tmail 1.1.1 → 1.2.0

data/lib/tmail/interface.rb

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 =begin rdoc
 
-= Facade.rb Provides an interface to the TMail object
+= interface.rb Provides an interface to the TMail object
 
 =end
 #--
@@ -29,20 +29,31 @@
 # with permission of Minero Aoki.
 #++
 
+# TMail::Mail objects get accessed primarily through the methods in this file.
+# 
+# 
+
 require 'tmail/utils'
 
 module TMail
 
   class Mail
 
+    # Allows you to query the mail object with a string to get the contents
+    # of the field you want.
+    # 
+    # Returns a string of the exact contnts of the field
+    # 
+    #  mail.from = "mikel <mikel@lindsaar.net>"
+    #  mail.header_string("From") #=> "mikel <mikel@lindsaar.net>"
     def header_string( name, default = nil )
       h = @header[name.downcase] or return default
       h.to_s
     end
 
-    ###
-    ### attributes
-    ###
+    #:stopdoc:
+    #--
+    #== Attributes
 
     include TextUtils
 
@@ -92,10 +103,15 @@ module TMail
     end
     private :addrs2specs
 
-    #
-    # date time
-    #
+    #:startdoc:
 
+    #== Date and Time methods
+
+    # Returns the date of the email message as per the "date" header value or returns
+    # nil by default (if no date field exists).  
+    # 
+    # You can also pass whatever default you want into this method and it will return 
+    # that instead of nil if there is no date already set. 
     def date( default = nil )
       if h = @header['date']
         h.date
@@ -104,6 +120,15 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the date of the mail object with the passed Time instance,
+    # returns a Time instance set to the date/time of the mail
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  now = Time.now
+    #  mail.date = now
+    #  mail.date #=> Sat Nov 03 18:47:50 +1100 2007
+    #  mail.date.class #=> Time
     def date=( time )
       if time
         store 'Date', time2str(time)
@@ -113,6 +138,13 @@ module TMail
       time
     end
 
+    # Returns the time of the mail message formatted to your taste using a 
+    # strftime format string.  If no date set returns nil by default or whatever value
+    # you pass as the second optional parameter.
+    # 
+    #  time = Time.now # (on Nov 16 2007)
+    #  mail.date = time
+    #  mail.strftime("%D") #=> "11/16/07"
     def strftime( fmt, default = nil )
       if t = date
         t.strftime(fmt)
@@ -121,10 +153,20 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
-    #
-    # destination
-    #
-
+    #== Destination methods
+
+    # Return a TMail::Addresses instance for each entry in the "To:" field of the mail object header.
+    # 
+    # If the "To:" field does not exist, will return nil by default or the value you
+    # pass as the optional parameter.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.to_addrs #=> nil
+    #  mail.to_addrs([]) #=> []
+    #  mail.to = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.to_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def to_addrs( default = nil )
       if h = @header['to']
         h.addrs
@@ -133,7 +175,19 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
-    def cc_addrs( default = nil )
+    # Return a TMail::Addresses instance for each entry in the "Cc:" field of the mail object header.
+    # 
+    # If the "Cc:" field does not exist, will return nil by default or the value you
+    # pass as the optional parameter.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.cc_addrs #=> nil
+    #  mail.cc_addrs([]) #=> []
+    #  mail.cc = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.cc_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
+     def cc_addrs( default = nil )
       if h = @header['cc']
         h.addrs
       else
@@ -141,6 +195,18 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Return a TMail::Addresses instance for each entry in the "Bcc:" field of the mail object header.
+    # 
+    # If the "Bcc:" field does not exist, will return nil by default or the value you
+    # pass as the optional parameter.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.bcc_addrs #=> nil
+    #  mail.bcc_addrs([]) #=> []
+    #  mail.bcc = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.bcc_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def bcc_addrs( default = nil )
       if h = @header['bcc']
         h.addrs
@@ -149,46 +215,137 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively set the to field of the "To:" header to equal the passed in string.
+    # 
+    # TMail will parse your contents and turn each valid email address into a TMail::Address 
+    # object before assigning it to the mail message.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.to = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.to_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def to_addrs=( arg )
       set_addrfield 'to', arg
     end
 
+    # Destructively set the to field of the "Cc:" header to equal the passed in string.
+    # 
+    # TMail will parse your contents and turn each valid email address into a TMail::Address 
+    # object before assigning it to the mail message.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.cc = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.cc_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def cc_addrs=( arg )
       set_addrfield 'cc', arg
     end
 
+    # Destructively set the to field of the "Bcc:" header to equal the passed in string.
+    # 
+    # TMail will parse your contents and turn each valid email address into a TMail::Address 
+    # object before assigning it to the mail message.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.bcc = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.bcc_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def bcc_addrs=( arg )
       set_addrfield 'bcc', arg
     end
 
+    # Returns who the email is to as an Array of email addresses as opposed to an Array of 
+    # TMail::Address objects which is what Mail#to_addrs returns
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.to = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.to #=>  ["mikel@me.org", "mikel@you.org"]
     def to( default = nil )
       addrs2specs(to_addrs(nil)) || default
     end
 
+    # Returns who the email cc'd as an Array of email addresses as opposed to an Array of 
+    # TMail::Address objects which is what Mail#to_addrs returns
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.cc = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.cc #=>  ["mikel@me.org", "mikel@you.org"]
     def cc( default = nil )
       addrs2specs(cc_addrs(nil)) || default
     end
 
+    # Returns who the email bcc'd as an Array of email addresses as opposed to an Array of 
+    # TMail::Address objects which is what Mail#to_addrs returns
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.bcc = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.bcc #=>  ["mikel@me.org", "mikel@you.org"]
     def bcc( default = nil )
       addrs2specs(bcc_addrs(nil)) || default
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "To:" field to the passed array of strings (which should be valid 
+    # email addresses)
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.to = ["mikel@abc.com", "Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"]
+    #  mail.to #=>  ["mikel@abc.org", "mikel@xyz.org"]
+    #  mail['to'].to_s #=> "mikel@abc.com, Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"
     def to=( *strs )
       set_string_array_attr 'To', strs
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "Cc:" field to the passed array of strings (which should be valid 
+    # email addresses)
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.cc = ["mikel@abc.com", "Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"]
+    #  mail.cc #=>  ["mikel@abc.org", "mikel@xyz.org"]
+    #  mail['cc'].to_s #=> "mikel@abc.com, Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"
     def cc=( *strs )
       set_string_array_attr 'Cc', strs
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "Bcc:" field to the passed array of strings (which should be valid 
+    # email addresses)
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.bcc = ["mikel@abc.com", "Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"]
+    #  mail.bcc #=>  ["mikel@abc.org", "mikel@xyz.org"]
+    #  mail['bcc'].to_s #=> "mikel@abc.com, Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"
     def bcc=( *strs )
       set_string_array_attr 'Bcc', strs
     end
 
-    #
-    # originator
-    #
-
+    #== Originator methods
+
+    # Return a TMail::Addresses instance for each entry in the "From:" field of the mail object header.
+    # 
+    # If the "From:" field does not exist, will return nil by default or the value you
+    # pass as the optional parameter.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.from_addrs #=> nil
+    #  mail.from_addrs([]) #=> []
+    #  mail.from = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.from_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def from_addrs( default = nil )
       if h = @header['from']
         h.addrs
@@ -197,18 +354,52 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively set the to value of the "From:" header to equal the passed in string.
+    # 
+    # TMail will parse your contents and turn each valid email address into a TMail::Address 
+    # object before assigning it to the mail message.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.from_addrs = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.from_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def from_addrs=( arg )
       set_addrfield 'from', arg
     end
 
+    # Returns who the email is from as an Array of email address strings instead to an Array of 
+    # TMail::Address objects which is what Mail#from_addrs returns
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.from = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.from #=>  ["mikel@me.org", "mikel@you.org"]
     def from( default = nil )
       addrs2specs(from_addrs(nil)) || default
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "From:" field to the passed array of strings (which should be valid 
+    # email addresses)
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.from = ["mikel@abc.com", "Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"]
+    #  mail.from #=>  ["mikel@abc.org", "mikel@xyz.org"]
+    #  mail['from'].to_s #=> "mikel@abc.com, Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"
     def from=( *strs )
       set_string_array_attr 'From', strs
     end
 
+    # Returns the "friendly" human readable part of the address
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.from = "Mikel Lindsaar <mikel@abc.com>"
+    #  mail.friendly_from #=> "Mikel Lindsaar"
     def friendly_from( default = nil )
       h = @header['from']
       a, = h.addrs
@@ -218,33 +409,92 @@ module TMail
       a.spec
     end
 
-
+    # Return a TMail::Addresses instance for each entry in the "Reply-To:" field of the mail object header.
+    # 
+    # If the "Reply-To:" field does not exist, will return nil by default or the value you
+    # pass as the optional parameter.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.reply_to_addrs #=> nil
+    #  mail.reply_to_addrs([]) #=> []
+    #  mail.reply_to = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.reply_to_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def reply_to_addrs( default = nil )
       if h = @header['reply-to']
-        h.addrs
+        h.addrs.blank? ? default : h.addrs
       else
         default
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively set the to value of the "Reply-To:" header to equal the passed in argument.
+    # 
+    # TMail will parse your contents and turn each valid email address into a TMail::Address 
+    # object before assigning it to the mail message.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.reply_to_addrs = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.reply_to_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def reply_to_addrs=( arg )
       set_addrfield 'reply-to', arg
     end
 
+    # Returns who the email is from as an Array of email address strings instead to an Array of 
+    # TMail::Address objects which is what Mail#reply_to_addrs returns
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.reply_to = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.reply_to #=>  ["mikel@me.org", "mikel@you.org"]
     def reply_to( default = nil )
       addrs2specs(reply_to_addrs(nil)) || default
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "Reply-To:" field to the passed array of strings (which should be valid 
+    # email addresses)
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.reply_to = ["mikel@abc.com", "Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"]
+    #  mail.reply_to #=>  ["mikel@abc.org", "mikel@xyz.org"]
+    #  mail['reply_to'].to_s #=> "mikel@abc.com, Mikel <mikel@xyz.com>"
     def reply_to=( *strs )
       set_string_array_attr 'Reply-To', strs
     end
 
-
+    # Return a TMail::Addresses instance of the "Sender:" field of the mail object header.
+    # 
+    # If the "Sender:" field does not exist, will return nil by default or the value you
+    # pass as the optional parameter.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.sender #=> nil
+    #  mail.sender([]) #=> []
+    #  mail.sender = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>"
+    #  mail.reply_to_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>]
     def sender_addr( default = nil )
       f = @header['sender'] or return default
       f.addr                or return default
     end
 
+    # Destructively set the to value of the "Sender:" header to equal the passed in argument.
+    # 
+    # TMail will parse your contents and turn each valid email address into a TMail::Address 
+    # object before assigning it to the mail message.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.sender_addrs = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>, another Mikel <mikel@you.org>"
+    #  mail.sender_addrs #=>  [#<TMail::Address mikel@me.org>, #<TMail::Address mikel@you.org>]
     def sender_addr=( addr )
       if addr
         h = HeaderField.internal_new('sender', @config)
@@ -256,21 +506,47 @@ module TMail
       addr
     end
 
-    def sender( default )
+    # Returns who the sender of this mail is as string instead to an Array of 
+    # TMail::Address objects which is what Mail#sender_addr returns
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.sender = "Mikel <mikel@me.org>"
+    #  mail.sender #=>  "mikel@me.org"
+    def sender( default = nil )
       f = @header['sender'] or return default
       a = f.addr            or return default
       a.spec
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "Sender:" field to the passed string (which should be a valid 
+    # email address)
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.sender = "mikel@abc.com"
+    #  mail.sender #=>  "mikel@abc.org"
+    #  mail['sender'].to_s #=> "mikel@abc.com"
     def sender=( str )
       set_string_attr 'Sender', str
     end
 
-
-    #
-    # subject
-    #
-
+    #== Subject methods
+
+    # Returns the subject of the mail instance.
+    # 
+    # If the subject field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.subject #=> nil
+    #  mail.subject("") #=> ""
+    #  mail.subject = "Hello"
+    #  mail.subject #=> "Hello"
     def subject( default = nil )
       if h = @header['subject']
         h.body
@@ -280,14 +556,32 @@ module TMail
     end
     alias quoted_subject subject
 
+    # Destructively sets the passed string as the subject of the mail message.
+    # 
+    # Example
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.subject #=> "This subject"
+    #  mail.subject = "Another subject"
+    #  mail.subject #=> "Another subject"
     def subject=( str )
       set_string_attr 'Subject', str
     end
 
-    #
-    # identity & threading
-    #
-
+    #== Message Identity & Threading Methods
+    
+    # Returns the message ID for this mail object instance.
+    # 
+    # If the message_id field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.message_id #=> nil
+    #  mail.message_id(TMail.new_message_id) #=> "<47404c5326d9c_2ad4fbb80161@baci.local.tmail>"
+    #  mail.message_id = TMail.new_message_id
+    #  mail.message_id #=> "<47404c5326d9c_2ad4fbb80161@baci.local.tmail>"
     def message_id( default = nil )
       if h = @header['message-id']
         h.id || default
@@ -296,10 +590,29 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the message ID of the mail object instance to the passed in string
+    #
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.message_id = "this_is_my_badly_formatted_message_id"
+    #  mail.message_id #=> "this_is_my_badly_formatted_message_id"
     def message_id=( str )
       set_string_attr 'Message-Id', str
     end
 
+    # Returns the "In-Reply-To:" field contents as an array of this mail instance if it exists
+    # 
+    # If the in_reply_to field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.in_reply_to #=> nil
+    #  mail.in_reply_to([]) #=> []
+    #  TMail::Mail.load("../test/fixtures/raw_email_reply")
+    #  mail.in_reply_to #=> ["<348F04F142D69C21-291E56D292BC@xxxx.net>"]
     def in_reply_to( default = nil )
       if h = @header['in-reply-to']
         h.ids
@@ -308,10 +621,33 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the value of the "In-Reply-To:" field of an email.
+    # 
+    # Accepts an array of a single string of a message id
+    #
+    # Example: 
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.in_reply_to = ["<348F04F142D69C21-291E56D292BC@xxxx.net>"]
+    #  mail.in_reply_to #=> ["<348F04F142D69C21-291E56D292BC@xxxx.net>"]
     def in_reply_to=( *idstrs )
       set_string_array_attr 'In-Reply-To', idstrs
     end
 
+    # Returns the references of this email (prior messages relating to this message)
+    # as an array of message ID strings.  Useful when you are trying to thread an
+    # email.
+    # 
+    # If the references field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    #
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.references #=> nil
+    #  mail.references([]) #=> []
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("../test/fixtures/raw_email_reply")
+    #  mail.references #=> ["<473FF3B8.9020707@xxx.org>", "<348F04F142D69C21-291E56D292BC@xxxx.net>"]
     def references( default = nil )
       if h = @header['references']
         h.refs
@@ -320,14 +656,33 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the value of the "References:" field of an email.
+    # 
+    # Accepts an array of strings of message IDs
+    #
+    # Example: 
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.references = ["<348F04F142D69C21-291E56D292BC@xxxx.net>"]
+    #  mail.references #=> ["<348F04F142D69C21-291E56D292BC@xxxx.net>"]
     def references=( *strs )
       set_string_array_attr 'References', strs
     end
 
-    #
-    # MIME headers
-    #
+    #== MIME header methods
 
+    # Returns the listed MIME version of this email from the "Mime-Version:" header field
+    # 
+    # If the mime_version field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    #
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.mime_version #=> nil
+    #  mail.mime_version([]) #=> []
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("../test/fixtures/raw_email")
+    #  mail.mime_version #=> "1.0"
     def mime_version( default = nil )
       if h = @header['mime-version']
         h.version || default
@@ -350,6 +705,18 @@ module TMail
       m
     end
 
+    # Returns the current "Content-Type" of the mail instance.
+    #
+    # If the content_type field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    #
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.content_type #=> nil
+    #  mail.content_type([]) #=> []
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("../test/fixtures/raw_email")
+    #  mail.content_type #=> "text/plain"
     def content_type( default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-type']
         h.content_type || default
@@ -358,6 +725,18 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Returns the current main type of the "Content-Type" of the mail instance.
+    #
+    # If the content_type field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    #
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.main_type #=> nil
+    #  mail.main_type([]) #=> []
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("../test/fixtures/raw_email")
+    #  mail.main_type #=> "text"
     def main_type( default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-type']
         h.main_type || default
@@ -366,6 +745,18 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Returns the current sub type of the "Content-Type" of the mail instance.
+    #
+    # If the content_type field does not exist, returns nil by default or you can pass in as
+    # the parameter for what you want the default value to be.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    #
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.sub_type #=> nil
+    #  mail.sub_type([]) #=> []
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("../test/fixtures/raw_email")
+    #  mail.sub_type #=> "plain"
     def sub_type( default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-type']
         h.sub_type || default
@@ -374,6 +765,25 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the "Content-Type:" header field of this mail object
+    # 
+    # Allows you to set the main type, sub type as well as parameters to the field.
+    # The main type and sub type need to be a string.
+    # 
+    # The optional params hash can be passed with keys as symbols and values as a string,
+    # or strings as keys and values.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.set_content_type("text", "plain")
+    #  mail.to_s #=> "Content-Type: text/plain\n\n"
+    # 
+    #  mail.set_content_type("text", "plain", {:charset => "EUC-KR", :format => "flowed"})
+    #  mail.to_s #=> "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=EUC-KR; format=flowed\n\n"
+    #
+    #  mail.set_content_type("text", "plain", {"charset" => "EUC-KR", "format" => "flowed"})
+    #  mail.to_s #=> "Content-Type: text/plain; charset=EUC-KR; format=flowed\n\n"
     def set_content_type( str, sub = nil, param = nil )
       if sub
         main, sub = str, sub
@@ -394,6 +804,16 @@ module TMail
 
     alias content_type= set_content_type
     
+    # Returns the named type parameter as a string, from the "Content-Type:" header.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.type_param("charset") #=> nil
+    #  mail.type_param("charset", []) #=> []
+    #  mail.set_content_type("text", "plain", {:charset => "EUC-KR", :format => "flowed"})
+    #  mail.type_param("charset") #=> "EUC-KR"
+    #  mail.type_param("format") #=> "flowed"
     def type_param( name, default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-type']
         h[name] || default
@@ -402,6 +822,18 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Returns the character set of the email.  Returns nil if no encoding set or returns
+    # whatever default you pass as a parameter - note passing the parameter does NOT change
+    # the mail object in any way.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("path_to/utf8_email")
+    #  mail.charset #=> "UTF-8"
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.charset #=> nil
+    #  mail.charset("US-ASCII") #=> "US-ASCII"
     def charset( default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-type']
         h['charset'] or default
@@ -410,6 +842,17 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the character set used by this mail object to the passed string, you
+    # should note though that this does nothing to the mail body, just changes the header
+    # value, you will need to transliterate the body as well to match whatever you put 
+    # in this header value if you are changing character sets.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.charset #=> nil
+    #  mail.charset = "UTF-8"
+    #  mail.charset #=> "UTF-8"
     def charset=( str )
       if str
         if h = @header[ 'content-type' ]
@@ -421,6 +864,18 @@ module TMail
       str
     end
 
+    # Returns the transfer encoding of the email.  Returns nil if no encoding set or returns
+    # whatever default you pass as a parameter - note passing the parameter does NOT change
+    # the mail object in any way.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("path_to/base64_encoded_email")
+    #  mail.transfer_encoding #=> "base64"
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.transfer_encoding #=> nil
+    #  mail.transfer_encoding("base64") #=> "base64"
     def transfer_encoding( default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-transfer-encoding']
         h.encoding || default
@@ -429,6 +884,17 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Destructively sets the transfer encoding of the mail object to the passed string, you
+    # should note though that this does nothing to the mail body, just changes the header
+    # value, you will need to encode or decode the body as well to match whatever you put 
+    # in this header value.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.new
+    #  mail.transfer_encoding #=> nil
+    #  mail.transfer_encoding = "base64"
+    #  mail.transfer_encoding #=> "base64"
     def transfer_encoding=( str )
       set_string_attr 'Content-Transfer-Encoding', str
     end
@@ -438,6 +904,17 @@ module TMail
     alias content_transfer_encoding  transfer_encoding
     alias content_transfer_encoding= transfer_encoding=
 
+    # Returns the content-disposition of the mail object, returns nil or the passed 
+    # default value if given
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("path_to/raw_mail_with_attachment") 
+    #  mail.disposition #=> "attachment"
+    #
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("path_to/plain_simple_email")
+    #  mail.disposition #=> nil
+    #  mail.disposition(false) #=> false
     def disposition( default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-disposition']
         h.disposition || default
@@ -448,6 +925,14 @@ module TMail
 
     alias content_disposition     disposition
 
+    # Allows you to set the content-disposition of the mail object.  Accepts a type
+    # and a hash of parameters.
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail.set_disposition("attachment", {:filename => "test.rb"})
+    #  mail.disposition #=> "attachment"
+    #  mail['content-disposition'].to_s #=> "attachment; filename=test.rb"
     def set_disposition( str, params = nil )
       if h = @header['content-disposition']
         h.disposition = str
@@ -462,7 +947,17 @@ module TMail
     alias disposition=            set_disposition
     alias set_content_disposition set_disposition
     alias content_disposition=    set_disposition
-    
+
+    # Returns the value of a parameter in an existing content-disposition header
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail.set_disposition("attachment", {:filename => "test.rb"})
+    #  mail['content-disposition'].to_s #=> "attachment; filename=test.rb"
+    #  mail.disposition_param("filename") #=> "test.rb"
+    #  mail.disposition_param("missing_param_key") #=> nil
+    #  mail.disposition_param("missing_param_key", false) #=> false
+    #  mail.disposition_param("missing_param_key", "Nothing to see here") #=> "Nothing to see here"
     def disposition_param( name, default = nil )
       if h = @header['content-disposition']
         h[name] || default
@@ -471,32 +966,40 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
-    ###
-    ### utils
-    ###
-
-    def create_reply
-      mail = TMail::Mail.parse('')
-      mail.subject = 'Re: ' + subject('').sub(/\A(?:\[[^\]]+\])?(?:\s*Re:)*\s*/i, '')
-      mail.to_addrs = reply_addresses([])
-      mail.in_reply_to = [message_id(nil)].compact
-      mail.references = references([]) + [message_id(nil)].compact
-      mail.mime_version = '1.0'
-      mail
-    end
-
-    def base64_encode
+    # Destructively convert the Mail object's body into a Base64 encoded email
+    # returning the modified Mail object
+    def base64_encode!
       store 'Content-Transfer-Encoding', 'Base64'
       self.body = Base64.folding_encode(self.body)
     end
 
-    def base64_decode
+    # ==Depreciation warning
+    # base64_encode will return the body encoded, not modify the message body in 
+    # future versions of TMail
+    alias :base64_encode :base64_encode!
+
+    # Destructively convert the Mail object's body into a Base64 decoded email
+    # returning the modified Mail object
+    def base64_decode!
       if /base64/i === self.transfer_encoding('')
         store 'Content-Transfer-Encoding', '8bit'
         self.body = Base64.decode(self.body, @config.strict_base64decode?)
       end
     end
 
+    # ==Depreciation warning
+    # base64_decode will return the body decoded, not modify the message body in 
+    # future versions of TMail
+    alias :base64_decode :base64_decode!
+
+    # Returns an array of each destination in the email message including to: cc: or bcc:
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    # 
+    #  mail.to = "Mikel <mikel@lindsaar.net>"
+    #  mail.cc = "Trans <t@t.com>"
+    #  mail.bcc = "bob <bob@me.com>"
+    #  mail.destinations #=> ["mikel@lindsaar.net", "t@t.com", "bob@me.com"]
     def destinations( default = nil )
       ret = []
       %w( to cc bcc ).each do |nm|
@@ -507,6 +1010,12 @@ module TMail
       ret.empty? ? default : ret
     end
 
+    # Yields a block of destination, yielding each as a string.
+    #  (from the destinations example)
+    #  mail.each_destination { |d| puts "#{d.class}: #{d}" }
+    #  String: mikel@lindsaar.net
+    #  String: t@t.com
+    #  String: bob@me.com
     def each_destination( &block )
       destinations([]).each do |i|
         if Address === i
@@ -519,10 +1028,22 @@ module TMail
 
     alias each_dest each_destination
 
+    # Returns an array of reply to addresses that the Mail object has, 
+    # or if the Mail message has no reply-to, returns an array of the
+    # Mail objects from addresses.  Else returns the default which can
+    # either be passed as a parameter or defaults to nil
+    # 
+    # Example:
+    #  mail.from = "Mikel <mikel@lindsaar.net>"
+    #  mail.reply_to = nil
+    #  mail.reply_addresses #=> [""]  
+    # 
     def reply_addresses( default = nil )
       reply_to_addrs(nil) or from_addrs(nil) or default
     end
 
+    # Returns the "sender" field as an array -> useful to find out who to 
+    # send an error email to.
     def error_reply_addresses( default = nil )
       if s = sender(nil)
         [s]
@@ -531,10 +1052,72 @@ module TMail
       end
     end
 
+    # Returns true if the Mail object is a multipart message
     def multipart?
       main_type('').downcase == 'multipart'
     end
 
+    # Creates a new email in reply to self.  Sets the In-Reply-To and
+    # References headers for you automagically.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("my_email")
+    #  reply_email = mail.create_reply
+    #  reply_email.class         #=> TMail::Mail
+    #  reply_email.references  #=> ["<d3b8cf8e49f04480850c28713a1f473e@lindsaar.net>"]
+    #  reply_email.in_reply_to #=> ["<d3b8cf8e49f04480850c28713a1f473e@lindsaar.net>"]
+    def create_reply
+      setup_reply create_empty_mail()
+    end
+
+    # Creates a new email in reply to self.  Sets the In-Reply-To and
+    # References headers for you automagically.
+    #
+    # Example:
+    #  mail = TMail::Mail.load("my_email")
+    #  forward_email = mail.create_forward
+    #  forward_email.class         #=> TMail::Mail
+    #  forward_email.content_type  #=> "multipart/mixed"
+    #  forward_email.body          #=> "Attachment: (unnamed)"
+    #  forward_email.encoded       #=> Returns the original email as a MIME attachment
+    def create_forward
+      setup_forward create_empty_mail()
+    end
+
+    #:stopdoc:
+    private
+
+    def create_empty_mail
+      self.class.new(StringPort.new(''), @config)
+    end
+
+    def setup_reply( mail )
+      if tmp = reply_addresses(nil)
+        mail.to_addrs = tmp
+      end
+
+      mid = message_id(nil)
+      tmp = references(nil) || []
+      tmp.push mid if mid
+      mail.in_reply_to = [mid] if mid
+      mail.references = tmp unless tmp.empty?
+      mail.subject = 'Re: ' + subject('').sub(/\A(?:\[[^\]]+\])?(?:\s*Re:)*\s*/i, '')
+      mail.mime_version = '1.0'
+      mail
+    end
+
+    def setup_forward( mail )
+      m = Mail.new(StringPort.new(''))
+      m.body = decoded
+      m.set_content_type 'message', 'rfc822'
+      m.encoding = encoding('7bit')
+      mail.parts.push m
+      # call encoded to reparse the message
+      mail.encoded
+      mail
+    end
+
+  #:startdoc:
   end   # class Mail
 
 end   # module TMail