NAME

Mail::Box::Dir::Message - one message in a directory organized folder

INHERITANCE

Mail::Box::Dir::Message
  is a Mail::Box::Message
  is a Mail::Message
  is a Mail::Reporter

Mail::Box::Dir::Message is extended by
  Mail::Box::MH::Message
  Mail::Box::Maildir::Message

SYNOPSIS

my $folder = new Mail::Box::MH ...
my $message = $folder->message(10);

DESCRIPTION

A Mail::Box::Dir::Message is a base class for one message in a directory organized folder; each message is stored in a separate file. There are no objects of type Mail::Box::Dir::Message, only extensions are allowed to be created.

At the moment, three of these extended message types are implemented:

  • Mail::Box::MH::Message

    which represents one message in a Mail::Box::MH folder. MH folders are very, very simple.... and hence not sophisticated nor fast.

  • Mail::Box::Maildir::Message

    which represents one message in a Mail::Box::Maildir folder. Flags are kept in the message's filename. It is stateless, so you will never loose a message.

  • Mail::Box::Netzwert::Message

    which represents one message in a Mail::Box::Netzwert folder. As advantage, it stores pre-parsed information in the message file. As disadvantage: the code is not GPLed (yet).

Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Box::Message.

METHODS

Extends "METHODS" in Mail::Box::Message.

Constructors

Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->clone(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message

$class->new(%options)

Create a messages in a directory organized folder. Improves base, see "Constructors" in Mail::Reporter

-Option    --Defined in        --Default
 body        Mail::Message       undef
 body_type   Mail::Box::Message  <from folder>
 deleted     Mail::Message       false
 field_type  Mail::Message       undef
 filename                        undef
 fix_header                      false
 folder      Mail::Box::Message  <required>
 head        Mail::Message       undef
 head_type   Mail::Message       Mail::Message::Head::Complete
 labels      Mail::Message       +{}
 log         Mail::Reporter      'WARNINGS'
 messageId   Mail::Message       undef
 modified    Mail::Message       false
 size        Mail::Box::Message  undef
 trace       Mail::Reporter      'WARNINGS'
 trusted     Mail::Message       false
body => $object
body_type => CODE|$class
deleted => BOOLEAN
field_type => $class
filename => $file

The $file where the message is stored in.

fix_header => BOOLEAN

See Mail::Box::new(fix_headers).

folder => $folder
head => $object
head_type => $class
labels => ARRAY|HASH
log => LEVEL
messageId => $id
modified => BOOLEAN
size => $bytes
trace => LEVEL
trusted => BOOLEAN

Attributes

Extends "Attributes" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->filename( [$filename] )

Returns the name of the file in which this message is actually stored. This will return undef when the message is not stored in a file.

$obj->fixHeader()

Returns true when the folder is in fixing mode.

$obj->folder( [$folder] )

Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->logSettings()

Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->seqnr( [$integer] )

Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box::Message

Constructing a message

Extends "Constructing a message" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->bounce( [<$rg_object|%options>] )

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Bounce

$class->build( [$message|$part|$body], @fields, %options )

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Build

$class->buildFromBody($body, [$head], $headers)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Build

$obj->forward(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardAttach(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardEncapsulate(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardInline(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardNo(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardPostlude()

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardPrelude()

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$obj->forwardSubject(STRING)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Forward

$class->read($fh|STRING|SCALAR|ARRAY, %options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Read

$obj->rebuild(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Rebuild

$obj->reply(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Reply

$obj->replyPrelude( [STRING|$field|$address|ARRAY-$of-$things] )

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Reply

$any->replySubject(STRING)

Inherited, see "Constructing a message" in Mail::Message::Construct::Reply

The message

Extends "The message" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->container()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->copyTo($folder, %options)

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->endsOnNewline()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->isDummy()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->isPart()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->messageId()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->moveTo($folder, %options)

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->partNumber()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->print( [$fh] )

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->send( [$mailer], %options )

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->size()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->toplevel()

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->write( [$fh] )

Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

The header

Extends "The header" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->bcc()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->cc()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->date()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->destinations()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->from()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->get($fieldname)

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->guessTimestamp()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->head( [$head] )

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->nrLines()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->sender()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->study($fieldname)

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->subject()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->timestamp()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

$obj->to()

Inherited, see "The header" in Mail::Message

The body

Extends "The body" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->body( [$body] )

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

$obj->contentType()

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

$obj->decoded(%options)

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

$obj->encode(%options)

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

$obj->isMultipart()

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

$obj->isNested()

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

$obj->parts( [<'ALL'|'ACTIVE'|'DELETED'|'RECURSE'|$filter>] )

Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message

Flags

Extends "Flags" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->delete()

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->deleted( [BOOLEAN] )

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->isDeleted()

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->isModified()

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->label($label|PAIRS)

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->labels()

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->labelsToStatus()

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->modified( [BOOLEAN] )

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

$obj->statusToLabels()

Inherited, see "Flags" in Mail::Message

The whole message as text

Extends "The whole message as text" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->file()

Inherited, see "The whole message as text" in Mail::Message::Construct::Text

$obj->lines()

Inherited, see "The whole message as text" in Mail::Message::Construct::Text

$obj->printStructure( [$fh|undef],[$indent] )

Inherited, see "The whole message as text" in Mail::Message::Construct::Text

$obj->string()

Inherited, see "The whole message as text" in Mail::Message::Construct::Text

Internals

Extends "Internals" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->clonedFrom()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$class->coerce($message, %options)

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->create($filename)

Create the message in the specified file. If the message already has a filename and is not modified, then a move is tried. Otherwise the message is printed to the file. If the $filename already exists for this message, nothing is done. In any case, the new $filename is set as well.

$obj->diskDelete()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->isDelayed()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->loadBody()

This method is called by the autoloader when the body of the message is needed.

$obj->loadHead()

This method is called by the autoloader when the header of the message is needed.

$obj->parser()

Create and return a parser for this message (-file).

$obj->readBody( $parser, $head, [$bodytype] )

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->readFromParser( $parser, [$bodytype] )

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->readHead( $parser, [$class] )

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->recursiveRebuildPart($part, %options)

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Construct::Rebuild

$obj->storeBody($body)

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->takeMessageId( [STRING] )

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

Error handling

Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->AUTOLOAD()

Inherited, see "METHODS" in Mail::Message::Construct

$obj->addReport($object)

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$any->defaultTrace( [$level]|[$loglevel, $tracelevel]|[$level, $callback] )

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->errors()

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$any->log( [$level, [$strings]] )

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$any->logPriority($level)

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->notImplemented()

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->report( [$level] )

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->reportAll( [$level] )

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$any->shortSize( [$value] )

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Message

$obj->shortString()

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Message

$obj->trace( [$level] )

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->warnings()

Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter

Cleanup

Extends "Cleanup" in Mail::Box::Message.

$obj->DESTROY()

Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->destruct()

Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Box::Message

DETAILS

Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Box::Message.

DIAGNOSTICS

Error: Cannot coerce a $class object into a $class object

Cast by coerce()

Error: Cannot create parser for $filename.

For some reason (the previous message have told you already) it was not possible to create a message parser for the specified filename. Cast by parser()

Error: Cannot include forward source as $include.

Unknown alternative for the forward(include). Valid choices are NO, INLINE, ATTACH, and ENCAPSULATE. Cast by forward()

Error: Cannot include reply source as $include.

Unknown alternative for the include option of reply(). Valid choices are NO, INLINE, and ATTACH. Cast by reply()

Error: Cannot write message to $filename: $!

When a modified or new message is written to disk, it is first written to a temporary file in the folder directory. For some reason, it is impossible to create this file. Cast by create()

Error: Failed to move $new to $filename: $!

When a modified or new message is written to disk, it is first written to a temporary file in the folder directory. Then, the new file is moved to replace the existing file. Apparently, the latter fails. Cast by create()

Error: Method bounce requires To, Cc, or Bcc

The message bounce() method forwards a received message off to someone else without modification; you must specified it's new destination. If you have the urge not to specify any destination, you probably are looking for reply(). When you wish to modify the content, use forward(). Cast by bounce()

Error: Method forwardAttach requires a preamble

Cast by forwardAttach()

Error: Method forwardEncapsulate requires a preamble

Cast by forwardEncapsulate()

Error: No address to create forwarded to.

If a forward message is created, a destination address must be specified. Cast by forward()

Error: No default mailer found to send message.

The message send() mechanism had not enough information to automatically find a mail transfer agent to sent this message. Specify a mailer explicitly using the via options. Cast by send()

Error: No rebuild rule $name defined.

Cast by rebuild()

Error: Only build() Mail::Message's; they are not in a folder yet

You may wish to construct a message to be stored in a some kind of folder, but you need to do that in two steps. First, create a normal Mail::Message, and then add it to the folder. During this Mail::Box::addMessage() process, the message will get coerce()-d into the right message type, adding storage information and the like. Cast by build()

Error: Package $package does not implement $method.

Fatal error: the specific package (or one of its superclasses) does not implement this method where it should. This message means that some other related classes do implement this method however the class at hand does not. Probably you should investigate this and probably inform the author of the package. Cast by notImplemented()

Error: Unable to read delayed body.

For some reason, the header of the message could be read, but the body cannot. Probably the file has disappeared or the permissions were changed during the progress of the program. Cast by loadBody()

Error: Unable to read delayed head.

Mail::Box tries to be lazy with respect to parsing messages. When a directory organized folder is opened, only the filenames of messages are collected. At first use, the messages are read from their file. Apperently, a message is used for the first time here, but has disappeared or is unreadible for some other reason. Cast by loadBody()

Error: coercion starts with some object

Cast by coerce()

SEE ALSO

This module is part of Mail-Box version 3.012, built on November 27, 2025. Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/

LICENSE

For contributors see file ChangeLog.

This software is copyright (c) 2001-2025 by Mark Overmeer.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.