MessageStream Class (Encode and Decode MIME messages)

The MessageStream class represents a MIME, Secure MIME (S/MIME), or non-MIME Internet email message. Writing to the object populates collections of decoded parts. Reading from the object encodes the message "on the fly".

MessageStream is used by the Smtp component to encode email messages and by the Pop and Imap components to decode received email messages. MessageStream can also be used independently as a general purpose S/MIME encoder and decoder. Messages are always encoded/decoded "on the fly" (supported encoding types include Base64, Quoted Printable, UUEncode, and Yencode), which both increases the speed of processing and eliminates use of temporary files in encoding/decoding. Every MIME attachment, MIME part, and label element is represented as an object, giving you unsurpassed processing convenience.

Integrates with all versions of Visual Studio and supports C#, VB.NET, ASP.NET, Delphi 8, C# Builder, and other .NET compliant development environments.

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Interface

Public Constructors
MessageStream	Overloaded. Initialize a new instance of the MessageStream class.
Public Properties
Attachments	Gets a collection containing all recursive attachments contained within the message
BCC	Gets a MailAddresses collection of blind carbon copy recipients.
CanRead	Gets a value indicating whether the current Stream supports reading.
CanSeek	Gets a value indicating whether the current Stream supports seeking.
CanWrite	Gets a value indicating whether the current Stream supports writing.
CC	Gets a value indicating whether the current Stream supports writing.
Charset
Date	Sets the "DATE:" header field in the message.
From	Gets or sets the MailAddress object which specifies who the email is from.
Header	Gets or sets a MailHeader collection representing the mail header lines of the message. Inherits from ArrayList.
IsSmime	Gets a value that indicates whether the message is an encoded S/MIME message.
Length	Gets the length in bytes of the stream.
Mailer	Sets the "X-MAILER:" header field in the message.
MimeBoundary	Gets or sets the boundary between MIME parts.
NonMime	Gets a NonMime class representing non-MIME message parts.
Parts	Gets a Parts class representing MIME parts in the message.
Position	Gets or sets the current position of this stream.
ReturnReceiptTo	Sets the "RETURN-RECEIPT-TO:" header field in the message.
Subject	Sets the "SUBJECT:" header field in the message.
Text	Gets or sets the text for the message.
To	Gets a MailAddresses collection of normal recipients.
Type	Gets or sets the "Content-Type" header of the message or part.
Public Methods
Clone	Creates a shallow copy of the MessageStream.
Flush	Updates the underlying data source or repository with the current state of the buffer and then clears the buffer.
Forward	Overloaded. Returns a MessageStream object formatted for a forwarded message.
Read	Overloaded. Reads at least one byte of data from the Stream and copies it into the provided buffer.
Reply	Overloaded. Returns a MessageStream object formatted for a reply message.
Seek	Sets the position within the current Stream to the specified value. Always throws a NotSupportedException.
SetLength	Sets the length of the current Stream to the specified value. Always throws a NotSupportedException.
Store	Overloaded. Stores the encoded MessageStream to the provided Stream.
ToArray	Returns a byte array representation of the encoded message.
ToMime	Converts an S/MIME message into it's decoded form. Optionally returns signing and decrypting certificates.
ToSmime	Converts a MIME message into it's encoded S/MIME form. Optionally returns signing and encrypting certificates.
ToString	Returns a string representation of the encoded message.
Write	Overloaded. Writes a sequence of bytes to the Stream and returns when the operation is complete.

Code Example

How easy is the MessageStream object to use? The following example demonstrates creating and sending an S/MIME email message.

VB.NET Example
' Create an instance of the MessageStream object
Dim msg As New MessageStream()

' Set "To", "From", and "Subject"
msg.To.Add(New MailAddress("you@yourserver.com"))
msg.From = New MailAddress("me@myserver.com")
msg.Subject = "Test Message"

' Set the message text
msg.Text = "This is a test message"

' Add an attachment to the message, it will automatically be encoded.
msg.Attachments.Add("C:\myfiles\myattachment.txt");

' Now mail the message using the Smtp component...First set the server.
Smtp1.Server = "mail.test.com"

' Then sign and send the S/MIME message
Smtp1.Send(msg.ToSmime())

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