Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:40:33 +0000 From: bugzilla-noreply@freebsd.org To: bugs@FreeBSD.org Subject: [Bug 289908] mail(1) "inc" + "save" command creates malformed mbox file it can't re-open properly Message-ID: <bug-289908-227@https.bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/>
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https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=289908 Bug ID: 289908 Summary: mail(1) "inc" + "save" command creates malformed mbox file it can't re-open properly Product: Base System Version: Unspecified Hardware: Any OS: Any Status: New Severity: Affects Only Me Priority: --- Component: bin Assignee: bugs@FreeBSD.org Reporter: freebsd@tim.thechases.com According to the man page for `mail(1)` it should take a message-list (and according to POSIX an *optional*, see #268402) mbox file. However, when providing a message-list of more than one message, the resulting mbox file lacks blank lines before the `^From` separator lines. This prevents `mail(1)` from seeing each distinct message in the mbox file. To reproduce with an empty $MAIL spool: $ rm -f newfolder 2>/dev/null # make sure newfolder doesn't already exist $ echo "body1" | mail -s "Test1" $USER $ mail (see the 1 message listed) and in another terminal issue $ echo "body2" | mail -s "Test2" $USER Now if I do in my initial `mail` session & inc it brings in the new message and & h properly lists them. Now if I save those two messages in a new folder: & save 1 2 newfolder "newfolder" [New file] when I open that new folder: & folder newfolder & h or opening it in mail: $ mail -f newfolder it only shows one message. However, when I display that message, the body of the second message is now part of the first message. When I open the `newfolder` file in `vi` or another text editor, there is no blank line before the `From` line of the second message. Adding one and reopening the folder now correctly shows two messages. There seems to be something with the `inc` aspect because if I just send two messages and save them: $ rm -f newfolder $ echo "body1" | mail -s "Test1" $USER $ echo "body2" | mail -s "Test2" $USER $ mail & save 1 2 newfolder & folder newfolder it correctly identifies them as two messages when I & h -- You are receiving this mail because: You are the assignee for the bug.home | help
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