NAME

bugfiler − file bug reports in folders automatically

SYNTAX

bugfiler [ mail directory ]

DESCRIPTION

Bugfiler is a program to automatically intercept bug reports, summarize them and store them in the appropriate sub directories of the mail directory specified on the command line or the (system dependent) default.  It is designed to be compatible with the Rand MH mail system.  Bugfiler is normally invoked by the mail delivery program through aliases(5) with a line such as the following in /usr/lib/aliases.

bugs:"|bugfiler /usr/bugs/mail"

It reads the message from the standard input or the named file, checks the format and returns mail acknowledging receipt or a message indicating the proper format.  Valid reports are then summarized and filed in the appropriate folder.  Users can then log onto the system and check the summary file for bugs that pertain to them.  Bug reports are submitted in RFC822 format and must contain the following header lines:

Date: <date the report is received>
From: <valid return address>
Subject: <short summary of the problem>
Index: <source directory>/<source file> <version> [Fix]

In addition, the body of the message must contain a line which begins with “Description:” followed by zero or more lines describing the problem in detail and a line beginning with “Repeat-By:” followed by zero or more lines describing how to repeat the problem.  If the keyword ‘Fix’ is specified in the ‘Index’ line, then there must also be a line beginning with “Fix:” followed by a diff of the old and new source files or a description of what was done to fix the problem. 

The ‘Index’ line is the key to the filing mechanism. The source directory name must match one of the folder names in the mail directory.  The message is then filed in this folder and a line appended to the summary file in the following format:

<folder name>/<message number><Index info>
<Subject info>

FILES

/usr/new/lib/mh/delivermail delivery program
/usr/new/lib/mh/unixtomhconverts unix mail format to mh format
maildir/.ackthe message sent in acknowledgement
maildir/.formatthe message sent when format errors are detected
maildir/summarythe summary file
maildir/Bf??????temporary copy of the input message
maildir/Rp??????temporary file for the reply message. 

SEE ALSO

mh(1), newaliases(1), aliases(5)

RESTRICTIONS

Since mail can be forwarded in a number of different ways, bugfiler does not recognize forwarded mail and will reply/complain to the forwarder instead of the original sender unless there is a ‘Reply-To’ field in the header. 

Duplicate messages should be discarded or recognized and put somewhere else.