samp
address@hidden From
address@hidden user-mail-address
-The address of the sender (you).  This should be a valid mailing
-address, as replies will normally go there.  Emacs initializes this
-field using the variables @code{user-full-name} and
address@hidden; see below.
-
 @item To
 The mailing address(es) to which the message is addressed.  To list
-more than one address, use commas (not spaces) to separate them.
+more than one address, use commas to separate them.
 
 @item Subject
-A piece of text saying what the message is about.  Most mail-reading
-programs can display a summary of messages, listing the subject of
-each message but not its text.
+The subject of the message.
 
 @item CC
 Additional mailing address(es) to send the message to.  This is like
@@ -158,47 +163,38 @@
 for @dfn{blind carbon copies}.
 
 @item FCC
-The name of one file, to which a copy of the sent message should be
+The name of a file, to which a copy of the sent message should be
 appended.  Emacs writes the message in mbox format, unless the file is
 in Babyl format (used by Rmail before Emacs 23), in which case Emacs
-writes Babyl.  If an Rmail buffer is visiting the file, Emacs updates
-it accordingly.  To specify more than one file, use several @samp{FCC}
-fields, with one file name in each field.
+writes in Babyl format.  If an Rmail buffer is visiting the file,
+Emacs updates it accordingly.  To specify more than one file, use
+several @samp{FCC} fields, with one file name in each field.
 
 @item Reply-to
 An address to which replies should be sent, instead of @samp{From}.
-You can use this header if, for some reason, your @samp{From} address
-is unable to receive replies.
+This is used if, for some reason, your @samp{From} address cannot
+receive replies.
 
 @item Mail-reply-to
-  This field takes precedence over @samp{Reply-to}.  It is used because
-some mailing lists set the @samp{Reply-to} field for their own purposes
-(a somewhat controversial practice).
+This field takes precedence over @samp{Reply-to}.  It is used because
+some mailing lists set the @samp{Reply-to} field for their own
+purposes (a somewhat controversial practice).
 
 @item Mail-followup-to
-  This field contains one or more addresses.  It is typically used when
-you reply to a message from a mailing list that you are subscribed to.
-It usually indicates that you want replies to go to the list, and that
-you do not need an extra copy sent directly to you.
-
address@hidden Message mode handles this differently...
address@hidden @vindex mail-mailing-lists
address@hidden   The variable @code{mail-mailing-lists} holds a list of mailing 
list
address@hidden addresses that you are subscribed to.  If it is address@hidden, 
Emacs
address@hidden inserts an appropriate @samp{Mail-followup-to} header when 
sending mail
address@hidden to a mailing list.
+One of more address(es) to use as default recipient(s) for follow-up
+messages.  This is typically used when you reply to a message from a
+mailing list that you are subscribed to, and want replies to go to the
+list without sending an extra copy to you.
 
 @item In-reply-to
-A piece of text describing the message you are replying to.  Some mail
-systems can use this information to correlate related pieces of mail.
-Normally, you never need to think about this, because it is filled in
-automatically when you reply to a message in Rmail (or any other mail
-program built into Emacs).
+An identifier for the message you are replying to.  Most mail readers
+use this information to group related messages together.  Normally,
+this header is filled in automatically when you reply to a message in
+any mail program built into Emacs.
 
 @item References
-The Message-Ids of previous related messages (a Message-Id is a unique
-identifier generated when a message is sent).  Like
address@hidden, this is normally set up automatically for you.
+Identifiers for previous related messages.  Like @samp{In-reply-to},
+this is normally filled in automatically for you.
 @end table
 
 @noindent
@@ -217,35 +213,6 @@
 @end group
 @end example
 
address@hidden user-full-name
address@hidden user-mail-address
-  The default contents of the @samp{From} header field are computed
-from the variables @code{user-full-name} and @code{user-mail-address}.
-On some operating systems, Emacs initializes these two variables using
-environment variables (@pxref{General Variables}).  If this
-information is unavailable or wrong, you can customize the variables
-yourself (@pxref{Easy Customization}).
-
address@hidden mail-from-style
-  The value of the variable @code{mail-from-style} specifies how to
-format the address in the @samp{From} field:
-
address@hidden @asis
address@hidden @code{nil}
-Use just the address, as in @samp{king@@grassland.com}.
address@hidden @code{parens}
-Use both address and full name, as in:@*
address@hidden@@grassland.com (Elvis Parsley)}.
address@hidden @code{angles}
-Use both address and full name, as in:@*
address@hidden Parsley <king@@grassland.com>}.
address@hidden any other value
-Use @code{angles} for most addresses.  However, if the address must be
-``quoted'' to remain syntactically-valid under the @code{angles}
-format but not under the @code{parens} format, use @code{parens}
-instead.  This is the default.
address@hidden table
-
 @c There is also mail-specify-envelope-from and mail-envelope-from, but
 @c these are probably not topics for the Emacs manual.
 
@@ -273,13 +240,12 @@
 @vindex mail-personal-alias-file
 
   You can define @dfn{mail aliases}, which are short mnemonic names
-that stand for mail addresses or groups of mail addresses.  By
-default, mail aliases are defined in the file @file{~/.mailrc}.  You
-can specify a different file name to use, by setting the variable
+that stand for one or more mailing addresses.  By default, mail
+aliases are defined in the file @file{~/.mailrc}.  You can specify a
+different file name to use, by setting the variable
 @code{mail-personal-alias-file}.
 
-  To define an alias in @file{.mailrc}, write a line in the following
-format:
+  To define an alias in @file{.mailrc}, write a line like this:
 
 @example
 alias @var{nick} @var{fulladdresses}
@@ -409,33 +375,39 @@
 @cindex Sendmail
 @cindex Mailclient
 @vindex send-mail-function
-  The variable @code{send-mail-function} controls how the default mail
-user agent sends mail.  Its value should be a function, which can be
-one of the following:
+  The variable @code{send-mail-function} controls how the message is
+delivered.  Its value should be a function, which can be one of the
+following:
 
 @table @code
address@hidden sendmail-query-once
+This function queries for a delivery method (one of the other entries
+in this list), and uses that method for this message.  Then it saves
+the method to @code{send-mail-function}, so that the method is used
+for future deliveries.  This is the default, unless you have already
+configured the @code{smtpmail-send-it} method.
+
address@hidden smtpmail-send-it
+Send mail through an external mail host, such as your Internet service
+provider's outgoing SMTP mail server.  If you have not told Emacs how
+to contact the SMTP server, it prompts for this information (which is
+saved in the variables @code{smtpmail-smtp-server} and
address@hidden).  @xref{Top,,Emacs SMTP Library,
+smtpmail, Sending mail via SMTP}.
+
 @item sendmail-send-it
-Send mail using the system's default @command{sendmail} (or
address@hidden) program.  This is the default on Unix
-and GNU, and works provided the system is a valid @dfn{mail host}
-(that is, provided it can deliver mail via SMTP).
+Send mail using the system's default @command{sendmail} program, or
+equivalent.  This requires the system to be set up for delivering mail
+directly via SMTP.
 
 @item mailclient-send-it
-Pass the mail buffer on to the system's designated mail client (see
address@hidden).  This is the default on Mac OS X and
-MS-Windows.
-
address@hidden smtpmail-send-it
-Send mail through an external mail host (e.g., your Internet service
-provider's SMTP server).  You will need to tell Emacs how to contact
-the SMTP server, by customizing the variables
address@hidden and @code{smtpmail-auth-credentials}.
address@hidden,,Emacs SMTP Library, smtpmail, Sending mail via SMTP}.
+Pass the mail buffer on to the system's designated mail client.  See
+the commentary section in the file @file{mailclient.el} for details.
 
 @item feedmail-send-it
 This is similar to @code{sendmail-send-it}, but allows you to queue
 messages for later sending.  See the commentary section in the file
address@hidden for more information.
address@hidden for details.
 @end table
 
 @node Header Editing
@@ -511,7 +483,8 @@
 
 @table @kbd
 @item C-c C-y
-Yank the selected message from Rmail (@code{message-yank-original}).
+Yank the selected message from the mail reader, as a citation
+(@code{message-yank-original}).
 @item C-c C-q
 Fill each paragraph cited from another message
 (@code{message-fill-yanked-message}).
@@ -522,9 +495,9 @@
 @findex message-yank-prefix
   You can use the command @kbd{C-c C-y} (@code{message-yank-original})
 to @dfn{cite} a message that you are replying to.  This inserts the
-text of that message into the mail buffer.  This command is active
-only when the mail buffer is invoked from a mail program running in
-Emacs, such as Rmail.
+text of that message into the mail buffer.  This command works only if
+the mail buffer is invoked from a mail reader running in Emacs, such
+as Rmail.
 
   By default, Emacs inserts the string @samp{>} in front of each line
 of the cited text; this prefix string is specified by the variable

=== modified file 'etc/NEWS'
--- a/etc/NEWS  2011-12-26 10:36:41 +0000
+++ b/etc/NEWS  2011-12-30 10:19:42 +0000
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@
 
 ** Mail changes
 
-The default of `send-mail-function' is now `sendmail-query-once',
++++
+*** The default of `send-mail-function' is now `sendmail-query-once',
 which asks the user (once) whether to use the smtpmail package to send
 email, or to use the old defaults that rely on external mail
 facilities (`sendmail-send-it' on GNU/Linux and other Unix-like
@@ -156,14 +157,12 @@
 
 in your ~/.authinfo file instead.
 
-*** sendmail changes
+*** Mail mode changes (this is the old Mail mode, not Message mode)
 +++
-You can now add MIME attachments to outgoing messages with the new
-command `mail-add-attachment'.
-
+**** New command `mail-add-attachment' for adding MIME attachments
 ---
-The command `mail-attach-file' was renamed to `mail-insert-file'; the
-old name is now an obsolete alias to the new name.
+**** The command `mail-attach-file' was renamed to `mail-insert-file'.
+The old name is now an obsolete alias to the new name.
 
 ** Emacs server and client changes
 +++