NAME

Mail::Box::Message - manage one message within a mail-folder

INHERITANCE

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

Mail::Box::Message is extended by
  Mail::Box::Dir::Message
  Mail::Box::File::Message
  Mail::Box::Message::Destructed
  Mail::Box::Net::Message

SYNOPSIS

# Usually these message objects are created indirectly
use Mail::Box::Manager;
my $manager = Mail::Box::Manager->new;
my $folder  = $manager->open(folder => 'Mail/Drafts');
my $msg     = $folder->message(1);
$msg->delete;
$msg->size;   # and much more

DESCRIPTION

These pages do only describe methods which relate to folders. If you access the knowledge of a message, then read Mail::Message.

During its life, a message will pass through certain stages. These stages were introduced to reduce the access-time to the folder. Changing from stage, the message's body and head objects may change.

Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Message.

METHODS

Extends "METHODS" in Mail::Message.

Constructors

Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Message.

$obj->clone(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message

$class->new(%options)

Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Reporter

-Option    --Defined in     --Default
 body        Mail::Message    undef
 body_type                    <from folder>
 deleted     Mail::Message    false
 field_type  Mail::Message    undef
 folder                       <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                         undef
 trace       Mail::Reporter   'WARNINGS'
 trusted     Mail::Message    false
body => $object
body_type => CODE|$class

If the body of a message is used delay-loaded, the message must what type of message to become when it finally gets parsed. The folder which is delaying the load must specify the algorithm to determine that type.

deleted => BOOLEAN
field_type => $class
folder => $folder

The $folder where this message appeared in. The argument is an instance of (a sub-class of) a Mail::Box.

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

The size of the message, which includes head and body, but without the message separators which may be used by the folder type.

trace => LEVEL
trusted => BOOLEAN

Attributes

Extends "Attributes" in Mail::Message.

$obj->folder( [$folder] )

In which folder did we detect this message/dummy? This is a reference to the folder-object.

$obj->logSettings()

Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->seqnr( [$integer] )

Get the number of this message is the current folder. It starts counting from zero. Do not change the number.

Constructing a message

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

$obj->container()

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

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

Copy the message to the indicated opened $folder, without deleting the original. The coerced message (the clone in the destination folder) is returned.

-Option      --Default
 shallow       false
 shallow_body  false
 shallow_head  false
 share         false
shallow => BOOLEAN

Used for clone(shallow).

shallow_body => BOOLEAN

Used for clone(shallow_body).

shallow_head => BOOLEAN

Used for clone(shallow_head).

share => BOOLEAN

Try to share the physical storage of the message between the two folders. Sometimes, they even may be of different types. When not possible, this options will be silently ignored.

» example:

my $draft = $mgr->open(folder => 'Draft');
$message->copyTo($draft, share => 1);
$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)

Move the message from this folder to the $folder specified. This will create a copy using clone() first. Then, this original message is flagged to get deleted. So until the source folder is closed, two copies of the message may stay in memory.

The newly created message clone (part of the destination folder) is returned. All %options are passed to copyTo()

-Option      --Default
 shallow_body  undef
 share         <true unless shallow_body exists>
shallow_body => BOOLEAN

Only create a shallow body, which means that the header can not be reused. A message can therefore not be shared in storage unless explicitly stated.

share => BOOLEAN

When there is a chance that the original message can be undeleted, then this must be set to false. Otherwise a shallow clone will be made, which will share the header which can be modified in the undeleted message.

» example: of moving a message

my $trash = Mail::Box::Mbox->new(folder => 'trash');
my $t = $msg->moveTo($trash);

is equivalent to

my $t = $msg->copyTo($trash, share => 1);
$msg->delete;
$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::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::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::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::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::Message.

$obj->clonedFrom()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

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

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->diskDelete()

Remove a message from disk. This is not from the folder, but everything else, like parts of the message which are stored outside from the folder.

$obj->isDelayed()

Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

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

Read the body of one message. The $parser gives access to the folder file. The $head has been read with readHead(). The optional $bodytype supplies the class name of the body to be created, or a code reference to a routine which can produce a body type based on the head (passed as first argument).

By default, the $bodytype will call Mail::Box::determineBodyType() where the message will be added to. Improves base, see "Internals" in Mail::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::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::Message.

$obj->DESTROY()

Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Reporter

$obj->destruct()

Removes most of the memory occupied by the message by detaching the header and body. Then, the object changes into a Mail::Box::Message::Destructed which will catch all attempts to access the header and body. Be careful with the usage of this method. Improves base, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Message

DETAILS

Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Message.

DIAGNOSTICS

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

Cast by coerce()

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: 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: 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.