=encoding utf8

=head1 NAME

Mail::Box::File::Message - one message in a Mbox folder

=head1 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

=head1 SYNOPSIS

  my $folder  = new Mail::Box::File folder => $ENV{MAIL}, ...;
  my $message = $folder->message(0);

=head1 DESCRIPTION

Maintain one message in an file based folder, any L<Mail::Box::File|Mail::Box::File>
extension.

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

=head1 METHODS

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

=head2 Constructors

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

=over 4

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

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

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

Messages in file-based folders use the following options for creation:
Improves base, see L<Mail::Reporter/"Constructors">

 -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

=over 2

=item body => $object

=item body_type => CODE|$class

=item deleted => BOOLEAN

=item field_type => $class

=item folder => $folder

=item from_line => $line

The C<$line> which begins each message in the file. Some people detest
this line, but this is just how things were invented...

=item head => $object

=item head_type => $class

=item labels => \@pairs|\%settings

=item messageId => $id

=item message_id => $id

=item modified => BOOLEAN

=item size => $bytes

=item trusted => BOOLEAN

=back

=back

=head2 Attributes

Extends L<"Attributes" in Mail::Box::Message|Mail::Box::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 $obj-E<gt>B<folder>( [$folder] )

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

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

Many people detest file-style folders because they store messages all in
one file, where a line starting with C<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 C<$line> is provided, then the starting line is set to this value.

=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] )

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

=back

=head2 Constructing a message

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

=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] )

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 L<Mail::Message/"The 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.

=back

=head2 The header

Extends L<"The header" in Mail::Box::Message|Mail::Box::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::Message|Mail::Box::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::Message|Mail::Box::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::Message|Mail::Box::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::Message|Mail::Box::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<diskDelete>()

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

=item $obj-E<gt>B<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.

=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>()

Z<>

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

The message is relocated in the file, being moved over C<$distance> bytes.
Setting a new location will update the according information in the header
and body.

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

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

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

Read one message from a L<Mail::Box::File|Mail::Box::File> based folder, including the
leading message separator.
Improves base, 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::Message|Mail::Box::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::Message|Mail::Box::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::Message|Mail::Box::Message/"DETAILS">.

=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: Unable to read delayed body.

Cast by C<loadBody()>

=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 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 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()>

=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.

