---
name: "Mail::Box::File::Message"
section: "3pm"
platform: "linux"
package: "perl-mail-box"
version: "4.02-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Mail::Box::File::Message"
---

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

one message in a Mbox folder

## 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.
