Provided by: libmail-box-perl_3.010-2_all 
NAME
Mail::Box::File - handle file-based folders
INHERITANCE
Mail::Box::File
is a Mail::Box
is a Mail::Reporter
Mail::Box::File is extended by
Mail::Box::Dbx
Mail::Box::Mbox
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
"Mail::Box::File" is the base-class for all file-based folders: folders which bundle
multiple messages into one single file. Usually, these messages are separated by a
special line which indicates the start of the next one.
Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Box.
OVERLOADED
Extends "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box.
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.
Constructors
Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Box.
Mail::Box::File->new(%options)
-Option --Defined in --Default
access Mail::Box 'r'
body_delayed_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Delayed
body_type <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}.'/Mail'
head_delayed_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Head::Delayed
head_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Head::Complete
keep_dups Mail::Box <false>
lock_extension '.lock'
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
log Mail::Reporter 'WARNINGS'
manager Mail::Box undef
message_type Mail::Box Mail::Box::File::Message
multipart_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Multipart
remove_when_empty Mail::Box <true>
save_on_exit Mail::Box <true>
trace Mail::Reporter 'WARNINGS'
trusted Mail::Box <depends on folder location>
write_policy undef
access => MODE
body_delayed_type => CLASS
body_type => CLASS|CODE
The default "body_type" option for "File" folders, which will cause messages larger
than 10kB to be stored in files and smaller files in memory, is implemented like
this:
sub determine_body_type($$)
{ my $head = shift;
my $size = shift || 0;
'Mail::Message::Body::'
. ($size > 10000 ? 'File' : 'Lines');
}
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_extension => FILENAME|STRING
When the dotlock locking mechanism is used, the lock is created with a hardlink to
the folder file. For "Mail::Box::File" type of folders, this file is by default
named as the folder-file itself followed by ".lock". For example: the "Mail/inbox"
folder file will have a hardlink made as "Mail/inbox.lock".
You may specify an absolute filename, a relative (to the folder's directory)
filename, or an extension (preceded by a dot). So valid examples are:
.lock # appended to the folder's filename
my_own_lockfile.test # full filename, same dir
/etc/passwd # somewhere else
When the program runs with less privileges (as normal user), often the default inbox
folder can not be locked with the lockfile name which is produced by default.
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
remove_when_empty => BOOLEAN
save_on_exit => BOOLEAN
trace => LEVEL
trusted => BOOLEAN
write_policy => 'REPLACE'|'INPLACE'|undef
Sets the default write policy, as default for a later call to write(policy). With
"undef", the best policy is autodetected.
The folder
Extends "The folder" in Mail::Box.
$obj->addMessage($message, %options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->addMessages(@messages)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
Mail::Box::File->appendMessages(%options)
Appending messages to a file based folder which is not opened is a little risky. In
practice, this is often done without locking the folder. So, another application may
write to the folder at the same time... :( Hopefully, all goes fast enough that the
chance on collision is small.
All %options of Mail::Box::Mbox::new() can be supplied.
-Option --Defined in --Default
folder Mail::Box <required>
lock_type NONE
message Mail::Box undef
messages Mail::Box undef
share Mail::Box <false>
folder => FOLDERNAME
lock_type => ...
See Mail::Box::new(lock_type) for possible values.
message => MESSAGE
messages => ARRAY-OF-MESSAGES
share => BOOLEAN
$obj->close(%options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->copyTo($folder, %options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->delete(%options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->filename()
Returns the filename for this folder, which may be an absolute or relative path to the
file.
example:
print $folder->filename;
$obj->folderdir( [$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(%options)
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
$obj->url()
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
Folder flags
Extends "Folder flags" in Mail::Box.
$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.
$obj->current( [$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.
$obj->listSubFolders(%options)
Mail::Box::File->listSubFolders(%options)
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
$obj->nameOfSubFolder( $subname, [$parentname] )
Mail::Box::File->nameOfSubFolder( $subname, [$parentname] )
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
$obj->openRelatedFolder(%options)
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
$obj->openSubFolder($subname, %options)
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
$obj->topFolderWithMessages()
Mail::Box::File->topFolderWithMessages()
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
Internals
Extends "Internals" in Mail::Box.
$obj->coerce($message, %options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->create($foldername, %options)
Mail::Box::File->create($foldername, %options)
-Option --Defined in--Default
folderdir Mail::Box undef
folderdir => DIRECTORY
$obj->determineBodyType($message, $head)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->folderToFilename( $foldername, $folderdir, [$subext] )
Mail::Box::File->folderToFilename( $foldername, $folderdir, [$subext] )
Translate a folder name into a filename, using the $folderdir value to replace a
leading "=". $subext is only used for MBOX folders.
Mail::Box::File->foundIn( [$foldername], %options )
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->lineSeparator( [<STRING|'CR'|'LF'|'CRLF'>] )
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->locker()
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
$obj->messageCreateOptions( [$type, $config] )
Returns a key-value list of options to be used each time a new message is read from a
file. The list is preceded by the $type of message which has to be created.
This data is used by readMessages() and updateMessages(). With $type and $config, a
new configuration is set.
$obj->moveAwaySubFolder($directory, $extension)
The $directory is renamed by appending the $extension, which defaults to ".d", to make
place for a folder file on that specific location. "false" is returned if this
failed.
$obj->parser()
Create a parser for this mailbox. The parser stays alive as long as the folder is
open.
$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)
For file based folders, the file handle stays open until the folder is closed. Update
is therefore rather simple: move to the end of the last known message, and continue
reading...
$obj->write(%options)
-Option --Defined in --Default
force Mail::Box <false>
policy undef
save_deleted Mail::Box <false>
force => BOOLEAN
policy => 'REPLACE'|'INPLACE'|undef
In what way will the mail folder be updated. If not specified during the write, the
value of the new(write_policy) at folder creation is taken.
Valid values:
• "REPLACE"
First a new folder is written in the same directory as the folder which has to
be updated, and then a call to move will throw away the old immediately
replacing it by the new.
Writing in "REPLACE" module is slightly optimized: messages which are not
modified are copied from file to file, byte by byte. This is much faster than
printing the data which is will be done for modified messages.
• "INPLACE"
The original folder file will be opened read/write. All message which where not
changed will be left untouched, until the first deleted or modified message is
detected. All further messages are printed again.
• "undef"
As default, or when "undef" is explicitly specified, first "REPLACE" mode is
tried. Only when that fails, an "INPLACE" update is performed.
"INPLACE" will be much faster than "REPLACE" when applied on large folders, however
requires the "truncate" function to be implemented on your operating system (at
least available for recent versions of Linux, Solaris, Tru64, HPUX). It is also
dangerous: when the program is interrupted during the update process, the folder is
corrupted. Data may be lost.
However, in some cases it is not possible to write the folder with "REPLACE". For
instance, the usual incoming mail folder on UNIX is stored in a directory where a
user can not write. Of course, the "root" and "mail" users can, but if you want to
use this Perl module with permission of a normal user, you can only get it to work
in "INPLACE" mode. Be warned that in this case folder locking via a lockfile is not
possible as well.
save_deleted => BOOLEAN
$obj->writeMessages(%options)
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
Other methods
Extends "Other methods" in Mail::Box.
$obj->timespan2seconds($time)
Mail::Box::File->timespan2seconds($time)
Inherited, see "Other methods" in Mail::Box
Error handling
Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Box.
$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, $callback] )
Mail::Box::File->defaultTrace( [$level]|[$loglevel, $tracelevel]|[$level, $callback] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->errors()
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->log( [$level, [$strings]] )
Mail::Box::File->log( [$level, [$strings]] )
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
$obj->logPriority($level)
Mail::Box::File->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.
$obj->DESTROY()
Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Box
DETAILS
File based folders
File based folders maintain a folder (a set of messages) in one single file. The
advantage is that your folder has only one single name, which speeds-up access to all
messages at once.
The disadvantage over directory based folder (see Mail::Box::Dir) is that you have to
construct some means to keep all message apart, for instance by adding a message
separator, and this will cause problems. Where access to all messages at once is faster
in file based folders, access to a single message is (much) slower, because the whole
folder must be read.
DETAILS
Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Box.
DIAGNOSTICS
Error: Cannot append messages to folder file $filename: $!
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.
Error: Cannot create directory $dir for folder $name.
While creating a file-organized folder, at most one level of directories is created
above it. Apparently, more levels of directories are needed, or the operating system
does not allow you to create the directory.
Error: Cannot create folder file $name: $!
The file-organized folder file cannot be created for the indicated reason. In common
cases, the operating system does not grant you write access to the directory where the
folder file should be stored.
Error: Cannot get a lock on $type folder $self.
A lock is required to get access to the folder. If no locking is needed, specify the
NONE lock type.
Error: Cannot move away sub-folder $dir
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)
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 false (0) may be needed to avoid this message.
Error: Cannot replace $filename by $tempname, 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.
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: File too short to get write message $nr ($size, $need)
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.
This message does appear regularly on Windows systems when using the 'replace' write
policy. Please help to find the cause, probably something to do with Windows
incorrectly handling multiple filehandles open in the same file.
Warning: Folder $name file $filename is write-protected.
The folder is opened writable or for appending via new(access), but the operating
system does not permit writing to the file. The folder will be opened read-only.
Error: Folder $name not deleted: not writable.
The folder must be opened with write access via new(access), otherwise removing it
will be refused. So, you may have write-access according to the operating system, but
that will not automatically mean that this "delete" method permits you to. The
reverse remark is valid as well.
Error: Invalid timespan '$timespan' specified.
The string does not follow the strict rules of the time span syntax which is permitted
as parameter.
Warning: Message-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.
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: Unable to update folder $self.
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.
SEE ALSO
This module is part of Mail-Box distribution version 3.010, built on July 18, 2023.
Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/
LICENSE
Copyrights 2001-2023 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/