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(sc)What Supercite Does

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What Supercite Does
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   Supercite is invoked for the first time on a reply buffer via your
MUA's reply or forward command.  This command will actually perform
citations by calling a hook variable to which Supercite's top-level
function `sc-cite-original' has been added.  When `sc-cite-original' is
executed, the original message must be set up in a very specific way,
but this is handled automatically by the MUA.  Note: Hints to MUA
Authors.

   The first thing Supercite does, via `sc-cite-original', is to parse
through the original message's mail headers.  It saves this data in an
"information association list", or "info alist".  The information in
this list is used in a number of places throughout Supercite.  Note:
Information Keys and the Info Alist.

   After the mail header info is extracted, the headers are optionally
removed ("nuked") from the reply.  Supercite then writes a "reference
header" into the buffer.  This reference header is a string carrying
details about the citation it is about to perform.

   Next, Supercite visits each line in the reply, transforming the line
according to a customizable "script."  Lines which were not previously
cited in the original message are given a citation, while already cited
lines remain untouched, or are coerced to your preferred style.
Finally, Supercite installs a keymap into the reply buffer so that you
have access to Supercite's post-yank formatting and reciting commands as
you subsequently edit your reply.  You can tell that Supercite has been
installed into the reply buffer because that buffer's modeline will
display the minor mode string `SC'.

   When the original message is cited by `sc-cite-original', it will
(optionally) be filled by Supercite.  However, if you manually edit the
cited text and want to re-fill it, you must use an add-on package such
as `filladapt' or `gin-mode'.  These packages can recognize Supercited
text and will fill them appropriately.  Emacs' built-in filling
routines, e.g. `fill-paragraph', do not recognize cited text and will
not re-fill them properly because it cannot guess the `fill-prefix'
being used.  Note: Post-yank Formatting Commands, for details.

   As mentioned above, Supercite provides commands to recite or uncite
regions of text in the reply buffer, and commands to perform other
beautifications on the cited original text, maintaining consistent and
informative citations throughout.  Supercite tries to be as configurable
as possible to allow for a wide range of personalized citation styles,
but it is also immediately useful with the default configuration, once
it has been properly connected to your MUA.  Note: Getting Connected,
for more details.