13 - Creating a reply to an incoming message - Background Information
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When a message file object is dropped on the 'Dispatch' program object, RexxMail uses the extended attributes of the mail message file (which were set by RexxMail when the message was received or created) to distinguish between incoming and outgoing messages. Outgoing message files are sent, but if the file is an incoming message, RexxMail collects the reply address from the message header. The resulting text content is used to complete the 'To:' header line in the message template.

For standard replies, RexxMail looks at the following header entries in succession until it finds a valid reply address: 'Reply-To:', 'From:', 'Sender:', 'Apparently-From:', and if present, 'From' (this being the Unix envelope address.)

A reply to an incoming message can also be created using the incoming message file object's pop-up menu. The pop-up menu offers additional options over the drag and drop method. For some messages, you may want to include the original recipients in the list of recipients for the reply, or you may want to send the reply specifically to the sender address instead of to the specified reply address.

RexxMail includes options to send a reply message to the original sender (instead of to the reply address), to the original recipients, or to all, i.e. the sender (using both the reply address and the sender's address if they are not the same) and the original recipients.

Double-clicking the reply message object starts RexxMail with the '/edit' switch, just like opening any other outgoing mail message would.

The body of the new message contains a text line referring to the original message by its date and time stamp, followed by the quoted contents of the original message. i.e. with each line preceded by '> '.

Note that with word wrap off, as in this case, the paragraphs of the original message show as long lines. By default, RexxMail sends its text content as (ISO 8859-1 encoded) 'quoted-printable' MIME content in order to allow the recipient to reformat paragraphs according to the local mail viewer's window width and font settings.


© 2001 M.C. de Geus
Last updated 20010920