---
name: "mcds"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "mcds"
version: "1.9-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/mcds"
---

# mcds(1)

mutt CardDAV query

## NAME

**mcds** – mutt CardDAV query

## SYNOPSIS

**mcds** \[**-c** *config\_file*\] \[**-hVvp**\] \[**-q** **a** \| **e** \| **n** \| **t**\] \[**-S**\] \[**-s** **a** \| **e** \| **n** \| **t**\] \[**-u** *URL*\] *term*

## DESCRIPTION

The **mcds** utility queries a CardDAV server for requested information. Its primary function is to provide an address query command for [mutt(1)](/mutt/1.md).

The options are as follows:

- **-c** *config\_file*

  Specifies an alternative configuration file. The default file is *~/.mcdsrc*.

- **-h**

  Print help text to standard output and exit.

- **-p**

  Prompt for a password.

- **-q** **a** \| **e** \| **n** \| **t**

  The term to query against. Known terms are:

  - **a**

    Query for the address field.

  - **e**

    Query for the email field. This is the default.

  - **n**

    Query for the full-name field.

  - **t**

    Query for the telephone field.

- **-S**

  Save the password.

- **-s** **a** \| **e** \| **n** \| **t**

  The search term to return. Known terms are:

  - **a**

    Query for the address field.

  - **e**

    Query for the email field. This is the default.

  - **n**

    Query for the full-name field.

  - **t**

    Query for the telephone field.

- **-u** *URL*

  The URL of the CardDAV server.

- **-V**

  Print the version number and license information of **mcds** to standard output and exit.

- **-v**

  Enable verbose mode. Forces **mcds** to print debugging messages about its progress.

## FILES

- *~/.mcdsrc*

  Configuration file. Used to set default values for **mcds**, but can be overridden with command-line arguments. Formatted as a list of “**key** = *value*” pairs separated by newlines.

  The keys are as follows:

  - **url** = *URL*

    The URL of the CardDAV server.

  - **verify** = \[**yes** \| **no**\]

    Verify server certificate if connecting over HTTPS. Disabled by default.

  - **netrc** = \[**yes** \| **no**\]

    Enable reading the *~/.netrc* file. Disabled by default.

  - **username** = *USERNAME*

    The username to login to the CardDAV server with. If a username is specified **mcds** will not use the *~/.netrc* file.

  - **password\_file** = *password.gpg*

    The GPG encrypted file containing the password for the CardDAV server.

  - **libsecret** = \[**yes** \| **no**\]

    Use  library “libsecret” to store and retrieve the password.

- *~/.netrc*

  Used to access your username and password when authenticating with the CardDAV server, if you have not specified your username and password file in *~/.mcdsrc*.

## EXIT STATUS

The **mcds** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## EXAMPLES

Query a CardDAV server for email addresses corresponding to “Ben”:

```
$ mcds -u https://localhost/caldav.php/username/addressbook/ Ben
ben@example.net        Ben Smith
...
```

To use **mcds** with **mutt**, add the following to your [muttrc(5)](/muttrc/5.md):

```
set query_command="mcds -u https://localhost/caldav.php/username/addressbook/ '%s'"
```

This query can be simplified by putting the relevant values in *~/.mcdsrc*:

```
url = https://localhost/caldav.php/username/addressbook/
verify = no
netrc = yes
```

Now the query command can be shortened to:

```
set query_command="mcds '%s'"
```

When compiled against and after enabling libsecret in the configuration file, **mcds** can save passwords provided at the password prompt. To set, replace or clear the password, run

```
mcds -pS
```

## SEE ALSO

[curl(1)](/curl/1.md), [gpg2(1)](/gpg2/1.md), [mutt(1)](/mutt/1.md), [muttrc(5)](/muttrc/5.md), [netrc(5)](/netrc/5.md)

## AUTHORS

The **mcds** utility is maintained by Timothy Brown ⟨*tbrown@freeshell.org*⟩