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 = Mail::Box::Maildir->new(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 the "cur" 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 the "cur" 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

folderdir => DIRECTORY

$obj->createDirs($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", and "cur" 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", and "cur" subdirectories are empty and some files which are left there by application programs. The maildir spec explicitly states: ".qmail", "bulletintime", "bulletinlock" and "seriallock". 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
$obj->messageInFile($filename): Inherited, see "Internals" in Mail::Box::Dir
$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.

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", and "cur". 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.

LICENSE

Copyrights 2001-2025 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/