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.\"
.IX Title "Mail::Message::Field::Flex 3"
.TH Mail::Message::Field::Flex 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::Message::Field::Flex \- one line of a message header
.SH INHERITANCE
.IX Header "INHERITANCE"
.Vb 3
\& Mail::Message::Field::Flex
\&   is a Mail::Message::Field
\&   is a Mail::Reporter
.Ve
.SH SYNOPSIS
.IX Header "SYNOPSIS"
.SH DESCRIPTION
.IX Header "DESCRIPTION"
This is the flexible implementation of a field: it can easily be
extended because it stores its data in a hash and the constructor
(\f(CW\*(C`new\*(C'\fR) and initializer (\f(CW\*(C`init\*(C'\fR) are split.  However, you pay the
price in performance.  Mail::Message::Field::Fast is faster (as the
name predicts).
.PP
Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Message::Field.
.SH OVERLOADED
.IX Header "OVERLOADED"
Extends "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Field.
.IP "overload: \fB\*(Aq""""\*(Aq\fR stringification" 4
.IX Item "overload: '""""' stringification"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Field
.IP "overload: \fB\*(Aq0+\*(Aq\fR numification" 4
.IX Item "overload: '0+' numification"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Field
.IP "overload: \fB\*(Aq<=\fR\*(Aq> numeric comparison" 4
.IX Item "overload: '<='> numeric comparison"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Field
.IP "overload: \fBbool\fR boolean" 4
.IX Item "overload: bool boolean"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Field
.IP "overload: \fBcmp\fR string comparison" 4
.IX Item "overload: cmp string comparison"
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Message::Field
.SH METHODS
.IX Header "METHODS"
Extends "METHODS" in Mail::Message::Field.
.SS Constructors
.IX Subsection "Constructors"
Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Message::Field.
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBclone\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBclone\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->clone()"
Inherited, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$class\->\fBnew\fR($line | ($name, ($body|$object|\e@objects), [@attributes], [\e%options|\e@options]))" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$class\fR\->\fBnew\fR($line | ($name, ($body|$object|\e@objects), [@attributes], [\e%options|\e@options]))" 4
.IX Item "$class->new($line | ($name, ($body|$object|@objects), [@attributes], [%options|@options]))"
If you stick to this flexible class of header fields, you have a bit
more facilities than with Mail::Message::Field::Fast.  Amongst it, you
can specify options with the creation.  Possible arguments:
.RS 4
.IP \(bu 4
\&\fBnew\fR \f(CW$line\fR
.Sp
Pass a \f(CW$line\fR as it could be found in a file: a (possibly folded) line
which is terminated by a new\-line.
.IP \(bu 4
\&\fBnew\fR \f(CW$name\fR, (\f(CW$body\fR|\f(CW$object\fR|\e\f(CW@objects\fR), [\f(CW@attributes\fR], [\e\f(CW%options\fR|\e\f(CW@options\fR]
.Sp
A set of values which shape the line.
.RE
.RS 4
.Sp
To be able to distinguish the different parameters, you will have
to specify the \f(CW@options\fR as ARRAY of option PAIRS, or HASH of \f(CW%options\fR.
The \f(CW@attributes\fR are a flat LIST of key\-value PAIRS.  The \f(CW$body\fR is
specified as one string, one \f(CW$object\fR, or an ARRAY of \f(CW@objects\fR.
See Mail::Message::Field.
Improves base, see "Constructors" in Mail::Message::Field
.Sp
.Vb 3
\& \-Option    \-\-Default
\&  attributes  +[ ]
\&  comment     undef
.Ve
.IP "attributes => \e@attributes|\e%attributes" 2
.IX Item "attributes => @attributes|%attributes"
An ARRAY with contains of key\-value pairs representing \f(CW@attributes\fR,
or reference to a HASH containing these pairs.  This is an alternative
notation for specifying \f(CW@attributes\fR directly as method arguments.
.ie n .IP "comment => $text" 2
.el .IP "comment => \f(CW$text\fR" 2
.IX Item "comment => $text"
A pre\-formatted list of attributes.
.RE
.RS 4
.RE
.SS Attributes
.IX Subsection "Attributes"
Extends "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field.
.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::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBbody\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBbody\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->body()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBfolded\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfolded\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->folded()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBfoldedBody\fR( [$body] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBfoldedBody\fR( [$body] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->foldedBody( [$body] )"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBname\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBname\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->name()"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBunfoldedBody\fR( [$body, [$wrap]] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBunfoldedBody\fR( [$body, [$wrap]] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->unfoldedBody( [$body, [$wrap]] )"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBwellformedName\fR( [STRING] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBwellformedName\fR( [STRING] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->wellformedName( [STRING] )"
Inherited, see "Attributes" in Mail::Message::Field
.SS "The field"
.IX Subsection "The field"
Extends "The field" in Mail::Message::Field.
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBisStructured\fR( [$name] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBisStructured\fR( [$name] )" 4
.IX Item "$any->isStructured( [$name] )"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBlength\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBlength\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->length()"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBnrLines\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBnrLines\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->nrLines()"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBprint\fR( [$fh] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBprint\fR( [$fh] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->print( [$fh] )"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBsize\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBsize\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->size()"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBstring\fR( [$wrap] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBstring\fR( [$wrap] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->string( [$wrap] )"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBtoDisclose\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBtoDisclose\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->toDisclose()"
Inherited, see "The field" in Mail::Message::Field
.SS "Access to the content"
.IX Subsection "Access to the content"
Extends "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field.
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBaddresses\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBaddresses\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->addresses()"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBattribute\fR( $name, [$value] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBattribute\fR( \f(CW$name\fR, [$value] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->attribute( $name, [$value] )"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBattributes\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBattributes\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->attributes()"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBcomment\fR( [STRING] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBcomment\fR( [STRING] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->comment( [STRING] )"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $any\->\fBdateToTimestamp\fR(STRING) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$any\fR\->\fBdateToTimestamp\fR(STRING) 4
.IX Item "$any->dateToTimestamp(STRING)"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBstripCFWS\fR( [STRING] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBstripCFWS\fR( [STRING] )" 4
.IX Item "$any->stripCFWS( [STRING] )"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBstudy\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBstudy\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->study()"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBtoDate\fR( [$time] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBtoDate\fR( [$time] )" 4
.IX Item "$any->toDate( [$time] )"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBtoInt\fR() 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBtoInt\fR() 4
.IX Item "$obj->toInt()"
Inherited, see "Access to the content" in Mail::Message::Field
.SS Parsing
.IX Subsection "Parsing"
Extends "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field.
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBconsume\fR( $line | <$name,<$body|$objects>> )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBconsume\fR( \f(CW$line\fR | <$name,<$body|$objects>> )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->consume( $line | <$name,<$body|$objects>> )"
Inherited, see "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBdefaultWrapLength\fR( [$length] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBdefaultWrapLength\fR( [$length] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->defaultWrapLength( [$length] )"
Inherited, see "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$any\->\fBfold\fR( $name, $body, [$maxchars] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$any\fR\->\fBfold\fR( \f(CW$name\fR, \f(CW$body\fR, [$maxchars] )" 4
.IX Item "$any->fold( $name, $body, [$maxchars] )"
Inherited, see "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP "$obj\->\fBsetWrapLength\fR( [$length] )" 4
.el .IP "\f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBsetWrapLength\fR( [$length] )" 4
.IX Item "$obj->setWrapLength( [$length] )"
Inherited, see "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBstringifyData\fR(STRING|ARRAY|$objects) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBstringifyData\fR(STRING|ARRAY|$objects) 4
.IX Item "$obj->stringifyData(STRING|ARRAY|$objects)"
Inherited, see "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field
.ie n .IP $obj\->\fBunfold\fR(STRING) 4
.el .IP \f(CW$obj\fR\->\fBunfold\fR(STRING) 4
.IX Item "$obj->unfold(STRING)"
Inherited, see "Parsing" in Mail::Message::Field
.SS "Error handling"
.IX Subsection "Error handling"
Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Message::Field.
.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::Message::Field.
.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::Reporter
.SH DETAILS
.IX Header "DETAILS"
Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Message::Field.
.SH DIAGNOSTICS
.IX Header "DIAGNOSTICS"
.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
.ie n .IP "Warning: field content is not numerical: $content" 4
.el .IP "Warning: field content is not numerical: \f(CW$content\fR" 4
.IX Item "Warning: field content is not numerical: $content"
The numeric value of a field is requested (for instance the \f(CW\*(C`Lines\*(C'\fR or
\&\f(CW\*(C`Content\-Length\*(C'\fR fields should be numerical), however the data contains
weird characters.
Cast by \f(CWtoInt()\fR
.ie n .IP "Error: field name too long (max $count), in \*(Aq$name\*(Aq." 4
.el .IP "Error: field name too long (max \f(CW$count\fR), in \*(Aq$name\*(Aq." 4
.IX Item "Error: field name too long (max $count), in '$name'."
It is not specified in the RFCs how long a field name can be, but
at least it should be a few characters shorter than the line wrap.
Cast by \f(CWfold()\fR
.ie n .IP "Warning: illegal character in field name $name." 4
.el .IP "Warning: illegal character in field name \f(CW$name\fR." 4
.IX Item "Warning: illegal character in field name $name."
A new field is being created which does contain characters not permitted
by the RFCs.  Using this field in messages may break other e\-mail clients
or transfer agents, and therefore mutulate or extinguish your message.
Cast by \f(CWconsume()\fR
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.IX Header "SEE ALSO"
This module is part of Mail\-Message version 4.05,
built on April 10, 2026. Website: \fIhttp://perl.overmeer.net/mailbox/\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.