Mail::Box::Dir::Message(3)

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       +{}
      messageId   Mail::Message       undef
      modified    Mail::Message       false
      size        Mail::Box::Message  undef
      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 => \@pairs|\%settings
    messageId => $id
    modified => BOOLEAN
    size => $bytes
    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

$obj->seqnr( [$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|$text|\$text|\@lines, %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|\@addrs|\@fields] )
    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->notImplemented()
    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

  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 include forward source as $kind.
    Unknown alternative for the forward(include). Valid choices are "NO", "INLINE", "ATTACH", and "ENCAPSULATE". 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: cannot coerce a $type object into a $me object.
    Cast by coerce()

Error: cannot include reply source as $kind.
    Unknown alternative for the "include" option of reply(). Valid choices are "NO", "INLINE", and "ATTACH". Cast by reply()

Error: cannot read message from a $source}.
    Cast by read()

Fault: cannot write message to $file: $!
    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: class $package does not implement method $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, not '$type'.
    Cast by coerce()

Fault: failed to rename file $from to $to: $!
    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: method forwardNo requires a To.
    Cast by forwardNo()

Error: method forwardNo requires a body.
    Cast by forwardNo()

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: please install Email::Simple.
    Cast by coerce()

Error: please install MIME::Entity.
    Cast by coerce()

Error: please install Mail::Internet.
    Cast by coerce()

Error: select parts via '$what'?
    Cast by parts()

Warning: skipped unknown key '$key' in build.
    Cast by build()

Error: unable to read delayed body for message $msgid.
    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 for message $msgid.
    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()

SEE ALSO
This module is part of Mail-Box version 4.01, built on December 13, 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.