Add Debugging for Detail

In rule-testing mode, the -d command (The Syntax of -d on page 530) can be used to turn debugging output on and off. Prior to V8.7 sendmail, the -d could be specified only on the command line. Beginning with V8.7 sendmail, the -d can also be specified in rule-testing mode. We illustrate the latter technique here.

Debugging output can reveal in great detail how individual rules are being handled. A debugging category and level of 21.12 (-d21.1 on page 554), for example, causes sendmail to print the LHS of each rule as it is tried. To illustrate, consider the following (highly simplified) configuration-file rule set:

V10
STest
R @                  $#local $:$n                 handle <> form
R $* < @ $+ > $*     $#$M $@$R $:$1<@$2>$3        user@some.where
R $+                 $#local $:$1                 local names

Normal output that is produced when a rule set name and an address are entered at the > prompt looks like this:

> Test george
Test               input: george
Test             returns: $# local $: george

But if we turn on debugging using the -d rule-testing command:

> -d21.12

the output that is produced when the same rule set number and address are entered is more verbose than it was before:

>  Test george
Test               input: george
-----trying rule: @
----- rule fails
-----trying rule: $* < @ $+ > $*
----- rule fails
-----trying rule: $+
-----rule matches: $# local $: $1
rewritten as: $# local $: george
Test             returns: $# local $: george

Observe that the first rule in the Test rule set (the lone @) does not match george in the workspace. Therefore, that rule fails ...

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