=encoding utf8

=head1 NAME

Mail::Box::MH::Message - one message in an MH-folder

=head1 INHERITANCE

 Mail::Box::MH::Message
   is a Mail::Box::Dir::Message
   is a Mail::Box::Message
   is a Mail::Message
   is a Mail::Reporter

=head1 SYNOPSIS

  my $folder = new Mail::Box::MH ...
  my $message = $folder->message(10);

=head1 DESCRIPTION

A C<Mail::Box::MH::Message> represents one message in an
L<Mail::Box::MH|Mail::Box::MH> folder . Each message is stored in a separate file,
as for all L<Mail::Box::Dir|Mail::Box::Dir> folder types.

Extends L<"DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"DESCRIPTION">.

=head1 METHODS

Extends L<"METHODS" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"METHODS">.

=head2 Constructors

Extends L<"Constructors" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Constructors">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<clone>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Constructors">

=item $class-E<gt>B<new>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Constructors">

=back

=head2 Attributes

Extends L<"Attributes" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Attributes">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<bodyType>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<fieldType>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<filename>( [$filename] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<fixHeader>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<folder>( [$folder] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<headType>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<messageId>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Attributes">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<seqnr>( [$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 L<Mail::Box::Message/"Attributes">

=back

=head2 Constructing a message

Extends L<"Constructing a message" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Constructing a message">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<bounce>( [<$rg_object|%options>] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Bounce/"Constructing a message">

=item $class-E<gt>B<build>( [$message|$part|$body], @fields, %options )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Build/"Constructing a message">

=item $class-E<gt>B<buildFromBody>($body, [$head], $headers)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Build/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forward>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardAttach>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardEncapsulate>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardInline>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardNo>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardPostlude>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardPrelude>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<forwardSubject>(STRING)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">

=item $class-E<gt>B<read>($fh|$text|\$text|\@lines, %options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Read/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<rebuild>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Rebuild/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<reply>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Reply/"Constructing a message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<replyPrelude>( [STRING|$field|$address|\@addrs|\@fields] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Reply/"Constructing a message">

=item $any-E<gt>B<replySubject>(STRING)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Reply/"Constructing a message">

=back

=head2 The message

Extends L<"The message" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"The message">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<container>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<copyTo>($folder, %options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<endsOnNewline>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isDummy>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isPart>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<moveTo>($folder, %options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<partNumber>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<print>( [$fh] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<send>( [$mailer], %options )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<size>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<toplevel>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<write>( [$fh] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The message">

=back

=head2 The header

Extends L<"The header" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"The header">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<bcc>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<cc>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<date>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<destinations>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<from>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<get>($fieldname)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<guessTimestamp>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<head>( [$head] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<nrLines>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<sender>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<study>($fieldname)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<subject>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<timestamp>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<to>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The header">

=back

=head2 The body

Extends L<"The body" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"The body">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<body>( [$body] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<contentType>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<decoded>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<encode>(%options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isMultipart>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isNested>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<parts>( [<'ALL'|'ACTIVE'|'DELETED'|'RECURSE'|$filter>] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"The body">

=back

=head2 Flags

Extends L<"Flags" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Flags">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<delete>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<deleted>( [BOOLEAN] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isDeleted>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isModified>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<label>($label|PAIRS)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<labels>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<labelsToStatus>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<modified>( [BOOLEAN] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<statusToLabels>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Flags">

=back

=head2 The whole message as text

Extends L<"The whole message as text" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"The whole message as text">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<file>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Text/"The whole message as text">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<lines>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Text/"The whole message as text">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<printStructure>( [$fh|undef],[$indent] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Text/"The whole message as text">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<string>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Text/"The whole message as text">

=back

=head2 Internals

Extends L<"Internals" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Internals">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<clonedFrom>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $class-E<gt>B<coerce>($message, %options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<create>($filename)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<diskDelete>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isDelayed>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<isTrusted>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<loadBody>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<loadHead>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<parser>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<readBody>( $parser, $head, [$bodytype] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<readFromParser>( $parser, [$bodytype] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<readHead>( $parser, [$class] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<recursiveRebuildPart>($part, %options)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct::Rebuild/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<storeBody>($body)

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<takeMessageId>( [STRING] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Internals">

=back

=head2 Error handling

Extends L<"Error handling" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Error handling">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<AUTOLOAD>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message::Construct/"METHODS">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<notImplemented>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Reporter/"Error handling">

=item $any-E<gt>B<shortSize>( [$value] )

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Error handling">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<shortString>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Message/"Error handling">

=back

=head2 Cleanup

Extends L<"Cleanup" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Cleanup">.

=over 4

=item $obj-E<gt>B<DESTROY>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Reporter/"Cleanup">

=item $obj-E<gt>B<destruct>()

Inherited, see L<Mail::Box::Message/"Cleanup">

=back

=head1 DETAILS

Extends L<"DETAILS" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"DETAILS">.

=head2 Structure of a Message

Extends L<"Structure of a Message" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Structure of a Message">.

=head2 Message object implementation

Extends L<"Message object implementation" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Message object implementation">.

=head2 Message class implementation

Extends L<"Message class implementation" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Message class implementation">.

=head2 Labels

Extends L<"Labels" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Labels">.

=head3 Predefined labels

Extends L<"Predefined labels" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Predefined labels">.

=head3 Status and X-Status fields

Extends L<"Status and X-Status fields" in Mail::Box::Dir::Message|Mail::Box::Dir::Message/"Status and X-Status fields">.

=head3 The .mh_sequences file

Typically, the file which contains the labels is called C<.mh_sequences>.
The MH messages are numbered from C<1>.  As example content for
C<.mh_sequences>:

  cur: 93
  unseen: 32 35-56 67-80

To generalize labels on messages, two are treated specially:

=over 4

=item * cur

The C<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 C<current>.

=item * unseen

With C<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 C<unseen> is translated into C<seen> for internal use.

=back

=head1 DIAGNOSTICS

=over 4

=item Error: Cannot include forward source as $kind.

Unknown alternative for the L<forward(include)|Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">.  Valid choices are
C<NO>, C<INLINE>, C<ATTACH>, and C<ENCAPSULATE>.
Cast by C<forward()>

=item Error: No default mailer found to send message.

The message L<send()|Mail::Message/"The message"> mechanism had not enough information to
automatically find a mail transfer agent to sent this message.  Specify a
mailer explicitly using the C<via> options.
Cast by C<send()>

=item Error: cannot coerce a $type object into a $me object.

Cast by C<coerce()>

=item Error: cannot include reply source as $kind.

Unknown alternative for the C<include> option of L<reply()|Mail::Message::Construct::Reply/"Constructing a message">.  Valid
choices are C<NO>, C<INLINE>, and C<ATTACH>.
Cast by C<reply()>

=item Error: cannot read message from a $source.

Cast by C<read()>

=item 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 C<create()>

=item Error: class $package does not implement method $method.

Fatal error: the specific C<$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 C<notImplemented()>

=item Error: coercion starts with some object, not '$type'.

Cast by C<coerce()>

=item 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 C<create()>

=item Error: method bounce requires To, Cc, or Bcc.

The message L<bounce()|Mail::Message::Construct::Bounce/"Constructing a message"> 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 L<reply()|Mail::Message::Construct::Reply/"Constructing a message">. When you wish to modify the content, use
L<forward()|Mail::Message::Construct::Forward/"Constructing a message">.
Cast by C<bounce()>

=item Error: method forwardAttach requires a preamble.

Cast by C<forwardAttach()>

=item Error: method forwardEncapsulate requires a preamble.

Cast by C<forwardEncapsulate()>

=item Error: method forwardNo requires a To.

Cast by C<forwardNo()>

=item Error: method forwardNo requires a body.

Cast by C<forwardNo()>

=item Error: no rebuild rule $name defined.

Cast by C<rebuild()>

=item 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 L<Mail::Message|Mail::Message>, and then add it to the folder.  During this
L<Mail::Box::addMessage()|Mail::Box/"The folder"> process, the message will get L<coerce()|Mail::Message/"Internals">-d
into the right message type, adding storage information and the like.
Cast by C<build()>

=item Error: please install Email::Simple.

Cast by C<coerce()>

=item Error: please install MIME::Entity.

Cast by C<coerce()>

=item Error: please install Mail::Internet.

Cast by C<coerce()>

=item Error: select parts via '$what'?

Cast by C<parts()>

=item Warning: skipped unknown key '$key' in build.

Cast by C<build()>

=item 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 C<loadBody()>

=item Error: unable to read delayed head for message $msgid.

L<Mail::Box|Mail::Box> tries to be I<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 C<loadBody()>

=back

=head1 SEE ALSO

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

=head1 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.

