--- name: "Mail::Box::MH::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::MH::Message" --- # Mail::Box::MH::Message(3pm) one message in an MH-folder ## 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-\>**bodyType**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message - $obj-\>**fieldType**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::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-\>**headType**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message - $obj-\>**messageId**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message - $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\|$text\|\\$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::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 - $obj-\>**moveTo**($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-\>**isTrusted**() 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-\>**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::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 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 4.02, 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.