--- name: "Mail::Box::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::Message" --- # Mail::Box::Message(3pm) manage one message within a mail-folder ## 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 deleted Mail::Message false field_type Mail::Message undef folder 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 undef 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 =\> \\@pairs\|\\%settings - messageId =\> $id - message\_id =\> $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. - trusted =\> BOOLEAN ### Attributes Extends "Attributes" in Mail::Message. - $obj-\>**bodyType**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message - $obj-\>**fieldType**() Inherited, see "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-\>**headType**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message - $obj-\>**messageId**() Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message - $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\|$text\|\\$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::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 - $obj-\>**moveTo**($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 ``` - 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-\>**isTrusted**() 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-\>**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::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 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()` - 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.