--- name: "Mail::Message::Body::Multipart" section: "3pm" platform: "linux" package: "perl-mail-message" version: "4.05-1" release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01" platforms: ["linux"] url: "https://new.carta.tech/Mail::Message::Body::Multipart" --- # Mail::Message::Body::Multipart(3pm) body of a message with attachments ## NAME Mail::Message::Body::Multipart - body of a message with attachments ## INHERITANCE ``` Mail::Message::Body::Multipart is a Mail::Message::Body is a Mail::Reporter Mail::Message::Body also extends Mail::Reporter is a Mail::Reporter ``` ## SYNOPSIS ``` See Mail::Message::Body if($body->isMultipart) { my @attachments = $body->parts; my $attachment3 = $body->part(2); my $before = $body->preamble; my $after = $body->epilogue; $body->part(1)->delete; } ``` ## DESCRIPTION The body (content) of a message can be stored in various ways. In this manual-page you find the description of extra functionality you have when a message contains attachments (parts). The number of multipart alternatives is growing. A full list is maintained by IANA af \ - • multipart/mixed - • multipart/alternative - • multipart/related - • multipart/report, RFC6522 - • multipart/signed, RFC1847 - • multipart/encrypted - • multipart/multilingual, RFC8255 (unused) Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Message::Body. ## OVERLOADED Extends "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Body. - overload: **'""'** stringification Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Body - overload: **'=='** numerical comparison Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Body - overload: **'@{}'** addressed as array Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Body - overload: **bool** true/false Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Body ## METHODS Extends "METHODS" in Mail::Message::Body. ### Constructors Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**clone**() Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message::Body - $class-\>**new**(%options) Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message::Body ``` -Option --Defined in --Default based_on Mail::Message::Body undef boundary undef charset Mail::Message::Body 'PERL' checked Mail::Message::Body false content_id Mail::Message::Body undef data Mail::Message::Body undef description Mail::Message::Body undef disposition Mail::Message::Body undef eol Mail::Message::Body 'NATIVE' epilogue '' file Mail::Message::Body undef filename Mail::Message::Body undef language Mail::Message::Body undef message Mail::Message::Body undef mime_type Mail::Message::Body 'multipart/mixed' modified Mail::Message::Body false parts undef preamble undef transfer_encoding Mail::Message::Body 'none' ``` - based\_on =\> $body - boundary =\> $separator The `$separator` string to be used between parts of the message. This separator must be unique in case the message contains nested multiparts (which are not unusual). If `"undef"`, a nice unique boundary will be generated. - charset =\> $charset\|'PERL'\|\ - checked =\> BOOLEAN - content\_id =\> STRING - data =\> \\@lines\|$text - description =\> STRING\|$field - disposition =\> STRING\|$field - eol =\> 'CR'\|'LF'\|'CRLF'\|'NATIVE' - epilogue =\> $body\|$text The text which is included in the main body after the final boundary. This is usually empty, and has no meaning. Provide a `$body` object or plain `$text` (which will automatically translated into a `"text/plain"` body). - file =\> $file\|$handle\|$io - filename =\> $file - language =\> STRING\|\\@lang\|$field - message =\> $message - mime\_type =\> STRING\|$field\|$mime - modified =\> BOOLEAN - parts =\> \[$message, $body, ...\] Specifies an initial list of parts in this body. These may be full `$message` objects, or `$body` objects which will be transformed into messages before use. Each message is coerced into a Mail::Message::Part object. MIME::Entity and Mail::Internet objects are acceptable in the list, because they are coercible into Mail::Message::Part's. Values of `"undef"` will be skipped silently. - preamble =\> $body\|$text The `$text` which is included in the body before the first part. It is common use to include a text to warn the user that the message is a multipart. However, this was useful in earlier days: most mail agents are very capable in warning the user themselves. Provide a `$body` object or plain `$text` (which will automatically translated into a `"text/plain"` body). - transfer\_encoding =\> STRING\|$field » example: ``` my $intro = Mail::Message::Body->new(data => ['part one']); my $pgp = Mail::Message::Body->new(data => ['part three']); my $body = Mail::Message::Body::Multipart->new( boundary => time . '--it-s-mine', preamble => "This is a multi-part message in MIME format.\n\n", parts => [ $intro, $folder->message(3)->decoded, $pgp ], ); ``` ### Attributes Extends "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**charsetDetectAlgorithm**( \[CODE\|undef\|METHOD\] ) Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode ### Constructing a body Extends "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**attach**($messages\|$bodies) Attach a list of `$messages` to this multipart. A new body is returned. When you specify `$bodies`, they will first be translated into real messages. MIME::Entity and Mail::Internet objects may be specified too. In any case, the parts will be coerced into Mail::Message::Part's. Improves base, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Construct - $obj-\>**charsetDetect**(%options) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**check**() Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**concatenate**(@components) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Construct - $obj-\>**decoded**(%options) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**encode**(%options) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**encoded**(%options) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**eol**( \['CR'\|'LF'\|'CRLF'\|'NATIVE'\] ) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**foreachComponent**(CODE) Execute the `"CODE"` for each component of the message: the preamble, the epilogue, and each of the parts. Each component is a body and is passed as second argument to the `"CODE"`. The first argument is a reference to this multi-parted body. The `"CODE"` returns a body object. When any of the returned bodies differs from the body which was passed, then a new multi-part body will be returned. Reference to the not-changed bodies and the changed bodies will be included in that new multi-part. » example: ``` my $checked = $multi->foreachComponent(sub {$_[1]->check}); ``` - $obj-\>**foreachLine**((CODE)) It is NOT possible to call some code for each line of a multipart, because that would not only inflict damage to the body of each message part, but also to the headers and the part separators. Improves base, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Construct - $obj-\>**stripSignature**(%options) Removes all parts which contains data usually defined as being signature. The MIME::Type module provides this knowledge. A new multipart is returned, containing the remaining parts. No `%options` are defined yet, although some may be specified, because this method overrules the `"stripSignature"` method for normal bodies. Improves base, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Construct ``` -Option --Defined in --Default max_lines Mail::Message::Body::Construct 10 pattern Mail::Message::Body::Construct qr/^--\s?$/ result_type Mail::Message::Body::Construct ``` - max\_lines =\> INTEGER\|undef - pattern =\> REGEX\|STRING\|CODE - result\_type =\> CLASS - $obj-\>**unify**($body) Inherited, see "Constructing a body" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode ### The body Extends "The body" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**isDelayed**() Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**isMultipart**() Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**isNested**() Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**message**( \[$message\] ) Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**partNumberOf**($part) Inherited, see "The body" in Mail::Message::Body ### About the payload Extends "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**charset**() Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**checked**( \[BOOLEAN\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**contentId**( \[STRING\|$field\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**description**( \[STRING\|$field\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**disposition**( \[STRING\|$field\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**dispositionFilename**( \[$directory\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**isBinary**() Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**isText**() Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**language**( \[@langs\|\\@langs\|$langs\|$field\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**mimeType**() Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**nrLines**() Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**size**() Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**transferEncoding**( \[STRING\|$field\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**type**( \[STRING\|$field\] ) Inherited, see "About the payload" in Mail::Message::Body ### Access to the payload Extends "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**boundary**( \[STRING\] ) Returns the boundary which is used to separate the parts in this body. If none was read from file, then one will be assigned. With `"STRING"` you explicitly set the boundary to be used. - $obj-\>**endsOnNewline**() Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**epilogue**() Returns the epilogue; the text after the last message part (after the last real attachment). The epilogue is stored in a BODY object, and its encoding is taken from the general multipart header. - $obj-\>**file**() Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**lines**() Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**part**($index) Returns only the part with the specified `$index`. You may use a negative value here, which counts from the back in the list. Parts which are flagged to be deleted are included in the count. » example: ``` $message->body->part(2)->print; $body->part(1)->delete; ``` - $obj-\>**parts**( \[\<'ALL'\|'ACTIVE'\|'DELETED'\|'RECURSE'\|$filter\>\] ) Return all parts by default, or when `"ALL"` is specified. `"ACTIVE"` returns the parts which are not flagged for deletion, as opposite to `"DELETED"`. `"RECURSE"` descents into all nested multiparts to collect all parts. You may also specify a code reference which is called for each nested part. The first argument will be the message part. When the code returns `"true"`, the part is incorporated in the return list. » example: ``` print "Number of attachments: ", scalar $message->body->parts('ACTIVE'); foreach my $part ($message->body->parts) { print "Type: ", $part->get('Content-Type'); } ``` - $obj-\>**preamble**() Returns the preamble; the text before the first message part (before the first real attachment). The preamble is stored in a BODY object, and its encoding is taken from the multipart header. - $obj-\>**print**( \[$fh\] ) Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**printEscapedFrom**($fh) Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**string**() Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**stripTrailingNewline**() Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**write**(%options) Inherited, see "Access to the payload" in Mail::Message::Body ### Internals Extends "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body. - $any-\>**addTransferEncHandler**( $name, \<$class\|$object\> ) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**contentInfoFrom**($head) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**contentInfoTo**($head) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**fileLocation**( \[$begin, $end\] ) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**getTransferEncHandler**($type) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body::Encode - $obj-\>**isModified**() Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**load**() Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**modified**( \[BOOLEAN\] ) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**moveLocation**( \[$distance\] ) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**read**( $parser, $head, $bodytype, \[$chars, \[$lines\]\] ) Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Message::Body ### Error handling Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**AUTOLOAD**() Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Message::Body - $obj-\>**notImplemented**() Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter - $obj-\>**notImplemented**() Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter ### Cleanup Extends "Cleanup" in Mail::Message::Body. - $obj-\>**DESTROY**() Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Reporter - $obj-\>**DESTROY**() Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Reporter ## DETAILS Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Message::Body. ## DIAGNOSTICS - Warning: Content-Transfer-Encoding '$te' requires explicit charset, defaulted to utf-8. Cast by `encode()` - Error: You cannot use foreachLine on a multipart. **foreachLine()** should be used on decoded message bodies only, because it would attempt to modify part-headers and separators as well, which is clearly not acceptable. Cast by `foreachLine()` - Error: cannot concatenate element $which Cast by `concatenate()` - Fault: cannot open $file to write body: $! Cast by `write()` - Warning: charset '$name' is not known. The encoding or decoding of a message body encounters a character set which is not understood by Perl's Encode module. Cast by `encode()` - 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: 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: data not convertible to a message (type is $type) An object which is not coercable into a Mail::Message::Part object was passed to the initiation. Cast by `new()` - Fault: error closing $file after write body: $! Cast by `write()` - Warning: no decoder defined for transfer encoding '$encoding'. The data (message body) is encoded in a way which is not currently understood, therefore no decoding (or recoding) can take place. Cast by `encode()` - Warning: no encoder defined for transfer encoding '$encoding'. The data (message body) has been decoded, but the required encoding is unknown. The decoded data is returned. Cast by `encode()` - Error: no filename parameter for **write()** body. Cast by `write()` - Error: part number needs multi-part or nested. Cast by `partNumberOf()` - Error: unknown criterium $what to select parts. Valid choices for part selections are `"ALL"`, `"ACTIVE"`, `"DELETED"`, `"RECURSE"` or a code reference. However, some other argument was passed. Cast by `parts()` - Error: unknown line terminator '$eol'. Cast by `eol()` ## SEE ALSO This module is part of Mail-Message version 4.05, built on April 10, 2026. Website: *http://perl.overmeer.net/mailbox/* ## 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.