NAME
Mail::Box::Maildir - handle Maildir folders
INHERITANCE
Mail::Box::Maildir
is a Mail::Box::Dir
is a Mail::Box
is a Mail::Reporter
SYNOPSIS
use Mail::Box::Maildir;
my $folder = new Mail::Box::Maildir folder => $ENV{MAIL}, ...;
DESCRIPTION
This documentation describes how Maildir mailboxes work, and what you can do with the Maildir folder object Mail::Box::Maildir
.
Maildir is not supported for Windows, because it create filenames which are not accepted by the Windows system.
Extends "DESCRIPTION" in Mail::Box::Dir.
OVERLOADED
Extends "OVERLOADED" in Mail::Box::Dir.
- 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::Dir.
Constructors
Extends "Constructors" in Mail::Box::Dir.
- Mail::Box::Maildir->new(%options)
-
-Option --Defined in --Default accept_new <false> access Mail::Box 'r' body_delayed_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Delayed body_type Mail::Box Mail::Message::Body::Lines coerce_options Mail::Box [] create Mail::Box <false> directory Mail::Box::Dir <derived from folder name> extract Mail::Box 10240 field_type Mail::Box undef fix_headers Mail::Box <false> folder Mail::Box $ENV{MAIL} folderdir Mail::Box $ENV{HOME}/.maildir 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 <not used> lock_timeout Mail::Box <not used> lock_type Mail::Box 'NONE' (constant) lock_wait Mail::Box <not used> locker Mail::Box undef log Mail::Reporter 'WARNINGS' manager Mail::Box undef message_type Mail::Box <folder-class>::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>
- accept_new => BOOLEAN
-
When the folder is open, some messages may be stored in the
new
sub-directory. By default, these messages are immediately moved to thecur
directory when the folder is opened. Otherwise, you have to call acceptMessages() or Mail::Box::Maildir::Message::accept(). - access => MODE
- body_delayed_type => CLASS
- body_type => CLASS|CODE
- coerce_options => ARRAY
- create => BOOLEAN
- directory => DIRECTORY
- 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
- remove_when_empty => BOOLEAN
- save_on_exit => BOOLEAN
- trace => LEVEL
- trusted => BOOLEAN
The folder
Extends "The folder" in Mail::Box::Dir.
- $obj->addMessage($message, %options)
-
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
- $obj->addMessages(@messages)
-
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
- Mail::Box::Maildir->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)
-
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box
- $obj->directory()
-
Inherited, see "The folder" in Mail::Box::Dir
- $obj->folderdir( [$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::Dir.
- $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::Dir.
- $obj->current( [$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::Dir.
- $obj->listSubFolders(%options)
- Mail::Box::Maildir->listSubFolders(%options)
-
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
- $obj->nameOfSubFolder( $subname, [$parentname] )
- Mail::Box::Maildir->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::Maildir->topFolderWithMessages()
-
Inherited, see "Sub-folders" in Mail::Box
Internals
Extends "Internals" in Mail::Box::Dir.
- $obj->acceptMessages()
-
Accept all messages which are waiting in the
new
directory to be moved to thecur
directory. This will not rescan the directory for newly arrived messages, because that's a task for update(). - Mail::Box::Maildir->appendMessage(%options)
- $obj->coerce($message, %options)
- $obj->create($foldername, %options)
- Mail::Box::Maildir->create($foldername, %options)
-
-Option --Defined in--Default folderdir Mail::Box undef
- $obj->createDirs($folderdir)
- Mail::Box::Maildir->createDirs($folderdir)
-
The $folderdir contains the absolute path of the location where the messages are kept. Maildir folders contain a
tmp
,new
, andcur
sub-directory within that folder directory as well. This method will ensure that all directories exist. Returns false on failure. - $obj->determineBodyType($message, $head)
-
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
- $obj->folderIsEmpty($folderdir)
- Mail::Box::Maildir->folderIsEmpty($folderdir)
-
Checks whether the folder whose directory is specified as absolute $folderdir is empty or not. A folder is empty when the
tmp
,new
, andcur
subdirectories are empty and some files which are left there by application programs. The maildir spec explicitly states:.qmail
,bulletintime
,bulletinlock
andseriallock
. If any other files are found, the directory is considered not-empty. - $obj->folderToDirectory($foldername, $folderdir)
-
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Dir
- Mail::Box::Maildir->foundIn( [$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->read(%options)
-
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
- $obj->readMessageFilenames($directory)
-
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Dir
- $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)
-
Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box
Other methods
Extends "Other methods" in Mail::Box::Dir.
- $obj->timespan2seconds($time)
- Mail::Box::Maildir->timespan2seconds($time)
-
Inherited, see "Other methods" in Mail::Box
Error handling
Extends "Error handling" in Mail::Box::Dir.
- $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, $callback] )
- Mail::Box::Maildir->defaultTrace( [$level]|[$loglevel, $tracelevel]|[$level, $callback] )
-
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
- $obj->errors()
-
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
- $obj->log( [$level, [$strings]] )
- Mail::Box::Maildir->log( [$level, [$strings]] )
-
Inherited, see "Error handling" in Mail::Reporter
- $obj->logPriority($level)
- Mail::Box::Maildir->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::Dir.
- $obj->DESTROY()
-
Inherited, see "Cleanup" in Mail::Box
DETAILS
The explanation is complicated, but for normal use you should bother yourself with all details.
Extends "DETAILS" in Mail::Box::Dir.
Different kinds of folders
Extends "Different kinds of folders" in Mail::Box::Dir.
Available folder types
Extends "Available folder types" in Mail::Box::Dir.
Folder class implementation
Extends "Folder class implementation" in Mail::Box::Dir.
How MAILDIR folders work
Maildir-type folders use a directory to store the messages of one folder. Each message is stored in a separate file. This seems useful, because changes in a folder change only a few of these small files, in contrast with file-based folders where changes in a folder cause rewrites of huge folder-files.
However, Maildir based folders perform very bad if you need header information of all messages. For instance, if you want to have full knowledge about all message-threads (see Mail::Box::Thread::Manager) in the folder, it requires to read all header lines in all message files. And usually, reading your messages as threads is desired. Maildir maintains a tiny amount of info visible in the filename, which may make it perform just a little bit faster than MH.
DIAGNOSTICS
- Error: Cannot append Maildir message in $new to folder $self.
-
The message (or messages) could not be stored in the right directories for the Maildir folder.
- Error: Cannot create Maildir directory $dir: $!
-
A Maildir folder is represented by a directory, with some sub-directories. The top folder directory could not be created for the reason indicated.
- Error: Cannot create Maildir folder $name.
-
One or more of the directories required to administer a Maildir folder could not be created.
- Error: Cannot create Maildir message file $new.
-
A message is converted from some other message format into a Maildir format by writing it to a file with a name which contains the status flags of the message. Apparently, creating this file failed.
- Error: Cannot create Maildir subdir $dir: $!
-
Each Maildir folder has three sub-directories for administration:
new
,tmp
, andcur
. The mentioned directory could not be created 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: 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: 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: 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.
SEE ALSO
This module is part of Mail-Box distribution version 3.006, built on February 15, 2019. Website: http://perl.overmeer.net/CPAN/
LICENSE
Copyrights 2001-2019 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/