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The extension .MSG belongs to files of the type, Outlook Mail Message files. The technique used to store the data in a MSG file is very similar to the one used with other Microsoft file formats like Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc. The same “DocType” technique is applied here for storing the data.
The message that is stored in the MSG file can be created within the Outlook software by Microsft. The file structure is designed in way to allow multiple storage fields and metadata information about the email such as the sender, receiver, date, Carbon Copy, subject etc along with the email message body.
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Mac OS
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MSG is a file generated by Microsoft Outlook mail client. MSG files are used for storing important data, such as email messages, attachments, meetings, contacts, tasks, calendars, and others. Information such as headers, messages, hiperlinks, and attachements are stored in ASCII plain text.
MSG file specification
MSG file structure is based on CFB (Compound File Binary) format, which uses simplified file system with dedicated memory and data streams. All elements of given message are stored as memory objects, and object attributes (recipient, sender, attachments, etc.) as stream objects. MSG files are supported by other mail clients given they use MAPI (Message Application Program Interface) interface.
Manually creating MSG file
MSG files can be created manually by ‘dragging and dropping’ messages, meetings, etc. from MS Outlook window into Windows Explorer folder. MSG file will be named after title of the message. Reverse process is also possible.
MSG file structure
Inner structure of MSG file is divided into three parts:
- email message header – header details or information about sender, recipient, message subject, etc.;
- email signature – end of the message;
- body of message – main part of the message (text, hiperlink, and other elements).
