---
name: "anno"
section: "1mh"
platform: "linux"
package: "nmh"
version: "1.8-3"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/anno/1mh"
---

# anno(1mh)

annotate nmh messages

## NAME

anno - annotate nmh messages

## SYNOPSIS

**anno** \[**-help**\] \[**-version**\] \[*+folder*\] \[*msgs*\] \[**-component** *field*\] \[**-inplace** \| **-noinplace**\] \[**-date** \| **-nodate**\] \[**-draft**\] \[**-append**\] \[**-list**\] \[**-delete**\] \[**-number** *\[*num\|all*\]\]* \[**-preserve** \| **-nopreserve**\] \[**-text** *body*\]

## DESCRIPTION

**anno** manipulates header fields or *annotations* in messages. Header fields consist of a field name and an optional field body as defined by RFC 2822. The **-component** switch specifies the field name, and the **-text** switch specifies the field body.

The messages are either the *msgs* in the named folder, or the draft if invoked with the **-draft** switch.

Usually, annotation is performed by the commands **dist**, **forw**, and **repl**, if they are given the **-anno** switch.  This allows you to keep track of your distribution of, forwarding of, and replies to a message.

By using **anno**, you can perform arbitrary annotations of your own. Each message selected will be annotated with the lines

    field: date\
     field: body

The **-nodate** switch inhibits the date annotation, leaving only the body annotation.

By default, **anno** prepends the annotations to the message. Annotations are instead appended if the **-append** switch is specified.

If a **-component** *field* is not specified when **anno** is invoked, **anno** will prompt the user for a field name.

The field specified must be a valid RFC 2822-style message field name, consisting only of alphanumeric characters and dashes. The body may consist of arbitrary text.

Normally **anno** does the annotation in place in order to preserve any links to the message.  You may change this by using the **-noinplace** switch.

The **-list** switch produces a listing of the field bodies for header fields with names matching the specified component, one per line. The listing is numbered, starting at 1, if the **-number** switch is also used. A tab character separates the number and the field body. The field body is treated as if it is a file name, and only the final path name component is listed. The complete field body is listed if the **-text** switch is used; the argument to the **-text** switch is required but ignored.

The **-delete** switch removes header fields from messages. The first header field whose name matches the component is deleted if no other options are specified. If the **-text** switch is used in conjunction with the **-delete** switch, the first header field whose name matches the component and whose body matches the text is deleted. The text is treated as if it was a file name; if it begins with a slash, the entire field body must match the text, otherwise just the last path name component of the field body must match. If the **-number** switch is used in conjunction with the **-delete** switch, header field *num* whose name matches the component is deleted. The number matches that which is produced by the **-list** switch. The special value **all** can be used for the number, and causes all components that match the name to be deleted.

By default, **anno** changes the last-accessed and last-modified times on annotated messages to the time of the annotation. **anno** preserves the original times if the **-preserve** switch is used. A matching **-nopreserve** switch allows time preservation to be turned off, if enabled in the profile.

## FILES

- $HOME/.mh\_profile

  The user's profile.

## PROFILE COMPONENTS

- Path:

  To determine the user's nmh directory.

- Current-Folder:

  To find the default current folder.

## SEE ALSO

[*dist*(1)](/dist/1.md), [*forw*(1)](/forw/1.md), [*repl*(1)](/repl/1.md)

## DEFAULTS

- \+folder

  The current folder.

- msgs

  The current message.

- \-inplace

  - \-date

  ## CONTEXT

If a folder is given, it will become the current folder.  The first message annotated will become the current message.