man(1) Manual page archive


NAME
     form - form letter generator

SYNOPSIS
     form proto arg ...

DESCRIPTION
     Form generates a form letter from a prototype letter, an
     associative memory, arguments and in a special case, the
     current date.

     If form is invoked with the proto argument x, the associa-
     tive memory is searched for an entry with name x and the
     contents filed under that name are used as the prototype.
     If the search fails, the message `[x]:' is typed on the con-
     sole and whatever text is typed in from the console, termi-
     nated by two new lines, is used as the prototype.  If the
     prototype argument is missing, `{letter}' is assumed.

     Basically, form is a copy process from the prototype to the
     output file.  If an element of the form [n] (where n is a
     digit from 1 to 9) is encountered, the n-th arg is inserted
     in its place, and that argument is then rescanned.  If [0]
     is encountered, the current date is inserted.  If the
     desired argument has not been given, a message of the form
     `[n]:' is typed.  The response typed in then is used for
     that argument.

     If an element of the form [name] or {name} is encountered,
     the name is looked up in the associative memory.  If it is
     found, the contents of the memory under this name replaces
     the original element (again rescanned).  If the name is not
     found, a message of the form `[name]:' is typed.  The
     response typed in is used for that element.  The response is
     entered in the memory under the name if the name is enclosed
     in [ ].  The response is not entered in the memory but is
     remembered for the duration of the letter if the name is
     enclosed in {}.  Brackets and braces may be nested.

     In both of the above cases, the response is typed in by
     entering arbitrary text terminated by two new lines.  Only
     the first of the two new lines is passed with the text.

     If one of the special characters [{]}\ is preceded by a \,
     it loses its special character.

     If a file named `forma' already exists in the user's direc-
     tory, `formb' is used as the output file and so forth to
     `formz'.

     The file `form.m' is created if none exists.  Because form.m
     is operated on by the disc allocator, it should only be
     changed by using fed, the form letter editor, or form.

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FILES
     form.m  associative memory
     form?   output file (read only)

SEE ALSO
     fed (VI), roff (I)

BUGS
     An unbalanced ] or } acts as an end of file but may add a
     few strange entries to the associative memory.

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