NAME

Mail::Box::MH::Message - one message in an MH-folder

INHERITANCE

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

SYNOPSIS

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

DESCRIPTION

A Mail::Box::MH::Message represents one message in an Mail::Box::MH folder . Each message is stored in a separate file, as for all Mail::Box::Dir folder types.

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

METHODS

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

Constructors

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

$obj->clone(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message

$class->new(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message

Attributes

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

$obj->filename( [$filename] )

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

$obj->fixHeader()

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

$obj->folder( [$folder] )

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

$obj->logSettings()

Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->seqnr( [$integer] )

The order of this message in the folder, counted from zero. Do not change the number (unless you understand the implications).

WARNING: This sequence number has nothing to do with the message's filename, which in case of MH folders are also numbers! If you need that one, use the File::Basename subroutine basename of the filename. Improves base, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box::Message

Constructing a message

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

$obj->clonedFrom()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

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

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->create($filename)

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

$obj->diskDelete()

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

$obj->isDelayed()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->loadBody()

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

$obj->loadHead()

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

$obj->parser()

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

$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::Dir::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::Dir::Message.

$obj->DESTROY()

Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->destruct()

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

DETAILS

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

Structure of a Message

Extends "Structure of a Message" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message.

Message object implementation

Extends "Message object implementation" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message.

Message class implementation

Extends "Message class implementation" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message.

Labels

Extends "Labels" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message.

Predefined labels

Extends "Predefined labels" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message.

Status and X-Status fields

Extends "Status and X-Status fields" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message.

The .mh_sequences file

Typically, the file which contains the labels is called .mh_sequences. The MH messages are numbered from 1. As example content for .mh_sequences:

cur: 93
unseen: 32 35-56 67-80

To generalize labels on messages, two are treated specially:

  • cur

    The cur specifies the number of the message where the user stopped reading mail from this folder at last access. Internally in these modules referred to as label current.

  • unseen

    With unseen is listed which message was never read. This must be a mistake in the design of MH: it must be a source of confusion. People should never use labels with a negation in the name:

    if($seen)           if(!$unseen)    #yuk!
    if(!$seen)          if($unseen)
    unless($seen)       unless($unseen) #yuk!

    So: label unseen is translated into seen for internal use.

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.