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.\" titles (.TH), headers (.SH), subsections (.SS), items (.Ip), and index
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.\" ========================================================================
.\"
.IX Title "Mail::Box::Mbox 3"
.TH Mail::Box::Mbox 3 2026-04-11 "perl v5.42.2" "User Contributed Perl Documentation"
.\" For nroff, turn off justification.  Always turn off hyphenation; it makes
.\" way too many mistakes in technical documents.
.if n .ad l
.nh
.SH NAME
Mail::Box::Mbox \- handle folders in Mbox format
.SH INHERITANCE
.IX Header "INHERITANCE"
.Vb 4
\& Mail::Box::Mbox
\&   is a Mail::Box::File
\&   is a Mail::Box
\&   is a Mail::Reporter
.Ve
.SH SYNOPSIS
.IX Header "SYNOPSIS"
.Vb 2
\&  use Mail::Box::Mbox;
\&  my $folder = Mail::Box::Mbox\->new(folder => $ENV{MAIL}, ...);
.Ve
.SH DESCRIPTION
.IX Header "DESCRIPTION"
This documentation describes how Mbox mailboxes work, and also describes
what you can do with the Mbox folder object Mail::Box::Mbox.
.PP
Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Box::File.
.SH OVERLOADED
.IX Header "OVERLOADED"
Extends "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box::File.
.IP "overload: \fB\*(Aq""""\*(Aq\fR stringification" 4
.IX Item "overload: '""""' stringification"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box
.IP "overload: \fB\*(Aq@{}\*(Aq\fR use as ARRAY" 4
.IX Item "overload: '@{}' use as ARRAY"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box
.IP "overload: \fBcmp\fR string comparison" 4
.IX Item "overload: cmp string comparison"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box
.SH METHODS
.IX Header "METHODS"
Extends "METHODS" in Mail::Box::File.
.SS Constructors
.IX Subsection "Constructors"
Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $class\->\fBnew\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$class\fR\->\fBnew\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$class->new(%options)"
Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Box
.Sp
.Vb 10
\& \-Option             \-\-Defined in     \-\-Default
\&  access               Mail::Box        \*(Aqr\*(Aq
\&  body_delayed_type    Mail::Box        Mail::Message::Body::Delayed
\&  body_type            Mail::Box::File  <see description>
\&  coerce_options       Mail::Box        +[]
\&  create               Mail::Box        false
\&  extract              Mail::Box        10240
\&  field_type           Mail::Box        undef
\&  fix_headers          Mail::Box        false
\&  folder               Mail::Box        $ENV{MAIL}
\&  folderdir            Mail::Box        $ENV{HOME}.\*(Aq/Mail\*(Aq
\&  head_delayed_type    Mail::Box        Mail::Message::Head::Delayed
\&  head_type            Mail::Box        Mail::Message::Head::Complete
\&  keep_dups            Mail::Box        false
\&  lock_extension       Mail::Box::File  \*(Aq.lock\*(Aq
\&  lock_file            Mail::Box        <foldername><lock\-extension>
\&  lock_timeout         Mail::Box        1 hour
\&  lock_type            Mail::Box        Mail::Box::Locker::DotLock
\&  lock_wait            Mail::Box        10 seconds
\&  locker               Mail::Box        undef
\&  manager              Mail::Box        undef
\&  message_type         Mail::Box        Mail::Box::Mbox::Message
\&  multipart_type       Mail::Box        Mail::Message::Body::Multipart
\&  remove_when_empty    Mail::Box        true
\&  save_on_exit         Mail::Box        true
\&  subfolder_extension                   \*(Aq.d\*(Aq
\&  trusted              Mail::Box        <depends on folder location>
\&  write_policy         Mail::Box::File  undef
.Ve
.RS 4
.ie n .IP "access => $mode" 2
.el .IP "access => \f(CW$mode\fR" 2
.IX Item "access => $mode"
.PD 0
.IP "body_delayed_type => CLASS" 2
.IX Item "body_delayed_type => CLASS"
.IP "body_type => CLASS|CODE" 2
.IX Item "body_type => CLASS|CODE"
.IP "coerce_options => ARRAY" 2
.IX Item "coerce_options => ARRAY"
.IP "create => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "create => BOOLEAN"
.IP "extract => INTEGER|CODE|METHOD|\*(AqLAZY\*(Aq|\*(AqALWAYS\*(Aq" 2
.IX Item "extract => INTEGER|CODE|METHOD|'LAZY'|'ALWAYS'"
.ie n .IP "field_type => $class" 2
.el .IP "field_type => \f(CW$class\fR" 2
.IX Item "field_type => $class"
.IP "fix_headers => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "fix_headers => BOOLEAN"
.ie n .IP "folder => $name" 2
.el .IP "folder => \f(CW$name\fR" 2
.IX Item "folder => $name"
.ie n .IP "folderdir => $directory" 2
.el .IP "folderdir => \f(CW$directory\fR" 2
.IX Item "folderdir => $directory"
.ie n .IP "head_delayed_type => $class" 2
.el .IP "head_delayed_type => \f(CW$class\fR" 2
.IX Item "head_delayed_type => $class"
.ie n .IP "head_type => $class" 2
.el .IP "head_type => \f(CW$class\fR" 2
.IX Item "head_type => $class"
.IP "keep_dups => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "keep_dups => BOOLEAN"
.ie n .IP "lock_extension => $file|STRING" 2
.el .IP "lock_extension => \f(CW$file\fR|STRING" 2
.IX Item "lock_extension => $file|STRING"
.ie n .IP "lock_file => $file" 2
.el .IP "lock_file => \f(CW$file\fR" 2
.IX Item "lock_file => $file"
.ie n .IP "lock_timeout => $seconds" 2
.el .IP "lock_timeout => \f(CW$seconds\fR" 2
.IX Item "lock_timeout => $seconds"
.ie n .IP "lock_type => $class|$name|\e@names" 2
.el .IP "lock_type => \f(CW$class\fR|$name|\e@names" 2
.IX Item "lock_type => $class|$name|@names"
.ie n .IP "lock_wait => $seconds" 2
.el .IP "lock_wait => \f(CW$seconds\fR" 2
.IX Item "lock_wait => $seconds"
.ie n .IP "locker => $locker" 2
.el .IP "locker => \f(CW$locker\fR" 2
.IX Item "locker => $locker"
.ie n .IP "manager => $manager" 2
.el .IP "manager => \f(CW$manager\fR" 2
.IX Item "manager => $manager"
.ie n .IP "message_type => $class" 2
.el .IP "message_type => \f(CW$class\fR" 2
.IX Item "message_type => $class"
.IP "multipart_type => CLASS" 2
.IX Item "multipart_type => CLASS"
.IP "remove_when_empty => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "remove_when_empty => BOOLEAN"
.IP "save_on_exit => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "save_on_exit => BOOLEAN"
.IP "subfolder_extension => STRING" 2
.IX Item "subfolder_extension => STRING"
.PD
Mbox folders do not support sub\-folders.  However, this module can
simulate sub\-directories if the user wants it to.  When a subfolder of
folder \f(CW\*(C`xyz\*(C'\fR is created, we create a directory which is called \f(CW\*(C`xyz.d\*(C'\fR
to contain them.  This extension \f(CW\*(C`.d\*(C'\fR can be changed using this option.
.IP "trusted => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "trusted => BOOLEAN"
.PD 0
.IP "write_policy => \*(AqREPLACE\*(Aq|\*(AqINPLACE\*(Aq|undef" 2
.IX Item "write_policy => 'REPLACE'|'INPLACE'|undef"
.PD
.RE
.RS 4
.RE
.SS Attributes
.IX Subsection "Attributes"
Extends "Attributes" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBfilename\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfilename\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->filename()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBfixHeaders\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfixHeaders\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->fixHeaders()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBfolderdir\fR( [$directory] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfolderdir\fR( [$directory] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->folderdir( [$directory] )"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBisTrusted\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBisTrusted\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->isTrusted()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBname\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBname\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->name()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBremoveEmpty\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBremoveEmpty\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->removeEmpty()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBsubfolderExtension\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBsubfolderExtension\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->subfolderExtension()"

.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBtype\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBtype\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->type()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Box
.SS "The folder"
.IX Subsection "The folder"
Extends "The folder" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBaddMessage\fR($message, %options)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBaddMessage\fR($message, \f(CW%options\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->addMessage($message, %options)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBaddMessages\fR(@messages) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBaddMessages\fR(@messages) 4
.IX Item "$obj->addMessages(@messages)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $class\->\fBappendMessages\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$class\fR\->\fBappendMessages\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$class->appendMessages(%options)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBclose\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBclose\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->close(%options)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBcopyTo\fR($folder, %options)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBcopyTo\fR($folder, \f(CW%options\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->copyTo($folder, %options)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBdelete\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBdelete\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->delete(%options)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBorganization\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBorganization\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->organization()"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBsize\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBsize\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->size()"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBupdate\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBupdate\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->update(%options)"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBurl\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBurl\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->url()"
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
.SS "Folder flags"
.IX Subsection "Folder flags"
Extends "Folder flags" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBaccess\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBaccess\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->access()"
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBisModified\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBisModified\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->isModified()"
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBmodified\fR( [BOOLEAN] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmodified\fR( [BOOLEAN] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->modified( [BOOLEAN] )"
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBwritable\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBwritable\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->writable()"
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
.SS "The messages"
.IX Subsection "The messages"
Extends "The messages" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBcurrent\fR( [$number|$message|$message_id] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBcurrent\fR( [$number|$message|$message_id] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->current( [$number|$message|$message_id] )"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBfind\fR($message_id) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfind\fR($message_id) 4
.IX Item "$obj->find($message_id)"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBfindFirstLabeled\fR( $label, [BOOLEAN, [\e@msgs]] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfindFirstLabeled\fR( \f(CW$label\fR, [BOOLEAN, [\e@msgs]] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->findFirstLabeled( $label, [BOOLEAN, [@msgs]] )"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBmessage\fR( $index, [$message] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmessage\fR( \f(CW$index\fR, [$message] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->message( $index, [$message] )"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBmessageId\fR( $message_id, [$message] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmessageId\fR( \f(CW$message_id\fR, [$message] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->messageId( $message_id, [$message] )"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBmessageIds\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmessageIds\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->messageIds()"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBmessages\fR( <\*(AqALL\*(Aq|$range|\*(AqACTIVE\*(Aq|\*(AqDELETED\*(Aq|$label| !$label|$filter> )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmessages\fR( <\*(AqALL\*(Aq|$range|\*(AqACTIVE\*(Aq|\*(AqDELETED\*(Aq|$label| !$label|$filter> )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->messages( <'ALL'|$range|'ACTIVE'|'DELETED'|$label| !$label|$filter> )"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBnrMessages\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBnrMessages\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->nrMessages(%options)"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBscanForMessages\fR($message, $message_ids, $timespan, $window)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBscanForMessages\fR($message, \f(CW$message_ids\fR, \f(CW$timespan\fR, \f(CW$window\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->scanForMessages($message, $message_ids, $timespan, $window)"
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
.SS Sub\-folders
.IX Subsection "Sub-folders"
Extends "Sub\-folders" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $any\->\fBlistSubFolders\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$any\fR\->\fBlistSubFolders\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$any->listSubFolders(%options)"
Inherited, see "Sub\-folders" in Mail::Box
.Sp
.Vb 6
\& \-Option             \-\-Defined in     \-\-Default
\&  check                Mail::Box        false
\&  folder               Mail::Box        <from calling object>
\&  folderdir            Mail::Box        <from folder>
\&  skip_empty           Mail::Box        false
\&  subfolder_extension                   <from object>
.Ve
.RS 4
.IP "check => BOOLEAN" 2
.IX Item "check => BOOLEAN"
.PD 0
.ie n .IP "folder => $name" 2
.el .IP "folder => \f(CW$name\fR" 2
.IX Item "folder => $name"
.ie n .IP "folderdir => $dir" 2
.el .IP "folderdir => \f(CW$dir\fR" 2
.IX Item "folderdir => $dir"
.IP "skip_empty => BOOL" 2
.IX Item "skip_empty => BOOL"
.IP "subfolder_extension => STRING" 2
.IX Item "subfolder_extension => STRING"
.PD
When the method is called on an open folder, the extension defined by it is
used to detect sub\-folders by default.  Otherwise, \f(CW\*(Aq.d\*(Aq\fR is taken.
.RE
.RS 4
.RE
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBnameOfSubFolder\fR( $subname, [$parentname] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBnameOfSubFolder\fR( \f(CW$subname\fR, [$parentname] )" 4
.IX Item "$any->nameOfSubFolder( $subname, [$parentname] )"
Inherited, see "Sub\-folders" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBopenRelatedFolder\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBopenRelatedFolder\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->openRelatedFolder(%options)"
Inherited, see "Sub\-folders" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBopenSubFolder\fR($subname, %options)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBopenSubFolder\fR($subname, \f(CW%options\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->openSubFolder($subname, %options)"
Inherited, see "Sub\-folders" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $any\->\fBtopFolderWithMessages\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$any\fR\->\fBtopFolderWithMessages\fR() 4
.IX Item "$any->topFolderWithMessages()"
Inherited, see "Sub\-folders" in Mail::Box
.SS Internals
.IX Subsection "Internals"
Extends "Internals" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBcoerce\fR($message, %options)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBcoerce\fR($message, \f(CW%options\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->coerce($message, %options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBcreate\fR($foldername, %options)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBcreate\fR($foldername, \f(CW%options\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$any->create($foldername, %options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.Sp
.Vb 3
\& \-Option             \-\-Defined in     \-\-Default
\&  folderdir            Mail::Box        undef
\&  subfolder_extension                   undef
.Ve
.RS 4
.ie n .IP "folderdir => $directory" 2
.el .IP "folderdir => \f(CW$directory\fR" 2
.IX Item "folderdir => $directory"
.PD 0
.IP "subfolder_extension => STRING" 2
.IX Item "subfolder_extension => STRING"
.PD
If a directory is found on the location of the folder to be created, this
STRING is used to extend that directory name with.  This will cause the
directory to be seen as sub\-folder for the created folder.  This argument
is passed to \fBfolderToFilename()\fR.
.RE
.RS 4
.RE
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBdetermineBodyType\fR($message, $head)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBdetermineBodyType\fR($message, \f(CW$head\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->determineBodyType($message, $head)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBfolderToFilename\fR( $foldername, $folderdir, [$extension] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBfolderToFilename\fR( \f(CW$foldername\fR, \f(CW$folderdir\fR, [$extension] )" 4
.IX Item "$any->folderToFilename( $foldername, $folderdir, [$extension] )"
Translate a folder name into a filename, using the
\&\f(CW$folderdir\fR value to replace a leading “\f(CW\*(C`=\*(C'\fR”.  If no \f(CW$extension\fR is specified and
this method is called as instance method, new(subfolder_extension) is used.
Otherwise, the extension default to “\f(CW\*(C`.d\*(C'\fR”.
Improves base, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP "$class\->\fBfoundIn\fR( [$foldername], %options )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$class\fR\->\fBfoundIn\fR( [$foldername], \f(CW%options\fR )" 4
.IX Item "$class->foundIn( [$foldername], %options )"
If no \f(CW$foldername\fR is specified, then the value of the \f(CW\*(C`folder\*(C'\fR option
is taken.  A mbox folder is a file which starts with a separator
line: a line with “\f(CW\*(C`From␣\*(C'\fR” as first characters.  Blank lines which
start the file are ignored, which is not for all MUA\*(Aqs acceptable.
Improves base, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.Sp
.Vb 4
\& \-Option             \-\-Defined in     \-\-Default
\&  folder                                undef
\&  folderdir            Mail::Box        undef
\&  subfolder_extension                   <from object>
.Ve
.RS 4
.ie n .IP "folder => $name" 2
.el .IP "folder => \f(CW$name\fR" 2
.IX Item "folder => $name"
.PD 0
.ie n .IP "folderdir => $directory" 2
.el .IP "folderdir => \f(CW$directory\fR" 2
.IX Item "folderdir => $directory"
.IP "subfolder_extension => STRING" 2
.IX Item "subfolder_extension => STRING"
.PD
.RE
.RS 4
.RE
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBlineSeparator\fR( [<STRING|\*(AqCR\*(Aq|\*(AqLF\*(Aq|\*(AqCRLF\*(Aq>] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBlineSeparator\fR( [<STRING|\*(AqCR\*(Aq|\*(AqLF\*(Aq|\*(AqCRLF\*(Aq>] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->lineSeparator( [<STRING|'CR'|'LF'|'CRLF'>] )"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBlocker\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBlocker\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->locker()"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBmessageCreateOptions\fR( [$type, $config] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmessageCreateOptions\fR( [$type, \f(CW$config\fR] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->messageCreateOptions( [$type, $config] )"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBmoveAwaySubFolder\fR($directory, $extension)" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBmoveAwaySubFolder\fR($directory, \f(CW$extension\fR)" 4
.IX Item "$obj->moveAwaySubFolder($directory, $extension)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBparser\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBparser\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->parser()"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBread\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBread\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->read(%options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBreadMessages\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBreadMessages\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->readMessages(%options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBstoreMessage\fR($message) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBstoreMessage\fR($message) 4
.IX Item "$obj->storeMessage($message)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBtoBeThreaded\fR($messages) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBtoBeThreaded\fR($messages) 4
.IX Item "$obj->toBeThreaded($messages)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBtoBeUnthreaded\fR($messages) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBtoBeUnthreaded\fR($messages) 4
.IX Item "$obj->toBeUnthreaded($messages)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBupdateMessages\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBupdateMessages\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->updateMessages(%options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBwrite\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBwrite\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->write(%options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::File
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBwriteMessages\fR(%options) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBwriteMessages\fR(%options) 4
.IX Item "$obj->writeMessages(%options)"
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
.SS "Other methods"
.IX Subsection "Other methods"
Extends "Other methods" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $any\->\fBtimespan2seconds\fR($time) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$any\fR\->\fBtimespan2seconds\fR($time) 4
.IX Item "$any->timespan2seconds($time)"
Inherited, see "Other methods" in Mail::Box
.SS "Error handling"
.IX Subsection "Error handling"
Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBAUTOLOAD\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBAUTOLOAD\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->AUTOLOAD()"
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBnotImplemented\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBnotImplemented\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->notImplemented()"
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
.SS Cleanup
.IX Subsection "Cleanup"
Extends "Cleanup" in Mail::Box::File.
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBDESTROY\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBDESTROY\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->DESTROY()"
Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Box
.SH DETAILS
.IX Header "DETAILS"
Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Box::File.
.SS "Different kinds of folders"
.IX Subsection "Different kinds of folders"
Extends "Different kinds of folders" in Mail::Box::File.
.SS "Available folder types"
.IX Subsection "Available folder types"
Extends "Available folder types" in Mail::Box::File.
.SS "Folder class implementation"
.IX Subsection "Folder class implementation"
Extends "Folder class implementation" in Mail::Box::File.
.SS "File based folders"
.IX Subsection "File based folders"
Extends "File based folders" in Mail::Box::File.
.SS "How MBOX folders work"
.IX Subsection "How MBOX folders work"
MBOX folders store many messages in one file.  Each message begins with a
line which starts with the string \f(CW\*(C`From \*(C'\fR.  Lines inside a message which
accidentally start with \f(CW\*(C`From\*(C'\fR are, in the file, preceded by \`>\*(Aq. This
character is stripped when the message is read.
.PP
In this respect must be noted that the format of the MBOX files is not
strictly defined.  The exact content of the separator lines differ between
Mail User Agents (MUA\*(Aqs).  Besides, some MUAs (like mutt) forget to encode
the \f(CW\*(C`From \*(C'\fR lines within message bodies, breaking other parsers....
.SS "Simulation of sub\-folders"
.IX Subsection "Simulation of sub-folders"
MBOX folders do not have a sub\-folder concept as directory based folders
do, but this MBOX module tries to simulate them.  In this implementation
a directory like
.PP
.Vb 1
\&  Mail/subject1/
.Ve
.PP
is taken as an empty folder \f(CW\*(C`Mail/subject1\*(C'\fR, with the folders in that
directory as sub\-folders for it.  You may also use
.PP
.Vb 2
\&  Mail/subject1
\&  Mail/subject1.d/
.Ve
.PP
where \f(CW\*(C`Mail/subject1\*(C'\fR is the folder, and the folders in the
\&\f(CW\*(C`Mail/subject1.d\*(C'\fR directory are used as sub\-folders.  If your situation
is similar to the first example and you want to put messages in that empty
folder, the directory is automatically (and transparently) renamed, so
that the second situation is reached.
.SH DIAGNOSTICS
.IX Header "DIAGNOSTICS"
.ie n .IP "Error: cannot append messages to folder file $file: $!" 4
.el .IP "Error: cannot append messages to folder file \f(CW$file:\fR $!" 4
.IX Item "Error: cannot append messages to folder file $file: $!"
Appending messages to a not\-opened file\-organized folder may fail when the
operating system does not allow write access to the file at hand.
Cast by \f(CWappendMessages()\fR
.ie n .IP "Fault: cannot move away sub\-folder $dir: $!" 4
.el .IP "Fault: cannot move away sub\-folder \f(CW$dir:\fR $!" 4
.IX Item "Fault: cannot move away sub-folder $dir: $!"
Cast by \f(CWmoveAwaySubFolder()\fR
.ie n .IP "Warning: cannot remove folder $name file $filename: $!" 4
.el .IP "Warning: cannot remove folder \f(CW$name\fR file \f(CW$filename:\fR $!" 4
.IX Item "Warning: cannot remove folder $name file $filename: $!"
Writing an empty folder will usually cause that folder to be removed,
which fails for the indicated reason.  new(remove_when_empty)
controls whether the empty folder will removed; setting it to \f(CW\*(C`false\*(C'\fR
(\f(CW0\fR) may be needed to avoid this message.
Cast by \f(CWwrite()\fR
.ie n .IP "Fault: cannot replace $to by $from to update folder $name: $!" 4
.el .IP "Fault: cannot replace \f(CW$to\fR by \f(CW$from\fR to update folder \f(CW$name:\fR $!" 4
.IX Item "Fault: cannot replace $to by $from to update folder $name: $!"
The replace policy wrote a new folder file to update the existing, but
was unable to give the final touch: replacing the old version of the
folder file for the indicated reason.
Cast by \f(CWwrite()\fR
.ie n .IP "Warning: changes not written to read\-only folder $name." 4
.el .IP "Warning: changes not written to read\-only folder \f(CW$name\fR." 4
.IX Item "Warning: changes not written to read-only folder $name."
You have opened the folder read\-only \-\-which is the default set
by new(access)\-\-, made modifications, and now want to close it.
Set close(force) if you want to overrule the access mode, or close
the folder with close(write) set to \f(CW\*(C`NEVER\*(C'\fR.
Cast by \f(CWclose()\fR
.ie n .IP "Error: class $package does not implement method $method." 4
.el .IP "Error: class \f(CW$package\fR does not implement method \f(CW$method\fR." 4
.IX Item "Error: class $package does not implement method $method."
Fatal error: the specific \f(CW$package\fR (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 \f(CWnotImplemented()\fR
.IP "Error: copying failed for one message." 4
.IX Item "Error: copying failed for one message."
For some reason, for instance disk full, removed by external process, or
read\-protection, it is impossible to copy one of the messages.  Copying will
proceed for the other messages.
Cast by \f(CWcopyTo()\fR
.ie n .IP "Error: destination folder $name is not writable." 4
.el .IP "Error: destination folder \f(CW$name\fR is not writable." 4
.IX Item "Error: destination folder $name is not writable."
The folder where the messages are copied to is not opened with write
access (see new(access)).  This has no relation with write permission
to the folder which is controlled by your operating system.
Cast by \f(CWcopyTo()\fR
.ie n .IP "Warning: different messages with id $msgid." 4
.el .IP "Warning: different messages with id \f(CW$msgid\fR." 4
.IX Item "Warning: different messages with id $msgid."
The message id is discovered more than once within the same folder, but the
content of the message seems to be different.  This should not be possible:
each message must be unique.
Cast by \f(CWmessageId()\fR
.ie n .IP "Error: file $name too short to get write message $msgnr ($size < $expect)" 4
.el .IP "Error: file \f(CW$name\fR too short to get write message \f(CW$msgnr\fR ($size < \f(CW$expect\fR)" 4
.IX Item "Error: file $name too short to get write message $msgnr ($size < $expect)"
Mail::Box is lazy: it tries to leave messages in the folders until they
are used, which saves time and memory usage.  When this message appears,
something is terribly wrong: some lazy message are needed for updating the
folder, but they cannot be retrieved from the original file anymore.  In
this case, messages can be lost.
.Sp
This message does appear regularly on Windows systems when using the
\&\*(Aqreplace\*(Aq write policy.  Please help to find the cause, probably something
to do with Windows incorrectly handling multiple filehandles open in the
same file.
Cast by \f(CWwrite()\fR
.ie n .IP "Warning: folder $name not deleted: not writable." 4
.el .IP "Warning: folder \f(CW$name\fR not deleted: not writable." 4
.IX Item "Warning: folder $name not deleted: not writable."
The folder must be opened with write access via new(access), otherwise
removing it will be refused.  So, you may have write\-access according to
the operating system, but that will not automatically mean that this
\&\f(CW\*(C`delete\*(C'\fR method permits you to.  The reverse remark is valid as well.
Cast by \f(CWdelete()\fR
.IP "Error: invalid timespan \*(Aq$span\*(Aq." 4
.IX Item "Error: invalid timespan '$span'."
The string does not follow the strict rules of the time span syntax which
is permitted as parameter.
Cast by \f(CWtimespan2seconds()\fR
.IP "Warning: message\-id \*(Aq$msgid\*(Aq does not contain a domain." 4
.IX Item "Warning: message-id '$msgid' does not contain a domain."
According to the RFCs, message\-ids need to contain a unique random part,
then an \f(CW\*(C`@\*(C'\fR, and then a domain name.  This is made to avoid the creation
of two messages with the same id.  The warning emerges when the \f(CW\*(C`@\*(C'\fR is
missing from the string.
Cast by \f(CWmessageId()\fR
.ie n .IP "Error: unable to update folder $name." 4
.el .IP "Error: unable to update folder \f(CW$name\fR." 4
.IX Item "Error: unable to update folder $name."
When a folder is to be written, both replace and inplace write policies are
tried,  If both fail, the whole update fails.  You may see other, related,
error messages to indicate the real problem.
Cast by \f(CWwrite()\fR
.ie n .IP "Error: unknown value to folder\->close(write => $when)." 4
.el .IP "Error: unknown value to folder\->close(write => \f(CW$when\fR)." 4
.IX Item "Error: unknown value to folder->close(write => $when)."
Cast by \f(CWclose()\fR
.IP "Error: you cannot add a message which is already part of a folder to a new one.  Please use moveTo or copyTo." 4
.IX Item "Error: you cannot add a message which is already part of a folder to a new one. Please use moveTo or copyTo."
Cast by \f(CWaddMessage()\fR
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.IX Header "SEE ALSO"
This module is part of Mail\-Box version 4.02,
built on April 10, 2026. Website: \fIhttp://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/\fR
.SH LICENSE
.IX Header "LICENSE"
For contributors see file ChangeLog.
.PP
This software is copyright (c) 2001\-2026 by Mark Overmeer.
.PP
This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under
the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.