Provided by: libmail-box-pop3-perl_3.003-1_all 
NAME
Mail::Box::POP3 - handle POP3 folders as client
INHERITANCE
Mail::Box::POP3
is a Mail::Box::Net
is a Mail::Box
is a Mail::Reporter
Mail::Box::POP3 is extended by
Mail::Box::POP3s
SYNOPSIS
use Mail::Box::POP3;
my $folder = Mail::Box::POP3->new(folder => $ENV{MAIL}, ...);
DESCRIPTION
Maintain a folder which has its messages stored on a remote server. The communication between the client
application and the server is implemented using the POP3 protocol. This class uses Mail::Transport::POP3
to hide the transport of information, and focusses solely on the correct handling of messages within a
POP3 folder.
Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Box::Net.
OVERLOADED
Extends "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box::Net.
overload: ""
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box
overload: @{}
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box
overload: cmp
Inherited, see "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box
METHODS
Extends "METHODS" in Mail::Box::Net.
Constructors
Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Box::Net.
Mail::Box::POP3->new(%options)
For authentications, you have three choices: specify a foldername which resembles an URL, or specify
a pop-client object, or separate options for user, password, pop-server and server-port.
-Option --Defined in --Default
access Mail::Box 'r'
authenticate 'AUTO'
body_delayed_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Delayed
body_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Lines
coerce_options Mail::Box []
create Mail::Box <not applicable>
extract Mail::Box 10240
field_type Mail::Box undef
fix_headers Mail::Box <false>
folder Mail::Box <not applicable>
folderdir Mail::Box <network location>
head_delayed_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Head::Delayed
head_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Head::Complete
keep_dups Mail::Box <false>
lock_file Mail::Box undef
lock_timeout Mail::Box 1 hour
lock_type Mail::Box 'NONE'
lock_wait Mail::Box 10 seconds
locker Mail::Box undef
log Mail::Reporter 'WARNINGS'
manager Mail::Box undef
message_type Mail::Box Mail::Box::POP3::Message
multipart_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Multipart
password Mail::Box::Net undef
pop_client undef
remove_when_empty Mail::Box <false>
save_on_exit Mail::Box <true>
server_name Mail::Box::Net undef
server_port Mail::Box::Net 110
trace Mail::Reporter 'WARNINGS'
trusted Mail::Box <false>
username Mail::Box::Net undef
access => MODE
authenticate => 'LOGIN'|'APOP'|'AUTO'
POP3 can use two methods of authentication: the old LOGIN protocol, which transmits a username and
password in plain text, and the newer APOP protocol which uses MD5 encryption. APOP is therefore
much better, however not always supported by the server. With AUTO, first APOP is tried and if
that fails LOGIN.
body_delayed_type => CLASS
body_type => CLASS|CODE
coerce_options => ARRAY
create => BOOLEAN
extract => INTEGER | CODE | METHOD | 'LAZY'|'ALWAYS'
field_type => CLASS
fix_headers => BOOLEAN
folder => FOLDERNAME
folderdir => DIRECTORY
head_delayed_type => CLASS
head_type => CLASS
keep_dups => BOOLEAN
lock_file => FILENAME
lock_timeout => SECONDS
lock_type => CLASS|STRING|ARRAY
lock_wait => SECONDS
locker => OBJECT
log => LEVEL
manager => MANAGER
message_type => CLASS
multipart_type => CLASS
password => STRING
pop_client => OBJECT
You may want to specify your own pop-client object. The object which is passed must extend
Mail::Transport::POP3.
remove_when_empty => BOOLEAN
save_on_exit => BOOLEAN
server_name => HOSTNAME
server_port => INTEGER
trace => LEVEL
trusted => BOOLEAN
username => STRING
example:
my $url = 'pop3://user:password@pop.xs4all.nl'
my $pop = Mail::Box::POP3->new($url);
my $pop = $mgr->open(type => 'pop3',
username => 'myname', password => 'mypassword',
server_name => 'pop.xs4all.nl');
The folder
Extends "The folder" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->addMessage($message)
It is impossible to write messages to the average POP3 server. There are extensions to the protocol
which do permit it, however these are not implemented (yet, patches welcome).
"undef" is returned, and an error displayed. However, no complaint is given when the $message is
"undef" itself.
-Option--Defined in--Default
share Mail::Box <not used>
share => BOOLEAN
$obj->addMessages($messages)
As useless as addMessage(). The only acceptable call to this method is without any message.
Mail::Box::POP3->appendMessages(%options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->close(%options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->copyTo($folder, %options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->delete(%options)
It is not possible to delete a POP3 folder remotely: the best we can do is remove all the messages in
it... which is the action implemented here. A notice is logged about this.
-Option --Defined in--Default
recursive Mail::Box <not used>
recursive => BOOLEAN
$obj->folderdir( [$directory] )
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->name()
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->organization()
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->size()
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->type()
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->update()
NOT IMPLEMENTED YET
$obj->url()
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
Folder flags
Extends "Folder flags" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->access()
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
$obj->isModified()
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
$obj->modified( [BOOLEAN] )
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
$obj->writable()
Inherited, see "Folder flags" in Mail::Box
The messages
Extends "The messages" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->current( [$number|$message|$message_id] )
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->find($message_id)
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->findFirstLabeled( $label, [BOOLEAN, [$msgs]] )
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->message( $index, [$message] )
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->messageId( $message_id, [$message] )
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->messageIds()
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->messages( <'ALL'|$range|'ACTIVE'|'DELETED'|$label| !$label|$filter> )
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->nrMessages(%options)
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
$obj->scanForMessages($message, $message_ids, $timespan, $window)
Inherited, see "The messages" in Mail::Box
Sub-folders
Extends "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->listSubFolders(%options)
Mail::Box::POP3->listSubFolders(%options)
The standard POP3 protocol does not support sub-folders, so an empty list will be returned in any
case.
-Option --Defined in --Default
check Mail::Box <false>
folder Mail::Box <from calling object>
folderdir Mail::Box <from folder>
skip_empty Mail::Box <false>
check => BOOLEAN
folder => FOLDERNAME
folderdir => DIRECTORY
skip_empty => BOOL
$obj->nameOfSubFolder( $subname, [$parentname] )
Mail::Box::POP3->nameOfSubFolder( $subname, [$parentname] )
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
$obj->openRelatedFolder(%options)
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
$obj->openSubFolder(%options)
It is not possible to open a sub-folder for a POP3 folder, because that is not supported by the
official POP3 protocol. In any case, "undef" is returned to indicate a failure.
$obj->topFolderWithMessages()
Mail::Box::POP3->topFolderWithMessages()
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
Internals
Extends "Internals" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->coerce($message, %options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->create($folder, %options)
Mail::Box::POP3->create($folder, %options)
It is not possible to create a new folder on a POP3 server. This method will always return "false".
-Option --Defined in--Default
folderdir Mail::Box undef
folderdir => DIRECTORY
$obj->determineBodyType($message, $head)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
Mail::Box::POP3->foundIn( [$foldername], %options )
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->getHead($message)
Read the header for the specified message from the remote server.
$obj->getHeadAndBody($message)
Read all data for the specified message from the remote server.
$obj->lineSeparator( [<STRING|'CR'|'LF'|'CRLF'>] )
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->locker()
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->popClient(%options)
Returns the pop client object. This does not establish the connection.
-Option --Default
use_ssl <false>
use_ssl => BOOLEAN
$obj->read(%options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->readMessages(%options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->storeMessage($message)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->toBeThreaded($messages)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->toBeUnthreaded($messages)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->updateMessages(%options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->write(%options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->writeMessages(%options)
-Option --Defined in--Default
messages Mail::Box <required>
messages => ARRAY
Other methods
Extends "Other methods" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->timespan2seconds($time)
Mail::Box::POP3->timespan2seconds($time)
Inherited, see "Other methods" in Mail::Box
Error handling
Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->AUTOLOAD()
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->addReport($object)
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->defaultTrace( [$level]|[$loglevel, $tracelevel]|[$level, $callback] )
Mail::Box::POP3->defaultTrace( [$level]|[$loglevel, $tracelevel]|[$level, $callback] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->errors()
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->log( [$level, [$strings]] )
Mail::Box::POP3->log( [$level, [$strings]] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->logPriority($level)
Mail::Box::POP3->logPriority($level)
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->logSettings()
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->notImplemented()
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->report( [$level] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->reportAll( [$level] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->trace( [$level] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->warnings()
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
Cleanup
Extends "Cleanup" in Mail::Box::Net.
$obj->DESTROY()
Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Box
DETAILS
Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Box::Net.
Different kinds of folders
Extends "Different kinds of folders" in Mail::Box::Net.
Available folder types
Extends "Available folder types" in Mail::Box::Net.
Folder class implementation
Extends "Folder class implementation" in Mail::Box::Net.
How POP3 folders work
Rfc1939 defines how POP3 works. POP3 is a really simple protocol to receive messages from a server to a
user's client. POP3 is also really limited: it can only be used to fetch messages, but has not many ways
to limit the amount of network traffic, like the IMAP4 protocol has.
One POP3 account represents only one folder: there is no way of sub-folders in POP3. POP3 doesn't
support writing (except for some message status flags).
This implementation
The protocol specifics are implemented in Mail::Transport::POP3, written by Liz Mattijsen. That module
does not use any of the other POP3 modules available on CPAN for the reason that MailBox tries to be
smarter: it is capable of re-establishing broken POP3 connection when the server supports UIDs.
The implementation has shown to work with many different POP servers. In the test directory of the
distribution, you will find a small server implementation, which is used to test the client.
DIAGNOSTICS
Error: Cannot create POP3 client for $name.
The connection to the POP3 server cannot be established. You may see more, related, error messages
about the failure.
Error: Cannot find head back for $uidl on POP3 server $name.
The server told to have this message, but when asked for its headers, no single line was returned.
Did the message get destroyed?
Error: Cannot read body for $uidl on POP3 server $name.
The message's headers are retrieved from the server, but the body seems to be lost. Did the message
get destroyed between reading the header and reading the body?
Warning: Changes not written to read-only folder $self.
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 "NEVER".
Error: Copying failed for one message.
For some reason, for instance disc full, removed by external process, or read-protection, it is
impossible to copy one of the messages. Copying will proceed for the other messages.
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.
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.
Error: Folder $name is opened read-only
You can not write to this folder unless you have opened the folder to write or append with
new(access), or the "force" option is set true.
Error: Invalid timespan '$timespan' specified.
The string does not follow the strict rules of the time span syntax which is permitted as parameter.
Warning: Message $uidl on POP3 server $name disappeared.
The server indicated the existence of this message before, however it has no information about the
message anymore.
Warning: Message-id '$msgid' does not contain a domain.
According to the RFCs, message-ids need to contain a unique random part, then an "@", and then a
domain name. This is made to avoid the creation of two messages with the same id. The warning
emerges when the "@" is missing from the string.
Warning: POP3 folders cannot be deleted.
Each user has only one POP3 folder on a server. This folder is created and deleted by the server's
administrator only.
Error: Package $package does not implement $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.
Error: Unable to create subfolder $name of $folder.
The copy includes the subfolders, but for some reason it was not possible to copy one of these.
Copying will proceed for all other sub-folders.
Error: Update of $nr messages ignored for POP3 folder $name.
The standard POP3 implementation does not support writing from client back to the server. Therefore,
modifications may be lost.
Error: Writing folder $name failed
For some reason (you probably got more error messages about this problem) it is impossible to write
the folder, although you should because there were changes made.
Error: You cannot write a message to a pop server (yet)
Some extensions to the POP3 protocol do permit writing messages to the server, but the standard
protocol only implements retreival. Feel invited to extend our implementation with writing.
SEE ALSO
This module is part of Mail-Box-POP3 distribution version 3.003, built on July 16, 2017.
Do not forget to read Mail::Box-Overview, Mail::Box-Cookbook, and Mail::Box-Index. Examples are included
in the Mail-Box distribution, directories 'examples' and 'scripts'.
Browseable manuals, papers, and other released material van be found at Website:
http://perl.overmeer.net/mailbox/
The central modules (in separate distributions) in the MailBox suite are: Mail::Message, Mail::Box,
Mail::Box::IMAP4, Mail::Box::POP3, Mail::Box::Parser::C, Mail::Box::Dbx (unpublished), Mail::Transport,
Object::Realize::Later, and User::Identity.
Please post questions or ideas to the author markov@cpan.org.
LICENSE
Copyrights 2001-2017 by [Mark Overmeer]. For other contributors see ChangeLog.
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl
itself. See http://dev.perl.org/licenses/