Mail::Box::File::Message(3)

NAME
Mail::Box::File::Message - one message in a Mbox folder

INHERITANCE
 Mail::Box::File::Message
   is a Mail::Box::Message
   is a Mail::Message
   is a Mail::Reporter

 Mail::Box::File::Message is extended by
   Mail::Box::Mbox::Message

SYNOPSIS
  my $folder  = new Mail::Box::File folder => $ENV{MAIL}, ...;
  my $message = $folder->message(0);

DESCRIPTION
Maintain one message in an file based folder, any Mail::Box::File extension.

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)
    Messages in file-based folders use the following options for creation: 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
      folder      Mail::Box::Message  <required>
      from_line                       undef
      head        Mail::Message       undef
      head_type   Mail::Message       Mail::Message::Head::Complete
      labels      Mail::Message       +{}
      messageId   Mail::Message       undef
      message_id  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
    folder => $folder
    from_line => $line
        The $line which begins each message in the file. Some people detest this line, but this is just how things were invented...

    head => $object
    head_type => $class
    labels => \@pairs|\%settings
    messageId => $id
    message_id => $id
    modified => BOOLEAN
    size => $bytes
    trusted => BOOLEAN

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

$obj->bodyType()
    Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message

$obj->fieldType()
    Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message

$obj->folder( [$folder] )
    Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->fromLine( [$line] )
    Many people detest file-style folders because they store messages all in one file, where a line starting with "From " leads the header. If we receive a message from a file-based folder, we store that line. If we write to such a file, but there is no such line stored, then we try to generate one.

    If $line is provided, then the starting line is set to this value.

$obj->headType()
    Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message

$obj->messageId()
    Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::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->escapedBody()
    Mbox folders contain multiple messages in one file, using a separator line to keep them apart. Typically, these lines start with "From ". Lines within the message could interfere with this separator, and should therefore be translated.

    This method will return the escaped text of the body as reference.

$obj->isDummy()
    Inherited, see "The message" in Mail::Message

$obj->isPart()
    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] )
    Write one message to a file handle. It is the message including the leading 'From ' line and trailing blank. The From-line may interfere with lines in the body: those lines are escaped with an extra '>'. Improves base, see "The message" in Mail::Message

    » example:

      $msg->write(\*FILE);    # print the message with encaps to FILE
      $msg->write;            # message with encaps to selected filehandle
      $msg->print(\*FILE);    # the message without encaps.

  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->diskDelete()
    Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->fileLocation()
    Returns the location of the whole message including the from-line. In LIST context, both begin and end are returned. In SCALAR context, only the begin is passed back.

$obj->isDelayed()
    Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->isTrusted()
    Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message

$obj->loadBody()

$obj->moveLocation($distance)
    The message is relocated in the file, being moved over $distance bytes. Setting a new location will update the according information in the header and body.

$obj->readBody( $parser, $head, [$bodytype] )
    Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Message

$obj->readFromParser($parser)
    Read one message from a Mail::Box::File based folder, including the leading message separator. Improves base, 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: Unable to read delayed body.
    Cast by loadBody()

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()

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()

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()

SEE ALSO
This module is part of Mail-Box version 4.02, built on April 10, 2026. Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/

LICENSE
For contributors see file ChangeLog.

This software is copyright (c) 2001-2026 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.