main: improved parameter descriptions

- no longer using file suffix to choose the format
- added 'mformat' argument to 'write_xxx()' functions
- file suffix is now set by 'Message.to_file()' per default

.gitignore

@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ celerybeat.pid
 .venv
 env/
 venv/
+.old/
 ENV/
 env.bak/
 venv.bak/

README.md

@@ -65,23 +65,26 @@ cmm question [-t OTAGS]... [-k ATAGS]... [-x XTAGS]... [-o OUTTAGS]... [-A AI_ID
 * `-O, --overwrite`: Overwrite existing messages when repeating them
 * `-s, --source-text FILE`: Add content of a file to the query
 * `-S, --source-code FILE`: Add source code file content to the chat history
+* `-l, --location {disk,cache,db,all}`: Use given location when building the chat history (default: 'db')
+* `-g, --glob GLOB`: Filter message files using the given glob pattern
 
 #### Hist
 
-The `hist` command is used to print the chat history.
+The `hist` command is used to print and manage the chat history.
 
 ```bash
-cmm hist [-t OTAGS]... [-k ATAGS]... [-x XTAGS]... [-w] [-W] [-S] [-A SUBSTRING] [-Q SUBSTRING]
+cmm hist [--print | --convert FORMAT] [-t OTAGS]... [-k ATAGS]... [-x XTAGS]... [-w] [-W] [-S] [-A SUBSTRING] [-Q SUBSTRING]
 ```
 
+* `-p, --print`: Print the DB chat history
+* `-c, --convert FORMAT`: Convert all messages to the given format
 * `-t, --or-tags OTAGS`: List of tags (one must match)
 * `-k, --and-tags ATAGS`: List of tags (all must match)
 * `-x, --exclude-tags XTAGS`: List of tags to exclude
-* `-w, --with-tags`: Print chat history with tags
-* `-W, --with-files`: Print chat history with filenames
+* `-w, --with-metadata`: Print chat history with metadata (tags, filenames, AI, etc.)
 * `-S, --source-code-only`: Only print embedded source code
-* `-A, --answer SUBSTRING`: Search for answer substring
-* `-Q, --question SUBSTRING`: Search for question substring
+* `-A, --answer SUBSTRING`: Filter for answer substring
+* `-Q, --question SUBSTRING`: Filter for question substring
 
 #### Tags
 

chatmastermind/chat.py

@@ -6,9 +6,10 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from pprint import PrettyPrinter
 from pydoc import pager
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import TypeVar, Type, Optional, ClassVar, Any, Callable, Literal, Union
+from enum import Enum
+from typing import TypeVar, Type, Optional, Any, Callable, Union
 from .configuration import default_config_file
-from .message import Message, MessageFilter, MessageError, message_in
+from .message import Message, MessageFilter, MessageError, MessageFormat, message_in, message_valid_formats
 from .tags import Tag
 
 ChatInst = TypeVar('ChatInst', bound='Chat')
@@ -16,7 +17,15 @@ ChatDBInst = TypeVar('ChatDBInst', bound='ChatDB')
 
 db_next_file = '.next'
 ignored_files = [db_next_file, default_config_file]
-msg_location = Literal['mem', 'disk', 'cache', 'db', 'all']
+msg_suffix = Message.file_suffix_write
+
+
+class msg_location(Enum):
+    MEM = 'mem'
+    DISK = 'disk'
+    CACHE = 'cache'
+    DB = 'db'
+    ALL = 'all'
 
 
 class ChatError(Exception):
@@ -43,16 +52,16 @@ def read_dir(dir_path: Path,
     Parameters:
     * 'dir_path': source directory
     * 'glob': if specified, files will be filtered using 'path.glob()',
-      otherwise it uses 'path.iterdir()'.
+      otherwise it reads all files with the default message suffix
     * 'mfilter': use with 'Message.from_file()' to filter messages
       when reading them.
     """
     messages: list[Message] = []
-    file_iter = dir_path.glob(glob) if glob else dir_path.iterdir()
+    file_iter = dir_path.glob(glob) if glob else dir_path.glob(f'*{msg_suffix}')
     for file_path in sorted(file_iter):
         if (file_path.is_file()
            and file_path.name not in ignored_files  # noqa: W503
-           and file_path.suffix in Message.file_suffixes):  # noqa: W503
+           and file_path.suffix in Message.file_suffixes_read):  # noqa: W503
             try:
                 message = Message.from_file(file_path, mfilter)
                 if message:
@@ -63,22 +72,20 @@ def read_dir(dir_path: Path,
 
 
 def make_file_path(dir_path: Path,
-                   file_suffix: str,
                    next_fid: Callable[[], int]) -> Path:
     """
-    Create a file_path for the given directory using the
-    given file_suffix and ID generator function.
+    Create a file_path for the given directory using the given ID generator function.
     """
-    file_path = dir_path / f"{next_fid():04d}{file_suffix}"
+    file_path = dir_path / f"{next_fid():04d}{msg_suffix}"
     while file_path.exists():
-        file_path = dir_path / f"{next_fid():04d}{file_suffix}"
+        file_path = dir_path / f"{next_fid():04d}{msg_suffix}"
     return file_path
 
 
 def write_dir(dir_path: Path,
               messages: list[Message],
-              file_suffix: str,
-              next_fid: Callable[[], int]) -> None:
+              next_fid: Callable[[], int],
+              mformat: MessageFormat = Message.default_format) -> None:
     """
     Write all messages to the given directory. If a message has no file_path,
     a new one will be created. If message.file_path exists, it will be modified
@@ -86,18 +93,17 @@ def write_dir(dir_path: Path,
     Parameters:
     * 'dir_path': destination directory
     * 'messages': list of messages to write
-    * 'file_suffix': suffix for the message files ['.txt'|'.yaml']
     * 'next_fid': callable that returns the next file ID
     """
     for message in messages:
         file_path = message.file_path
         # message has no file_path: create one
         if not file_path:
-            file_path = make_file_path(dir_path, file_suffix, next_fid)
+            file_path = make_file_path(dir_path, next_fid)
         # file_path does not point to given directory: modify it
         elif not file_path.parent.samefile(dir_path):
             file_path = dir_path / file_path.name
-        message.to_file(file_path)
+        message.to_file(file_path, mformat=mformat)
 
 
 def clear_dir(dir_path: Path,
@@ -109,7 +115,7 @@ def clear_dir(dir_path: Path,
     for file_path in file_iter:
         if (file_path.is_file()
            and file_path.name not in ignored_files  # noqa: W503
-           and file_path.suffix in Message.file_suffixes):  # noqa: W503
+           and file_path.suffix in Message.file_suffixes_read):  # noqa: W503
             file_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
 
 
@@ -146,7 +152,7 @@ class Chat:
         Matching is True if:
         * 'name' matches the full 'file_path'
         * 'name' matches 'file_path.name' (i. e. including the suffix)
-        * 'name' matches 'file_path.stem' (i. e. without a suffix)
+        * 'name' matches 'file_path.stem' (i. e. without the suffix)
         """
         return Path(name) == file_path or name == file_path.name or name == file_path.stem
 
@@ -257,14 +263,17 @@ class Chat:
         return sum(m.tokens() for m in self.messages)
 
     def print(self, source_code_only: bool = False,
-              with_tags: bool = False, with_files: bool = False,
-              paged: bool = True) -> None:
+              with_metadata: bool = False,
+              paged: bool = True,
+              tight: bool = False) -> None:
         output: list[str] = []
         for message in self.messages:
             if source_code_only:
                 output.append(message.to_str(source_code_only=True))
                 continue
-            output.append(message.to_str(with_tags, with_files))
+            output.append(message.to_str(with_metadata))
+            if not tight:
+                output.append('\n' + ('-' * terminal_width()) + '\n')
         if paged:
             print_paged('\n'.join(output))
         else:
@@ -281,15 +290,14 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
     persistently.
     """
 
-    default_file_suffix: ClassVar[str] = '.txt'
-
     cache_path: Path
     db_path: Path
     # a MessageFilter that all messages must match (if given)
     mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None
-    file_suffix: str = default_file_suffix
     # the glob pattern for all messages
-    glob: Optional[str] = None
+    glob: str = f'*{msg_suffix}'
+    # message format (for writing)
+    mformat: MessageFormat = Message.default_format
 
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:
         # contains the latest message ID
@@ -303,22 +311,27 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
     def from_dir(cls: Type[ChatDBInst],
                  cache_path: Path,
                  db_path: Path,
-                 glob: Optional[str] = None,
-                 mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> ChatDBInst:
+                 glob: str = f'*{msg_suffix}',
+                 mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None,
+                 loc: msg_location = msg_location.DB) -> ChatDBInst:
         """
         Create a 'ChatDB' instance from the given directory structure.
         Reads all messages from 'db_path' into the local message list.
         Parameters:
         * 'cache_path': path to the directory for temporary messages
         * 'db_path': path to the directory for persistent messages
-        * 'glob': if specified, files will be filtered using 'path.glob()',
-          otherwise it uses 'path.iterdir()'.
+        * 'glob': if specified, files will be filtered using 'path.glob()'
         * 'mfilter': use with 'Message.from_file()' to filter messages
           when reading them.
+        * 'loc': read messages from given location instead of 'db_path'
         """
-        messages = read_dir(db_path, glob, mfilter)
-        return cls(messages, cache_path, db_path, mfilter,
-                   cls.default_file_suffix, glob)
+        messages: list[Message] = []
+        if loc in [msg_location.DB, msg_location.DISK, msg_location.ALL]:
+            messages.extend(read_dir(db_path, glob, mfilter))
+        if loc in [msg_location.CACHE, msg_location.DISK, msg_location.ALL]:
+            messages.extend(read_dir(cache_path, glob, mfilter))
+        messages.sort(key=lambda x: x.msg_id())
+        return cls(messages, cache_path, db_path, mfilter, glob)
 
     @classmethod
     def from_messages(cls: Type[ChatDBInst],
@@ -345,7 +358,17 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         with open(self.next_path, 'w') as f:
             f.write(f'{fid}')
 
-    def msg_write(self, messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None) -> None:
+    def set_msg_format(self, mformat: MessageFormat) -> None:
+        """
+        Set message format for writing messages.
+        """
+        if mformat not in message_valid_formats:
+            raise ChatError(f"Message format '{mformat}' is not supported")
+        self.mformat = mformat
+
+    def msg_write(self,
+                  messages: Optional[list[Message]] = None,
+                  mformat: Optional[MessageFormat] = None) -> None:
         """
         Write either the given messages or the internal ones to their CURRENT file_path.
         If messages are given, they all must have a valid file_path. When writing the
@@ -356,7 +379,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
             raise ChatError("Can't write files without a valid file_path")
         msgs = iter(messages if messages else self.messages)
         while (m := next(msgs, None)):
-            m.to_file()
+            m.to_file(mformat=mformat if mformat else self.mformat)
 
     def msg_update(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
         """
@@ -377,6 +400,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
     def msg_gather(self,
                    loc: msg_location,
                    require_file_path: bool = False,
+                   glob: str = f'*{msg_suffix}',
                    mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> list[Message]:
         """
         Gather and return messages from the given locations:
@@ -389,15 +413,15 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         If 'require_file_path' is True, return only files with a valid file_path.
         """
         loc_messages: list[Message] = []
-        if loc in ['mem', 'all']:
+        if loc in [msg_location.MEM, msg_location.ALL]:
             if require_file_path:
                 loc_messages += [m for m in self.messages if (m.file_path is not None and (mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter)))]
             else:
                 loc_messages += [m for m in self.messages if (mfilter is None or m.match(mfilter))]
-        if loc in ['cache', 'disk', 'all']:
-            loc_messages += read_dir(self.cache_path, mfilter=mfilter)
-        if loc in ['db', 'disk', 'all']:
-            loc_messages += read_dir(self.db_path, mfilter=mfilter)
+        if loc in [msg_location.CACHE, msg_location.DISK, msg_location.ALL]:
+            loc_messages += read_dir(self.cache_path, glob=glob, mfilter=mfilter)
+        if loc in [msg_location.DB, msg_location.DISK, msg_location.ALL]:
+            loc_messages += read_dir(self.db_path, glob=glob, mfilter=mfilter)
         # remove_duplicates and sort the list
         unique_messages: list[Message] = []
         for m in loc_messages:
@@ -412,7 +436,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
 
     def msg_find(self,
                  msg_names: list[str],
-                 loc: msg_location = 'mem',
+                 loc: msg_location = msg_location.MEM,
                  ) -> list[Message]:
         """
         Search and return the messages with the given names. Names can either be filenames
@@ -430,7 +454,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         return [m for m in loc_messages
                 if any((m.file_path and self.msg_name_matches(m.file_path, mn)) for mn in msg_names)]
 
-    def msg_remove(self, msg_names: list[str], loc: msg_location = 'mem') -> None:
+    def msg_remove(self, msg_names: list[str], loc: msg_location = msg_location.MEM) -> None:
         """
         Remove the messages with the given names. Names can either be filenames
         (with or without suffix), full paths or Message.msg_id(). Also deletes the
@@ -442,7 +466,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         * 'db'   : messages in the DB directory
         * 'all'  : all messages ('mem' + 'disk')
         """
-        if loc != 'mem':
+        if loc != msg_location.MEM:
             # delete the message files first
             rm_messages = self.msg_find(msg_names, loc=loc)
             for m in rm_messages:
@@ -453,7 +477,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
 
     def msg_latest(self,
                    mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None,
-                   loc: msg_location = 'mem') -> Optional[Message]:
+                   loc: msg_location = msg_location.MEM) -> Optional[Message]:
         """
         Return the last added message (according to the file ID) that matches the given filter.
         Only consider messages with a valid file_path (except if loc is 'mem').
@@ -482,7 +506,7 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
                     and message.file_path.parent.samefile(self.cache_path)  # noqa: W503
                     and message.file_path.exists())  # noqa: W503
         else:
-            return len(self.msg_find([message], loc='cache')) > 0
+            return len(self.msg_find([message], loc=msg_location.CACHE)) > 0
 
     def msg_in_db(self, message: Union[Message, str]) -> bool:
         """
@@ -494,9 +518,9 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
                     and message.file_path.parent.samefile(self.db_path)  # noqa: W503
                     and message.file_path.exists())  # noqa: W503
         else:
-            return len(self.msg_find([message], loc='db')) > 0
+            return len(self.msg_find([message], loc=msg_location.DB)) > 0
 
-    def cache_read(self, glob: Optional[str] = None, mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> None:
+    def cache_read(self, glob: str = f'*{msg_suffix}', mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> None:
         """
         Read messages from the cache directory. New ones are added to the internal list,
         existing ones are replaced. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message
@@ -518,8 +542,8 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         """
         write_dir(self.cache_path,
                   messages if messages else self.messages,
-                  self.file_suffix,
-                  self.get_next_fid)
+                  self.get_next_fid,
+                  self.mformat)
 
     def cache_add(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
         """
@@ -531,15 +555,15 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         if write:
             write_dir(self.cache_path,
                       messages,
-                      self.file_suffix,
-                      self.get_next_fid)
+                      self.get_next_fid,
+                      self.mformat)
         else:
             for m in messages:
-                m.file_path = make_file_path(self.cache_path, self.default_file_suffix, self.get_next_fid)
+                m.file_path = make_file_path(self.cache_path, self.get_next_fid)
         self.messages += messages
         self.msg_sort()
 
-    def cache_clear(self, glob: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+    def cache_clear(self, glob: str = f'*{msg_suffix}') -> None:
         """
         Delete all message files from the cache dir and remove them from the internal list.
         """
@@ -559,11 +583,11 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         self.cache_write([message])
         # remove the old one (if any)
         if old_path:
-            self.msg_remove([str(old_path)], loc='db')
+            self.msg_remove([str(old_path)], loc=msg_location.DB)
         # (re)add it to the internal list
         self.msg_add([message])
 
-    def db_read(self, glob: Optional[str] = None, mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> None:
+    def db_read(self, glob: str = f'*{msg_suffix}', mfilter: Optional[MessageFilter] = None) -> None:
         """
         Read messages from the DB directory. New ones are added to the internal list,
         existing ones are replaced. A message is determined as 'existing' if a message
@@ -585,8 +609,8 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         """
         write_dir(self.db_path,
                   messages if messages else self.messages,
-                  self.file_suffix,
-                  self.get_next_fid)
+                  self.get_next_fid,
+                  self.mformat)
 
     def db_add(self, messages: list[Message], write: bool = True) -> None:
         """
@@ -598,11 +622,11 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         if write:
             write_dir(self.db_path,
                       messages,
-                      self.file_suffix,
-                      self.get_next_fid)
+                      self.get_next_fid,
+                      self.mformat)
         else:
             for m in messages:
-                m.file_path = make_file_path(self.db_path, self.default_file_suffix, self.get_next_fid)
+                m.file_path = make_file_path(self.db_path, self.get_next_fid)
         self.messages += messages
         self.msg_sort()
 
@@ -618,6 +642,6 @@ class ChatDB(Chat):
         self.db_write([message])
         # remove the old one (if any)
         if old_path:
-            self.msg_remove([str(old_path)], loc='cache')
+            self.msg_remove([str(old_path)], loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         # (re)add it to the internal list
         self.msg_add([message])

chatmastermind/commands/hist.py

@@ -1,13 +1,52 @@
+import sys
 import argparse
 from pathlib import Path
 from ..configuration import Config
-from ..chat import ChatDB
-from ..message import MessageFilter
+from ..chat import ChatDB, msg_location
+from ..message import MessageFilter, Message
 
 
-def hist_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
+msg_suffix = Message.file_suffix_write  # currently '.msg'
+
+
+def convert_messages(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
     """
-    Handler for the 'hist' command.
+    Convert messages to a new format. Also used to change old suffixes
+    ('.txt', '.yaml') to the latest default message file suffix ('.msg').
+    """
+    chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(config.cache),
+                           Path(config.db),
+                           glob='*')
+    # read all known message files
+    msgs = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK, glob='*.*')
+    # make a set of all message IDs
+    msg_ids = set([m.msg_id() for m in msgs])
+    # set requested format and write all messages
+    chat.set_msg_format(args.convert)
+    # delete the current suffix
+    # -> a new one will automatically be created
+    for m in msgs:
+        if m.file_path:
+            m.file_path = m.file_path.with_suffix('')
+    chat.msg_write(msgs)
+    # read all messages with the current default suffix
+    msgs = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK, glob=f'*{msg_suffix}')
+    # make sure we converted all of the original messages
+    for mid in msg_ids:
+        if not any(mid == m.msg_id() for m in msgs):
+            print(f"Message '{mid}' has not been found after conversion. Aborting.")
+            sys.exit(1)
+    # delete messages with old suffixes
+    msgs = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK, glob='*.*')
+    for m in msgs:
+        if m.file_path and m.file_path.suffix != msg_suffix:
+            m.rm_file()
+    print(f"Successfully converted {len(msg_ids)} messages.")
+
+
+def print_chat(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
+    """
+    Print the DB chat history.
     """
 
     mfilter = MessageFilter(tags_or=args.or_tags,
@@ -17,7 +56,20 @@ def hist_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
                             answer_contains=args.answer)
     chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(config.cache),
                            Path(config.db),
-                           mfilter=mfilter)
+                           mfilter=mfilter,
+                           loc=msg_location(args.location),
+                           glob=args.glob)
     chat.print(args.source_code_only,
-               args.with_tags,
-               args.with_files)
+               args.with_metadata,
+               paged=not args.no_paging,
+               tight=args.tight)
+
+
+def hist_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
+    """
+    Handler for the 'hist' command.
+    """
+    if args.print:
+        print_chat(args, config)
+    elif args.convert:
+        convert_messages(args, config)

chatmastermind/commands/print.py

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import argparse
 from pathlib import Path
 from ..configuration import Config
 from ..message import Message, MessageError
-from ..chat import ChatDB
+from ..chat import ChatDB, msg_location
 
 
 def print_message(message: Message, args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def print_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
     # print latest message
     elif args.latest:
         chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(config.cache), Path(config.db))
-        latest = chat.msg_latest(loc='disk')
+        latest = chat.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.DISK)
         if not latest:
             print("No message found!")
             sys.exit(1)

chatmastermind/commands/question.py

@@ -4,12 +4,16 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from itertools import zip_longest
 from copy import deepcopy
 from ..configuration import Config
-from ..chat import ChatDB
+from ..chat import ChatDB, msg_location
 from ..message import Message, MessageFilter, MessageError, Question, source_code
 from ..ai_factory import create_ai
 from ..ai import AI, AIResponse
 
 
+class QuestionCmdError(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
 def add_file_as_text(question_parts: list[str], file: str) -> None:
     """
     Add the given file as plain text to the question part list.
@@ -51,13 +55,41 @@ def add_file_as_code(question_parts: list[str], file: str) -> None:
         question_parts.append(f"```\n{content}\n```")
 
 
+def create_msg_args(msg: Message, args: argparse.Namespace) -> argparse.Namespace:
+    """
+    Takes an existing message and CLI arguments, and returns modified args based
+    on the members of the given message. Used e.g. when repeating messages, where
+    it's necessary to determine the correct AI, module and output tags to use
+    (either from the existing message or the given args).
+    """
+    msg_args = args
+    # if AI, model or output tags have not been specified,
+    # use those from the original message
+    if (args.AI is None
+       or args.model is None  # noqa: W503
+       or args.output_tags is None):  # noqa: W503
+        msg_args = deepcopy(args)
+        if args.AI is None and msg.ai is not None:
+            msg_args.AI = msg.ai
+        if args.model is None and msg.model is not None:
+            msg_args.model = msg.model
+        if args.output_tags is None and msg.tags is not None:
+            msg_args.output_tags = msg.tags
+    return msg_args
+
+
 def create_message(chat: ChatDB, args: argparse.Namespace) -> Message:
     """
     Create a new message from the given arguments and write it
     to the cache directory.
     """
     question_parts = []
-    question_list = args.ask if args.ask is not None else []
+    if args.create is not None:
+        question_list = args.create
+    elif args.ask is not None:
+        question_list = args.ask
+    else:
+        raise QuestionCmdError("No question found")
     text_files = args.source_text if args.source_text is not None else []
     code_files = args.source_code if args.source_code is not None else []
 
@@ -106,29 +138,6 @@ def make_request(ai: AI, chat: ChatDB, message: Message, args: argparse.Namespac
         print(response.tokens)
 
 
-def create_msg_args(msg: Message, args: argparse.Namespace) -> argparse.Namespace:
-    """
-    Takes an existing message and CLI arguments, and returns modified args based
-    on the members of the given message. Used e.g. when repeating messages, where
-    it's necessary to determine the correct AI, module and output tags to use
-    (either from the existing message or the given args).
-    """
-    msg_args = args
-    # if AI, model or output tags have not been specified,
-    # use those from the original message
-    if (args.AI is None
-       or args.model is None  # noqa: W503
-       or args.output_tags is None):  # noqa: W503
-        msg_args = deepcopy(args)
-        if args.AI is None and msg.ai is not None:
-            msg_args.AI = msg.ai
-        if args.model is None and msg.model is not None:
-            msg_args.model = msg.model
-        if args.output_tags is None and msg.tags is not None:
-            msg_args.output_tags = msg.tags
-    return msg_args
-
-
 def repeat_messages(messages: list[Message], chat: ChatDB, args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
     """
     Repeat the given messages using the given arguments.
@@ -177,7 +186,9 @@ def question_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
                             tags_not=args.exclude_tags)
     chat = ChatDB.from_dir(cache_path=Path(config.cache),
                            db_path=Path(config.db),
-                           mfilter=mfilter)
+                           mfilter=mfilter,
+                           glob=args.glob,
+                           loc=msg_location(args.location))
     # if it's a new question, create and store it immediately
     if args.ask or args.create:
         message = create_message(chat, args)
@@ -193,14 +204,14 @@ def question_cmd(args: argparse.Namespace, config: Config) -> None:
         repeat_msgs: list[Message] = []
         # repeat latest message
         if len(args.repeat) == 0:
-            lmessage = chat.msg_latest(loc='cache')
+            lmessage = chat.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
             if lmessage is None:
                 print("No message found to repeat!")
                 sys.exit(1)
             repeat_msgs.append(lmessage)
         # repeat given message(s)
         else:
-            repeat_msgs = chat.msg_find(args.repeat, loc='disk')
+            repeat_msgs = chat.msg_find(args.repeat, loc=msg_location.DISK)
         repeat_messages(repeat_msgs, chat, args, config)
     # === PROCESS ===
     elif args.process is not None:

chatmastermind/main.py

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from .commands.tags import tags_cmd
 from .commands.config import config_cmd
 from .commands.hist import hist_cmd
 from .commands.print import print_cmd
+from .chat import msg_location
 
 
 def tags_completer(prefix: str, parsed_args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> list[str]:
@@ -65,6 +66,11 @@ def create_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     question_group.add_argument('-c', '--create', nargs='+', help='Create a question', metavar='QUESTION')
     question_group.add_argument('-r', '--repeat', nargs='*', help='Repeat a question', metavar='MESSAGE')
     question_group.add_argument('-p', '--process', nargs='*', help='Process existing questions', metavar='MESSAGE')
+    question_cmd_parser.add_argument('-l', '--location',
+                                     choices=[x.value for x in msg_location],
+                                     default='db',
+                                     help='Select message location, default is \'db\'')
+    question_cmd_parser.add_argument('-g', '--glob', help='Glob for message file names')
     question_cmd_parser.add_argument('-O', '--overwrite', help='Overwrite existing messages when repeating them',
                                      action='store_true')
     question_cmd_parser.add_argument('-s', '--source-text', nargs='+', help='Add content of a file to the query', metavar='FILE')
@@ -73,17 +79,25 @@ def create_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
 
     # 'hist' command parser
     hist_cmd_parser = cmdparser.add_parser('hist', parents=[tag_parser],
-                                           help="Print chat history.",
+                                           help="Print and manage chat history.",
                                            aliases=['h'])
     hist_cmd_parser.set_defaults(func=hist_cmd)
-    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-w', '--with-tags', help="Print chat history with tags.",
-                                 action='store_true')
-    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-W', '--with-files', help="Print chat history with filenames.",
+    hist_group = hist_cmd_parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
+    hist_group.add_argument('-p', '--print', help='Print the DB chat history', action='store_true')
+    hist_group.add_argument('-c', '--convert', help='Convert all message files to the given format [txt|yaml]', metavar='FORMAT')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-w', '--with-metadata', help="Print chat history with metadata (tags, filename, AI, etc.).",
                                  action='store_true')
     hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-S', '--source-code-only', help='Only print embedded source code',
                                  action='store_true')
-    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-A', '--answer', help='Search for answer substring', metavar='SUBSTRING')
-    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-Q', '--question', help='Search for question substring', metavar='SUBSTRING')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-A', '--answer', help='Print only answers with given substring', metavar='SUBSTRING')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-Q', '--question', help='Print only questions with given substring', metavar='SUBSTRING')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-d', '--tight', help='Print without message separators', action='store_true')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-P', '--no-paging', help='Print without paging', action='store_true')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-l', '--location',
+                                 choices=[x.value for x in msg_location],
+                                 default='db',
+                                 help='Use given location when building the chat history (default: \'db\')')
+    hist_cmd_parser.add_argument('-g', '--glob', help='Filter message files using the given glob pattern')
 
     # 'tags' command parser
     tags_cmd_parser = cmdparser.add_parser('tags',

chatmastermind/message.py

@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ import pathlib
 import yaml
 import tempfile
 import shutil
-from typing import Type, TypeVar, ClassVar, Optional, Any, Union, Final, Literal, Iterable
+from typing import Type, TypeVar, ClassVar, Optional, Any, Union, Final, Literal, Iterable, Tuple
+from typing import get_args as typing_get_args
 from dataclasses import dataclass, asdict, field
 from .tags import Tag, TagLine, TagError, match_tags, rename_tags
 
@@ -15,6 +16,9 @@ MessageInst = TypeVar('MessageInst', bound='Message')
 AILineInst = TypeVar('AILineInst', bound='AILine')
 ModelLineInst = TypeVar('ModelLineInst', bound='ModelLine')
 YamlDict = dict[str, Union[QuestionInst, AnswerInst, set[Tag]]]
+MessageFormat = Literal['txt', 'yaml']
+message_valid_formats: Final[Tuple[MessageFormat, ...]] = typing_get_args(MessageFormat)
+message_default_format: Final[MessageFormat] = 'txt'
 
 
 class MessageError(Exception):
@@ -92,7 +96,7 @@ class MessageFilter:
 
 class AILine(str):
     """
-    A line that represents the AI name in a '.txt' file..
+    A line that represents the AI name in the 'txt' format.
     """
     prefix: Final[str] = 'AI:'
 
@@ -112,7 +116,7 @@ class AILine(str):
 
 class ModelLine(str):
     """
-    A line that represents the model name in a '.txt' file..
+    A line that represents the model name in the 'txt' format.
     """
     prefix: Final[str] = 'MODEL:'
 
@@ -216,7 +220,9 @@ class Message():
     model: Optional[str] = field(default=None, compare=False)
     file_path: Optional[pathlib.Path] = field(default=None, compare=False)
     # class variables
-    file_suffixes: ClassVar[list[str]] = ['.txt', '.yaml']
+    file_suffixes_read: ClassVar[list[str]] = ['.msg', '.txt', '.yaml']
+    file_suffix_write: ClassVar[str] = '.msg'
+    default_format: ClassVar[MessageFormat] = message_default_format
     tags_yaml_key: ClassVar[str] = 'tags'
     file_yaml_key: ClassVar[str] = 'file_path'
     ai_yaml_key: ClassVar[str] = 'ai'
@@ -276,24 +282,16 @@ class Message():
         tags: set[Tag] = set()
         if not file_path.exists():
             raise MessageError(f"Message file '{file_path}' does not exist")
-        if file_path.suffix not in cls.file_suffixes:
+        if file_path.suffix not in cls.file_suffixes_read:
             raise MessageError(f"File type '{file_path.suffix}' is not supported")
-        # for TXT, it's enough to read the TagLine
-        if file_path.suffix == '.txt':
-            with open(file_path, "r") as fd:
-                try:
-                    tags = TagLine(fd.readline()).tags(prefix, contain)
-                except TagError:
-                    pass  # message without tags
-        else:  # '.yaml'
-            try:
-                message = cls.from_file(file_path)
-                if message:
-                    msg_tags = message.filter_tags(prefix=prefix, contain=contain)
-            except MessageError as e:
-                print(f"Error processing message in '{file_path}': {str(e)}")
-            if msg_tags:
-                tags = msg_tags
+        try:
+            message = cls.from_file(file_path)
+            if message:
+                msg_tags = message.filter_tags(prefix=prefix, contain=contain)
+        except MessageError as e:
+            print(f"Error processing message in '{file_path}': {str(e)}")
+        if msg_tags:
+            tags = msg_tags
         return tags
 
     @classmethod
@@ -328,15 +326,16 @@ class Message():
         """
         if not file_path.exists():
             raise MessageError(f"Message file '{file_path}' does not exist")
-        if file_path.suffix not in cls.file_suffixes:
+        if file_path.suffix not in cls.file_suffixes_read:
             raise MessageError(f"File type '{file_path.suffix}' is not supported")
-
-        if file_path.suffix == '.txt':
+        # try TXT first
+        try:
             message = cls.__from_file_txt(file_path,
                                           mfilter.tags_or if mfilter else None,
                                           mfilter.tags_and if mfilter else None,
                                           mfilter.tags_not if mfilter else None)
-        else:
+        # then YAML
+        except MessageError:
             message = cls.__from_file_yaml(file_path)
         if message and (mfilter is None or message.match(mfilter)):
             return message
@@ -373,10 +372,6 @@ class Message():
                 tags = TagLine(fd.readline()).tags()
             except TagError:
                 fd.seek(pos)
-            if tags_or or tags_and or tags_not:
-                # match with an empty set if the file has no tags
-                if not match_tags(tags, tags_or, tags_and, tags_not):
-                    return None
             # AILine (Optional)
             try:
                 pos = fd.tell()
@@ -391,17 +386,23 @@ class Message():
                 fd.seek(pos)
             # Question and Answer
             text = fd.read().strip().split('\n')
-            try:
-                question_idx = text.index(Question.txt_header) + 1
-            except ValueError:
-                raise MessageError(f"'{file_path}' does not contain a valid message")
-            try:
-                answer_idx = text.index(Answer.txt_header)
-                question = Question.from_list(text[question_idx:answer_idx])
-                answer = Answer.from_list(text[answer_idx + 1:])
-            except ValueError:
-                question = Question.from_list(text[question_idx:])
-            return cls(question, answer, tags, ai, model, file_path)
+        try:
+            question_idx = text.index(Question.txt_header) + 1
+        except ValueError:
+            raise MessageError(f"'{file_path}' does not contain a valid message")
+        try:
+            answer_idx = text.index(Answer.txt_header)
+            question = Question.from_list(text[question_idx:answer_idx])
+            answer = Answer.from_list(text[answer_idx + 1:])
+        except ValueError:
+            question = Question.from_list(text[question_idx:])
+        # match tags AFTER reading the whole file
+        # -> make sure it's a valid 'txt' file format
+        if tags_or or tags_and or tags_not:
+            # match with an empty set if the file has no tags
+            if not match_tags(tags, tags_or, tags_and, tags_not):
+                return None
+        return cls(question, answer, tags, ai, model, file_path)
 
     @classmethod
     def __from_file_yaml(cls: Type[MessageInst], file_path: pathlib.Path) -> MessageInst:
@@ -421,7 +422,7 @@ class Message():
             except Exception:
                 raise MessageError(f"'{file_path}' does not contain a valid message")
 
-    def to_str(self, with_tags: bool = False, with_file: bool = False, source_code_only: bool = False) -> str:
+    def to_str(self, with_metadata: bool = False, source_code_only: bool = False) -> str:
         """
         Return the current Message as a string.
         """
@@ -431,10 +432,11 @@ class Message():
             if self.answer:
                 output.extend(self.answer.source_code(include_delims=True))
             return '\n'.join(output) if len(output) > 0 else ''
-        if with_tags:
+        if with_metadata:
             output.append(self.tags_str())
-        if with_file:
             output.append('FILE: ' + str(self.file_path))
+            output.append('AI: ' + str(self.ai))
+            output.append('MODEL: ' + str(self.model))
         output.append(Question.txt_header)
         output.append(self.question)
         if self.answer:
@@ -442,21 +444,29 @@ class Message():
             output.append(self.answer)
         return '\n'.join(output)
 
-    def to_file(self, file_path: Optional[pathlib.Path]=None) -> None:  # noqa: 11
+    def to_file(self, file_path: Optional[pathlib.Path]=None, mformat: MessageFormat = message_default_format) -> None:  # noqa: 11
         """
-        Write a Message to the given file. Type is determined based on the suffix.
-        Currently supported suffixes: ['.txt', '.yaml']
+        Write a Message to the given file. Supported message file formats are 'txt' and 'yaml'.
+        Suffix is always '.msg'.
         """
         if file_path:
             self.file_path = file_path
         if not self.file_path:
             raise MessageError("Got no valid path to write message")
-        if self.file_path.suffix not in self.file_suffixes:
-            raise MessageError(f"File type '{self.file_path.suffix}' is not supported")
+        if mformat not in message_valid_formats:
+            raise MessageError(f"File format '{mformat}' is not supported")
+        # check for valid suffix
+        # -> add one if it's empty
+        # -> refuse old or otherwise unsupported suffixes
+        if not self.file_path.suffix:
+            self.file_path = self.file_path.with_suffix(self.file_suffix_write)
+        elif self.file_path.suffix != self.file_suffix_write:
+            raise MessageError(f"File suffix '{self.file_path.suffix}' is not supported")
         # TXT
-        if self.file_path.suffix == '.txt':
+        if mformat == 'txt':
             return self.__to_file_txt(self.file_path)
-        elif self.file_path.suffix == '.yaml':
+        # YAML
+        elif mformat == 'yaml':
             return self.__to_file_yaml(self.file_path)
 
     def __to_file_txt(self, file_path: pathlib.Path) -> None:
@@ -468,8 +478,8 @@ class Message():
             * Model [Optional]
             * Question.txt_header
             * Question
-            * Answer.txt_header
-            * Answer
+            * Answer.txt_header [Optional]
+            * Answer [Optional]
         """
         with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(dir=file_path.parent, prefix=file_path.name, mode="w", delete=False) as temp_fd:
             temp_file_path = pathlib.Path(temp_fd.name)
@@ -508,6 +518,13 @@ class Message():
             yaml.dump(data, temp_fd, sort_keys=False)
         shutil.move(temp_file_path, file_path)
 
+    def rm_file(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Delete the message file. Ignore empty file_path and not existing files.
+        """
+        if self.file_path is not None:
+            self.file_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
     def filter_tags(self, prefix: Optional[str] = None, contain: Optional[str] = None) -> set[Tag]:
         """
         Filter tags based on their prefix (i. e. the tag starts with a given string)

tests/test_chat.py

@@ -7,7 +7,21 @@ from io import StringIO
 from unittest.mock import patch
 from chatmastermind.tags import TagLine
 from chatmastermind.message import Message, Question, Answer, Tag, MessageFilter
-from chatmastermind.chat import Chat, ChatDB, ChatError
+from chatmastermind.chat import Chat, ChatDB, ChatError, msg_location
+
+
+msg_suffix: str = Message.file_suffix_write
+
+
+def msg_to_file_force_suffix(msg: Message) -> None:
+    """
+    Force writing a message file with illegal suffixes.
+    """
+    def_suffix = Message.file_suffix_write
+    assert msg.file_path
+    Message.file_suffix_write = msg.file_path.suffix
+    msg.to_file()
+    Message.file_suffix_write = def_suffix
 
 
 class TestChatBase(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -27,11 +41,15 @@ class TestChat(TestChatBase):
         self.message1 = Message(Question('Question 1'),
                                 Answer('Answer 1'),
                                 {Tag('atag1'), Tag('btag2')},
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path('0001.txt'))
+                                ai='FakeAI',
+                                model='FakeModel',
+                                file_path=pathlib.Path(f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
         self.message2 = Message(Question('Question 2'),
                                 Answer('Answer 2'),
                                 {Tag('btag2')},
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path('0002.txt'))
+                                ai='FakeAI',
+                                model='FakeModel',
+                                file_path=pathlib.Path(f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
         self.maxDiff = None
 
     def test_unique_id(self) -> None:
@@ -99,24 +117,24 @@ class TestChat(TestChatBase):
 
     def test_find_remove_messages(self) -> None:
         self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
-        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0001.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0001'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [self.message1])
-        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0001.txt', '0002.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0001', '0002'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [self.message1, self.message2])
         # add new Message with full path
         message3 = Message(Question('Question 2'),
                            Answer('Answer 2'),
                            {Tag('btag2')},
-                           file_path=pathlib.Path('/foo/bla/0003.txt'))
+                           file_path=pathlib.Path(f'/foo/bla/0003{msg_suffix}'))
         self.chat.msg_add([message3])
         # find new Message by full path
-        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['/foo/bla/0003.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find([f'/foo/bla/0003{msg_suffix}'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [message3])
         # find Message with full path only by filename
-        msgs = self.chat.msg_find(['0003.txt'])
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_find([f'0003{msg_suffix}'])
         self.assertListEqual(msgs, [message3])
         # remove last message
-        self.chat.msg_remove(['0003.txt'])
+        self.chat.msg_remove(['0003'])
         self.assertListEqual(self.chat.messages, [self.message1, self.message2])
 
     def test_latest_message(self) -> None:
@@ -129,7 +147,7 @@ class TestChat(TestChatBase):
     @patch('sys.stdout', new_callable=StringIO)
     def test_print(self, mock_stdout: StringIO) -> None:
         self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
-        self.chat.print(paged=False)
+        self.chat.print(paged=False, tight=True)
         expected_output = f"""{Question.txt_header}
 Question 1
 {Answer.txt_header}
@@ -142,17 +160,21 @@ Answer 2
         self.assertEqual(mock_stdout.getvalue(), expected_output)
 
     @patch('sys.stdout', new_callable=StringIO)
-    def test_print_with_tags_and_file(self, mock_stdout: StringIO) -> None:
+    def test_print_with_metadata(self, mock_stdout: StringIO) -> None:
         self.chat.msg_add([self.message1, self.message2])
-        self.chat.print(paged=False, with_tags=True, with_files=True)
+        self.chat.print(paged=False, with_metadata=True, tight=True)
         expected_output = f"""{TagLine.prefix} atag1 btag2
-FILE: 0001.txt
+FILE: 0001{msg_suffix}
+AI: FakeAI
+MODEL: FakeModel
 {Question.txt_header}
 Question 1
 {Answer.txt_header}
 Answer 1
 {TagLine.prefix} btag2
-FILE: 0002.txt
+FILE: 0002{msg_suffix}
+AI: FakeAI
+MODEL: FakeModel
 {Question.txt_header}
 Question 2
 {Answer.txt_header}
@@ -168,31 +190,27 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
 
         self.message1 = Message(Question('Question 1'),
                                 Answer('Answer 1'),
-                                {Tag('tag1')},
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path('0001.txt'))
+                                {Tag('tag1')})
         self.message2 = Message(Question('Question 2'),
                                 Answer('Answer 2'),
-                                {Tag('tag2')},
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path('0002.yaml'))
+                                {Tag('tag2')})
         self.message3 = Message(Question('Question 3'),
                                 Answer('Answer 3'),
-                                {Tag('tag3')},
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path('0003.txt'))
+                                {Tag('tag3')})
         self.message4 = Message(Question('Question 4'),
                                 Answer('Answer 4'),
-                                {Tag('tag4')},
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path('0004.yaml'))
+                                {Tag('tag4')})
 
-        self.message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
-        self.message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
-        self.message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'))
-        self.message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
+        self.message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001'), mformat='txt')
+        self.message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002'), mformat='yaml')
+        self.message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003'), mformat='txt')
+        self.message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004'), mformat='yaml')
         # make the next FID match the current state
         next_fname = pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name) / '.next'
         with open(next_fname, 'w') as f:
             f.write('4')
         # add some "trash" in order to test if it's correctly handled / ignored
-        self.trash_files = ['.config.yaml', 'foo.yaml', 'bla.txt']
+        self.trash_files = ['.config.yaml', 'foo.yaml', 'bla.txt', 'fubar.msg']
         for file in self.trash_files:
             with open(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name) / file, 'w') as f:
                 f.write('test trash')
@@ -207,7 +225,7 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         List all Message files in the given TemporaryDirectory.
         """
         # exclude '.next'
-        return [f for f in pathlib.Path(tmp_dir.name).glob('*.[ty]*') if f.name not in self.trash_files]
+        return [f for f in pathlib.Path(tmp_dir.name).glob('*.[tym]*') if f.name not in self.trash_files]
 
     def tearDown(self) -> None:
         self.db_path.cleanup()
@@ -218,13 +236,32 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         duplicate_message = Message(Question('Question 4'),
                                     Answer('Answer 4'),
                                     {Tag('tag4')},
-                                    file_path=pathlib.Path('0004.txt'))
-        duplicate_message.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.txt'))
+                                    file_path=pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.txt'))
+        msg_to_file_force_suffix(duplicate_message)
         with self.assertRaises(ChatError) as cm:
             ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
-                            pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
+                            pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name),
+                            glob='*')
         self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), "Validation failed")
 
+    def test_file_path_ID_exists(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Tests if the CacheDB chooses another ID if a file path with
+        the given one exists.
+        """
+        # create a new and empty CacheDB
+        db_path = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        cache_path = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(cache_path.name),
+                                  pathlib.Path(db_path.name))
+        # add a message file
+        message = Message(Question('What?'),
+                          file_path=pathlib.Path(cache_path.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
+        message.to_file()
+        message1 = Message(Question('Where?'))
+        chat_db.cache_write([message1])
+        self.assertEqual(message1.msg_id(), '0002')
+
     def test_from_dir(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
@@ -233,25 +270,23 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.db_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         # check that the files are sorted
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'))
 
     def test_from_dir_glob(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name),
-                                  glob='*.txt')
-        self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 2)
+                                  glob='*1.*')
+        self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 1)
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.cache_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.db_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
 
     def test_from_dir_filter_tags(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
@@ -261,7 +296,7 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.cache_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.db_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
 
     def test_from_dir_filter_tags_empty(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
@@ -279,7 +314,7 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.cache_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.db_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path,
-                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
+                         pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].answer, 'Answer 2')
 
     def test_from_messages(self) -> None:
@@ -324,25 +359,25 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         # check that Message.file_path is correct
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'))
 
         # write the messages to the cache directory
         chat_db.cache_write()
         # check if the written files are in the cache directory
         cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 4)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0001.txt'), cache_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0002.yaml'), cache_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0003.txt'), cache_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0004.yaml'), cache_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'), cache_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'), cache_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'), cache_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'), cache_dir_files)
         # check that Message.file_path has been correctly updated
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0001.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0003.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'))
 
         # check the timestamp of the files in the DB directory
         db_dir_files = self.message_list(self.db_path)
@@ -354,18 +389,18 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         # check if the written files are in the DB directory
         db_dir_files = self.message_list(self.db_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(db_dir_files), 4)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'), db_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'), db_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'), db_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
         # check if all files in the DB dir have actually been overwritten
         for file in db_dir_files:
             self.assertGreater(file.stat().st_mtime, old_timestamps[file])
         # check that Message.file_path has been correctly updated (again)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'))
 
     def test_db_read(self) -> None:
         # create a new ChatDB instance
@@ -380,65 +415,65 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         new_message2 = Message(Question('Question 6'),
                                Answer('Answer 6'),
                                {Tag('tag6')})
-        new_message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
-        new_message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
+        new_message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0005{msg_suffix}'), mformat='txt')
+        new_message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0006{msg_suffix}'), mformat='yaml')
         # read and check them
         chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 6)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0005{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0006{msg_suffix}'))
 
         # create 2 new files in the cache directory
         new_message3 = Message(Question('Question 7'),
-                               Answer('Answer 5'),
+                               Answer('Answer 7'),
                                {Tag('tag7')})
         new_message4 = Message(Question('Question 8'),
-                               Answer('Answer 6'),
+                               Answer('Answer 8'),
                                {Tag('tag8')})
-        new_message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0007.txt'))
-        new_message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0008.yaml'))
+        new_message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0007{msg_suffix}'), mformat='txt')
+        new_message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0008{msg_suffix}'), mformat='yaml')
         # read and check them
         chat_db.cache_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 8)
         # check that the new message have the cache dir path
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[6].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0007.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[7].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0008.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[6].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0007{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[7].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'0008{msg_suffix}'))
         # an the old ones keep their path (since they have not been replaced)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0005{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0006{msg_suffix}'))
 
         # now overwrite two messages in the DB directory
         new_message1.question = Question('New Question 1')
         new_message2.question = Question('New Question 2')
-        new_message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
-        new_message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
+        new_message1.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0005{msg_suffix}'), mformat='txt')
+        new_message2.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0006{msg_suffix}'), mformat='yaml')
         # read from the DB dir and check if the modified messages have been updated
         chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 8)
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].question, 'New Question 1')
         self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].question, 'New Question 2')
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0005.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0006.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[4].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0005{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[5].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0006{msg_suffix}'))
 
         # now write the messages from the cache to the DB directory
-        new_message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0007.txt'))
-        new_message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0008.yaml'))
+        new_message3.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0007{msg_suffix}'))
+        new_message4.to_file(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0008{msg_suffix}'))
         # read and check them
         chat_db.db_read()
         self.assertEqual(len(chat_db.messages), 8)
         # check that they now have the DB path
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[6].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0007.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[7].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0008.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[6].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0007{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[7].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0008{msg_suffix}'))
 
     def test_cache_clear(self) -> None:
         # create a new ChatDB instance
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         # check that Message.file_path is correct
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[0].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[1].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[2].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'))
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.messages[3].file_path, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'))
 
         # write the messages to the cache directory
         chat_db.cache_write()
@@ -450,10 +485,10 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         chat_db.db_write()
         db_dir_files = self.message_list(self.db_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(db_dir_files), 4)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0001.txt'), db_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0002.yaml'), db_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0003.txt'), db_dir_files)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, '0004.yaml'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0001{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0002{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0003{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name, f'0004{msg_suffix}'), db_dir_files)
 
         # add a new message with empty file_path
         message_empty = Message(question=Question("What the hell am I doing here?"),
@@ -461,7 +496,7 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         # and one for the cache dir
         message_cache = Message(question=Question("What the hell am I doing here?"),
                                 answer=Answer("You're a creep!"),
-                                file_path=pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0005.txt'))
+                                file_path=pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '0005'))
         chat_db.msg_add([message_empty, message_cache])
 
         # clear the cache and check the cache dir
@@ -523,11 +558,11 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
             chat_db.msg_write([message])
 
         # write a message with a valid file_path
-        message.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name) / '123456.txt'
+        message.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name) / '123456'
         chat_db.msg_write([message])
         cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_path)
         self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 1)
-        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, '123456.txt'), cache_dir_files)
+        self.assertIn(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name, f'123456{msg_suffix}'), cache_dir_files)
 
     def test_msg_update(self) -> None:
         # create a new ChatDB instance
@@ -561,92 +596,92 @@ class TestChatDB(TestChatBase):
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         # search for a DB file in memory
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([str(self.message1.file_path)], loc='mem'), [self.message1])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([self.message1.msg_id()], loc='mem'), [self.message1])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0001.txt'], loc='mem'), [self.message1])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0001'], loc='mem'), [self.message1])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([str(self.message1.file_path)], loc=msg_location.MEM), [self.message1])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([self.message1.msg_id()], loc=msg_location.MEM), [self.message1])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0001.msg'], loc=msg_location.MEM), [self.message1])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0001'], loc=msg_location.MEM), [self.message1])
         # and on disk
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([str(self.message2.file_path)], loc='db'), [self.message2])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([self.message2.msg_id()], loc='db'), [self.message2])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0002.yaml'], loc='db'), [self.message2])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0002'], loc='db'), [self.message2])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([str(self.message2.file_path)], loc=msg_location.DB), [self.message2])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([self.message2.msg_id()], loc=msg_location.DB), [self.message2])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0002.msg'], loc=msg_location.DB), [self.message2])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0002'], loc=msg_location.DB), [self.message2])
         # now search the cache -> expect empty result
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([str(self.message3.file_path)], loc='cache'), [])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([self.message3.msg_id()], loc='cache'), [])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0003.txt'], loc='cache'), [])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0003'], loc='cache'), [])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([str(self.message3.file_path)], loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find([self.message3.msg_id()], loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0003.msg'], loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_find(['0003'], loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
         # search for multiple messages
         # -> search one twice, expect result to be unique
-        search_names = ['0001', '0002.yaml', self.message3.msg_id(), str(self.message3.file_path)]
+        search_names = ['0001', '0002.msg', self.message3.msg_id(), str(self.message3.file_path)]
         expected_result = [self.message1, self.message2, self.message3]
-        result = chat_db.msg_find(search_names, loc='all')
+        result = chat_db.msg_find(search_names, loc=msg_location.ALL)
         self.assert_messages_equal(result, expected_result)
 
     def test_msg_latest(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='mem'), self.message4)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='db'), self.message4)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='disk'), self.message4)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='all'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.MEM), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.DB), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.DISK), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.ALL), self.message4)
         # the cache is currently empty:
-        self.assertIsNone(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='cache'))
+        self.assertIsNone(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.CACHE))
         # add new messages to the cache dir
         new_message = Message(question=Question("New Question"),
                               answer=Answer("New Answer"))
         chat_db.cache_add([new_message])
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='cache'), new_message)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='mem'), new_message)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='disk'), new_message)
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='all'), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.CACHE), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.MEM), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.DISK), new_message)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.ALL), new_message)
         # the DB does not contain the new message
-        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc='db'), self.message4)
+        self.assertEqual(chat_db.msg_latest(loc=msg_location.DB), self.message4)
 
     def test_msg_gather(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         all_messages = [self.message1, self.message2, self.message3, self.message4]
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='all'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='db'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='mem'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='disk'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='cache'), [])
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.ALL), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DB), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.MEM), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
         # add a new message, but only to the internal list
         new_message = Message(Question("What?"))
         all_messages_mem = all_messages + [new_message]
         chat_db.msg_add([new_message])
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='mem'), all_messages_mem)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='all'), all_messages_mem)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.MEM), all_messages_mem)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.ALL), all_messages_mem)
         # the nr. of messages on disk did not change -> expect old result
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='db'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='disk'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='cache'), [])
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DB), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
         # test with MessageFilter
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='all', mfilter=MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag1')})),
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.ALL, mfilter=MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag1')})),
                                    [self.message1])
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='disk', mfilter=MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag2')})),
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK, mfilter=MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag2')})),
                                    [self.message2])
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='cache', mfilter=MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag3')})),
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE, mfilter=MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag3')})),
                                    [])
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='mem', mfilter=MessageFilter(question_contains="What")),
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.MEM, mfilter=MessageFilter(question_contains="What")),
                                    [new_message])
 
     def test_msg_move_and_gather(self) -> None:
         chat_db = ChatDB.from_dir(pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name),
                                   pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))
         all_messages = [self.message1, self.message2, self.message3, self.message4]
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='db'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='cache'), [])
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DB), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
         # move first message to the cache
         chat_db.cache_move(self.message1)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='cache'), [self.message1])
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE), [self.message1])
         self.assertEqual(self.message1.file_path.parent, pathlib.Path(self.cache_path.name))  # type: ignore [union-attr]
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='db'), [self.message2, self.message3, self.message4])
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='all'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='disk'), all_messages)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='mem'), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DB), [self.message2, self.message3, self.message4])
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.ALL), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.MEM), all_messages)
         # now move first message back to the DB
         chat_db.db_move(self.message1)
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='cache'), [])
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE), [])
         self.assertEqual(self.message1.file_path.parent, pathlib.Path(self.db_path.name))  # type: ignore [union-attr]
-        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc='db'), all_messages)
+        self.assert_messages_equal(chat_db.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DB), all_messages)

tests/test_hist_cmd.py

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import unittest
+import argparse
+import tempfile
+import yaml
+from pathlib import Path
+from chatmastermind.message import Message, Question
+from chatmastermind.chat import ChatDB, ChatError, msg_location
+from chatmastermind.configuration import Config
+from chatmastermind.commands.hist import convert_messages
+
+
+msg_suffix = Message.file_suffix_write
+
+
+class TestConvertMessages(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        self.db_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.cache_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        self.db_path = Path(self.db_dir.name)
+        self.cache_path = Path(self.cache_dir.name)
+        self.args = argparse.Namespace()
+        self.config = Config()
+        self.config.cache = self.cache_dir.name
+        self.config.db = self.db_dir.name
+        # Prepare some messages
+        self.chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_path),
+                                    Path(self.db_path))
+        self.messages = [Message(Question(f'Question {i}')) for i in range(0, 6)]
+        self.chat.db_write(self.messages[0:2])
+        self.chat.cache_write(self.messages[2:])
+        # Change some of the suffixes
+        assert self.messages[0].file_path
+        assert self.messages[1].file_path
+        self.messages[0].file_path.rename(self.messages[0].file_path.with_suffix('.txt'))
+        self.messages[1].file_path.rename(self.messages[1].file_path.with_suffix('.yaml'))
+
+    def tearDown(self) -> None:
+        self.db_dir.cleanup()
+        self.cache_dir.cleanup()
+
+    def test_convert_messages(self) -> None:
+        self.args.convert = 'yaml'
+        convert_messages(self.args, self.config)
+        msgs = self.chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DISK, glob='*.*')
+        # Check if the number of messages is the same as before
+        self.assertEqual(len(msgs), len(self.messages))
+        # Check if all messages have the requested suffix
+        for msg in msgs:
+            assert msg.file_path
+            self.assertEqual(msg.file_path.suffix, msg_suffix)
+        # Check if the message IDs are correctly maintained
+        for m_new, m_old in zip(msgs, self.messages):
+            self.assertEqual(m_new.msg_id(), m_old.msg_id())
+        # check if all messages have the new format
+        for m in msgs:
+            with open(str(m.file_path), "r") as fd:
+                yaml.load(fd, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
+
+    def test_convert_messages_wrong_format(self) -> None:
+        self.args.convert = 'foo'
+        with self.assertRaises(ChatError):
+            convert_messages(self.args, self.config)

tests/test_message.py

@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 import unittest
 import pathlib
 import tempfile
+import itertools
 from typing import cast
-from chatmastermind.message import source_code, Message, MessageError, Question, Answer, AILine, ModelLine, MessageFilter, message_in
+from chatmastermind.message import source_code, Message, MessageError, Question, Answer, AILine, ModelLine,\
+    MessageFilter, message_in, message_valid_formats
 from chatmastermind.tags import Tag, TagLine
 
 
+msg_suffix: str = Message.file_suffix_write
+
+
 class SourceCodeTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_source_code_with_include_delims(self) -> None:
         text = """
@@ -101,7 +106,7 @@ class AnswerTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class MessageToFileTxtTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.file.name)
         self.message_complete = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
                                         Answer('This is an answer.'),
@@ -117,7 +122,7 @@ class MessageToFileTxtTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.file_path.unlink()
 
     def test_to_file_txt_complete(self) -> None:
-        self.message_complete.to_file(self.file_path)
+        self.message_complete.to_file(self.file_path, mformat='txt')
 
         with open(self.file_path, "r") as fd:
             content = fd.read()
@@ -132,7 +137,7 @@ This is an answer.
         self.assertEqual(content, expected_content)
 
     def test_to_file_txt_min(self) -> None:
-        self.message_min.to_file(self.file_path)
+        self.message_min.to_file(self.file_path, mformat='txt')
 
         with open(self.file_path, "r") as fd:
             content = fd.read()
@@ -141,11 +146,17 @@ This is a question.
 """
         self.assertEqual(content, expected_content)
 
-    def test_to_file_unsupported_file_type(self) -> None:
+    def test_to_file_unsupported_file_suffix(self) -> None:
         unsupported_file_path = pathlib.Path("example.doc")
         with self.assertRaises(MessageError) as cm:
             self.message_complete.to_file(unsupported_file_path)
-        self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), "File type '.doc' is not supported")
+        self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), "File suffix '.doc' is not supported")
+
+    def test_to_file_unsupported_file_format(self) -> None:
+        unsupported_file_format = pathlib.Path(f"example{msg_suffix}")
+        with self.assertRaises(MessageError) as cm:
+            self.message_complete.to_file(unsupported_file_format, mformat='doc')  # type: ignore [arg-type]
+        self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), "File format 'doc' is not supported")
 
     def test_to_file_no_file_path(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -159,10 +170,24 @@ This is a question.
         # reset the internal file_path
         self.message_complete.file_path = self.file_path
 
+    def test_to_file_txt_auto_suffix(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Test if suffix is auto-generated if omitted.
+        """
+        file_path_no_suffix = self.file_path.with_suffix('')
+        # test with file_path member
+        self.message_min.file_path = file_path_no_suffix
+        self.message_min.to_file(mformat='txt')
+        self.assertEqual(self.message_min.file_path.suffix, msg_suffix)
+        # test with explicit file_path
+        self.message_min.file_path = file_path_no_suffix
+        self.message_min.to_file(file_path=file_path_no_suffix, mformat='txt')
+        self.assertEqual(self.message_min.file_path.suffix, msg_suffix)
+
 
 class MessageToFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.yaml')
+        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.file.name)
         self.message_complete = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
                                         Answer('This is an answer.'),
@@ -184,7 +209,7 @@ class MessageToFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.file_path.unlink()
 
     def test_to_file_yaml_complete(self) -> None:
-        self.message_complete.to_file(self.file_path)
+        self.message_complete.to_file(self.file_path, mformat='yaml')
 
         with open(self.file_path, "r") as fd:
             content = fd.read()
@@ -199,7 +224,7 @@ class MessageToFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(content, expected_content)
 
     def test_to_file_yaml_multiline(self) -> None:
-        self.message_multiline.to_file(self.file_path)
+        self.message_multiline.to_file(self.file_path, mformat='yaml')
 
         with open(self.file_path, "r") as fd:
             content = fd.read()
@@ -218,17 +243,31 @@ class MessageToFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(content, expected_content)
 
     def test_to_file_yaml_min(self) -> None:
-        self.message_min.to_file(self.file_path)
+        self.message_min.to_file(self.file_path, mformat='yaml')
 
         with open(self.file_path, "r") as fd:
             content = fd.read()
         expected_content = f"{Question.yaml_key}: This is a question.\n"
         self.assertEqual(content, expected_content)
 
+    def test_to_file_yaml_auto_suffix(self) -> None:
+        """
+        Test if suffix is auto-generated if omitted.
+        """
+        file_path_no_suffix = self.file_path.with_suffix('')
+        # test with file_path member
+        self.message_min.file_path = file_path_no_suffix
+        self.message_min.to_file(mformat='yaml')
+        self.assertEqual(self.message_min.file_path.suffix, msg_suffix)
+        # test with explicit file_path
+        self.message_min.file_path = file_path_no_suffix
+        self.message_min.to_file(file_path=file_path_no_suffix, mformat='yaml')
+        self.assertEqual(self.message_min.file_path.suffix, msg_suffix)
+
 
 class MessageFromFileTxtTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.file.name)
         with open(self.file_path, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""{TagLine.prefix} tag1 tag2
@@ -239,7 +278,7 @@ This is a question.
 {Answer.txt_header}
 This is an answer.
 """)
-        self.file_min = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file_min = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_min = pathlib.Path(self.file_min.name)
         with open(self.file_path_min, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""{Question.txt_header}
@@ -259,13 +298,13 @@ This is a question.
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path)
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
-            self.assertEqual(message.ai, 'ChatGPT')
-            self.assertEqual(message.model, 'gpt-3.5-turbo')
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
+        self.assertEqual(message.ai, 'ChatGPT')
+        self.assertEqual(message.model, 'gpt-3.5-turbo')
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
 
     def test_from_file_txt_min(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -274,21 +313,21 @@ This is a question.
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path_min)
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
-            self.assertIsNone(message.answer)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
+        self.assertIsNone(message.answer)
 
     def test_from_file_txt_tags_match(self) -> None:
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path,
                                     MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag1')}))
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
 
     def test_from_file_txt_tags_dont_match(self) -> None:
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path,
@@ -311,13 +350,13 @@ This is a question.
                                     MessageFilter(tags_not={Tag('tag1')}))
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), set())
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), set())
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
 
     def test_from_file_not_exists(self) -> None:
-        file_not_exists = pathlib.Path("example.txt")
+        file_not_exists = pathlib.Path(f"example{msg_suffix}")
         with self.assertRaises(MessageError) as cm:
             Message.from_file(file_not_exists)
         self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), f"Message file '{file_not_exists}' does not exist")
@@ -396,7 +435,7 @@ This is a question.
 
 class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.yaml')
+        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.file.name)
         with open(self.file_path, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""
@@ -410,7 +449,7 @@ class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
   - tag1
   - tag2
 """)
-        self.file_min = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.yaml')
+        self.file_min = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_min = pathlib.Path(self.file_min.name)
         with open(self.file_path_min, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""
@@ -431,13 +470,13 @@ class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
-            self.assertEqual(message.ai, 'ChatGPT')
-            self.assertEqual(message.model, 'gpt-3.5-turbo')
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
+        self.assertEqual(message.ai, 'ChatGPT')
+        self.assertEqual(message.model, 'gpt-3.5-turbo')
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
 
     def test_from_file_yaml_min(self) -> None:
         """
@@ -446,14 +485,14 @@ class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path_min)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), set())
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
-            self.assertIsNone(message.answer)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), set())
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
+        self.assertIsNone(message.answer)
 
     def test_from_file_not_exists(self) -> None:
-        file_not_exists = pathlib.Path("example.yaml")
+        file_not_exists = pathlib.Path(f"example{msg_suffix}")
         with self.assertRaises(MessageError) as cm:
             Message.from_file(file_not_exists)
         self.assertEqual(str(cm.exception), f"Message file '{file_not_exists}' does not exist")
@@ -463,11 +502,11 @@ class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                                     MessageFilter(tags_or={Tag('tag1')}))
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertEqual(message.answer, 'This is an answer.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), {Tag('tag1'), Tag('tag2')})
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path)
 
     def test_from_file_yaml_tags_dont_match(self) -> None:
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path,
@@ -484,10 +523,10 @@ class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                                     MessageFilter(tags_not={Tag('tag1')}))
         self.assertIsNotNone(message)
         self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
-        if message:  # mypy bug
-            self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
-            self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), set())
-            self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
+        assert message
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, 'This is a question.')
+        self.assertSetEqual(cast(set[Tag], message.tags), set())
+        self.assertEqual(message.file_path, self.file_path_min)
 
     def test_from_file_yaml_question_match(self) -> None:
         message = Message.from_file(self.file_path,
@@ -563,7 +602,7 @@ class MessageFromFileYamlTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class TagsFromFileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.file_txt = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file_txt = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_txt = pathlib.Path(self.file_txt.name)
         with open(self.file_path_txt, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""{TagLine.prefix} tag1 tag2 ptag3
@@ -572,7 +611,7 @@ This is a question.
 {Answer.txt_header}
 This is an answer.
 """)
-        self.file_txt_no_tags = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file_txt_no_tags = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_txt_no_tags = pathlib.Path(self.file_txt_no_tags.name)
         with open(self.file_path_txt_no_tags, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""{Question.txt_header}
@@ -580,7 +619,7 @@ This is a question.
 {Answer.txt_header}
 This is an answer.
 """)
-        self.file_txt_tags_empty = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file_txt_tags_empty = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_txt_tags_empty = pathlib.Path(self.file_txt_tags_empty.name)
         with open(self.file_path_txt_tags_empty, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""TAGS:
@@ -589,7 +628,7 @@ This is a question.
 {Answer.txt_header}
 This is an answer.
 """)
-        self.file_yaml = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.yaml')
+        self.file_yaml = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_yaml = pathlib.Path(self.file_yaml.name)
         with open(self.file_path_yaml, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""
@@ -602,7 +641,7 @@ This is an answer.
   - tag2
   - ptag3
 """)
-        self.file_yaml_no_tags = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.yaml')
+        self.file_yaml_no_tags = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path_yaml_no_tags = pathlib.Path(self.file_yaml_no_tags.name)
         with open(self.file_path_yaml_no_tags, "w") as fd:
             fd.write(f"""
@@ -679,24 +718,25 @@ class TagsFromDirTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             {Tag('ctag5'), Tag('ctag6')}
         ]
         self.files = [
-            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir.name, 'file1.txt'),
-            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir.name, 'file2.yaml'),
-            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir.name, 'file3.txt')
+            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir.name, f'file1{msg_suffix}'),
+            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir.name, f'file2{msg_suffix}'),
+            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir.name, f'file3{msg_suffix}')
         ]
         self.files_no_tags = [
-            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir_no_tags.name, 'file4.txt'),
-            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir_no_tags.name, 'file5.yaml'),
-            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir_no_tags.name, 'file6.txt')
+            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir_no_tags.name, f'file4{msg_suffix}'),
+            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir_no_tags.name, f'file5{msg_suffix}'),
+            pathlib.Path(self.temp_dir_no_tags.name, f'file6{msg_suffix}')
         ]
+        mformats = itertools.cycle(message_valid_formats)
         for file, tags in zip(self.files, self.tag_sets):
             message = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
                               Answer('This is an answer.'),
                               tags)
-            message.to_file(file)
+            message.to_file(file, next(mformats))
         for file in self.files_no_tags:
             message = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
                               Answer('This is an answer.'))
-            message.to_file(file)
+            message.to_file(file, next(mformats))
 
     def tearDown(self) -> None:
         self.temp_dir.cleanup()
@@ -719,7 +759,7 @@ class TagsFromDirTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
 class MessageIDTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
-        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix='.txt')
+        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
         self.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.file.name)
         self.message = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
                                file_path=self.file_path)
@@ -816,6 +856,8 @@ class MessageToStrTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self) -> None:
         self.message = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
                                Answer('This is an answer.'),
+                               ai=('FakeAI'),
+                               model=('FakeModel'),
                                tags={Tag('atag1'), Tag('btag2')},
                                file_path=pathlib.Path('/tmp/foo/bla'))
 
@@ -829,8 +871,29 @@ This is an answer."""
     def test_to_str_with_tags_and_file(self) -> None:
         expected_output = f"""{TagLine.prefix} atag1 btag2
 FILE: /tmp/foo/bla
+AI: FakeAI
+MODEL: FakeModel
 {Question.txt_header}
 This is a question.
 {Answer.txt_header}
 This is an answer."""
-        self.assertEqual(self.message.to_str(with_tags=True, with_file=True), expected_output)
+        self.assertEqual(self.message.to_str(with_metadata=True), expected_output)
+
+
+class MessageRmFileTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        self.file = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False, suffix=msg_suffix)
+        self.file_path = pathlib.Path(self.file.name)
+        self.message = Message(Question('This is a question.'),
+                               file_path=self.file_path)
+        self.message.to_file()
+
+    def tearDown(self) -> None:
+        self.file.close()
+        self.file_path.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+    def test_rm_file(self) -> None:
+        assert self.message.file_path
+        self.assertTrue(self.message.file_path.exists())
+        self.message.rm_file()
+        self.assertFalse(self.message.file_path.exists())

tests/test_question_cmd.py

@@ -9,11 +9,14 @@ from chatmastermind.configuration import Config
 from chatmastermind.commands.question import create_message, question_cmd
 from chatmastermind.tags import Tag
 from chatmastermind.message import Message, Question, Answer
-from chatmastermind.chat import Chat, ChatDB
+from chatmastermind.chat import Chat, ChatDB, msg_location
 from chatmastermind.ai import AIError
 from .test_common import TestWithFakeAI
 
 
+msg_suffix = Message.file_suffix_write
+
+
 class TestMessageCreate(TestWithFakeAI):
     """
     Test if messages created by the 'question' command have
@@ -38,6 +41,8 @@ class TestMessageCreate(TestWithFakeAI):
         self.args.AI = None
         self.args.model = None
         self.args.output_tags = None
+        self.args.ask = None
+        self.args.create = None
         # File 1 : no source code block, only text
         self.source_file1 = tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(delete=False)
         self.source_file1_content = """This is just text.
@@ -83,7 +88,7 @@ Aaaand again some text."""
 
     def message_list(self, tmp_dir: tempfile.TemporaryDirectory) -> list[Path]:
         # exclude '.next'
-        return list(Path(tmp_dir.name).glob('*.[ty]*'))
+        return list(Path(tmp_dir.name).glob(f'*{msg_suffix}'))
 
     def test_message_file_created(self) -> None:
         self.args.ask = ["What is this?"]
@@ -201,6 +206,21 @@ It is embedded code
 """))
 
 
+class TestCreateOption(TestMessageCreate):
+
+    def test_message_file_created(self) -> None:
+        self.args.create = ["How does question --create work?"]
+        self.args.ask = None
+        cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_dir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 0)
+        create_message(self.chat, self.args)
+        cache_dir_files = self.message_list(self.cache_dir)
+        self.assertEqual(len(cache_dir_files), 1)
+        message = Message.from_file(cache_dir_files[0])
+        self.assertIsInstance(message, Message)
+        self.assertEqual(message.question, Question("How does question --create work?"))  # type: ignore [union-attr]
+
+
 class TestQuestionCmd(TestWithFakeAI):
 
     def setUp(self) -> None:
@@ -214,6 +234,8 @@ class TestQuestionCmd(TestWithFakeAI):
         # create a mock argparse.Namespace
         self.args = argparse.Namespace(
             ask=['What is the meaning of life?'],
+            glob=None,
+            location='db',
             num_answers=1,
             output_tags=['science'],
             AI='FakeAI',
@@ -231,7 +253,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmd(TestWithFakeAI):
 
     def message_list(self, tmp_dir: tempfile.TemporaryDirectory) -> list[Path]:
         # exclude '.next'
-        return sorted([f for f in Path(tmp_dir.name).glob('*.[ty]*')])
+        return sorted([f for f in Path(tmp_dir.name).glob(f'*{msg_suffix}')])
 
 
 class TestQuestionCmdAsk(TestQuestionCmd):
@@ -259,7 +281,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdAsk(TestQuestionCmd):
         # check for the expected message files
         chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
                                Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 1)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, expected_responses)
 
@@ -317,7 +339,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdAsk(TestQuestionCmd):
         # check for the expected message files
         chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
                                Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 1)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, [expected_question])
 
@@ -330,14 +352,16 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         Repeat a single question.
         """
         mock_create_ai.side_effect = self.mock_create_ai
+        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
+                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
         # create a message
         message = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                           Answer('Old Answer'),
                           tags=set(self.args.output_tags),
                           ai=self.args.AI,
                           model=self.args.model,
-                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0001.txt')
-        message.to_file()
+                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
+        chat.msg_write([message])
 
         # repeat the last question (without overwriting)
         # -> expect two identical messages (except for the file_path)
@@ -353,9 +377,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         # we expect the original message + the one with the new response
         expected_responses = [message] + [expected_response]
         question_cmd(self.args, self.config)
-        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
-                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         print(self.message_list(self.cache_dir))
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 2)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, expected_responses)
@@ -366,17 +388,17 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         Repeat a single question and overwrite the old one.
         """
         mock_create_ai.side_effect = self.mock_create_ai
+        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
+                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
         # create a message
         message = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                           Answer('Old Answer'),
                           tags=set(self.args.output_tags),
                           ai=self.args.AI,
                           model=self.args.model,
-                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0001.txt')
-        message.to_file()
-        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
-                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
+        chat.msg_write([message])
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         assert cached_msg[0].file_path
         cached_msg_file_id = cached_msg[0].file_path.stem
 
@@ -392,7 +414,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
                                     tags=message.tags,
                                     file_path=Path('<NOT COMPARED>'))
         question_cmd(self.args, self.config)
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 1)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, [expected_response])
         # also check that the file ID has not been changed
@@ -405,17 +427,17 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         Repeat a single question after an error.
         """
         mock_create_ai.side_effect = self.mock_create_ai
+        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
+                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
         # create a question WITHOUT an answer
         # -> just like after an error, which is tested above
         message = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                           tags=set(self.args.output_tags),
                           ai=self.args.AI,
                           model=self.args.model,
-                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0001.txt')
-        message.to_file()
-        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
-                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
+        chat.msg_write([message])
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         assert cached_msg[0].file_path
         cached_msg_file_id = cached_msg[0].file_path.stem
 
@@ -432,7 +454,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
                                     tags=message.tags,
                                     file_path=Path('<NOT COMPARED>'))
         question_cmd(self.args, self.config)
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 1)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, [expected_response])
         # also check that the file ID has not been changed
@@ -445,17 +467,17 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         Repeat a single question with new arguments.
         """
         mock_create_ai.side_effect = self.mock_create_ai
+        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
+                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
         # create a message
         message = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                           Answer('Old Answer'),
                           tags=set(self.args.output_tags),
                           ai=self.args.AI,
                           model=self.args.model,
-                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0001.txt')
-        message.to_file()
-        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
-                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
+        chat.msg_write([message])
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         assert cached_msg[0].file_path
 
         # repeat the last question with new arguments (without overwriting)
@@ -473,7 +495,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
                                         tags={Tag('newtag')},
                                         file_path=Path('<NOT COMPARED>'))
         question_cmd(self.args, self.config)
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 2)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, [message] + [new_expected_response])
 
@@ -483,17 +505,17 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         Repeat a single question with new arguments, overwriting the old one.
         """
         mock_create_ai.side_effect = self.mock_create_ai
+        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
+                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
         # create a message
         message = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                           Answer('Old Answer'),
                           tags=set(self.args.output_tags),
                           ai=self.args.AI,
                           model=self.args.model,
-                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0001.txt')
-        message.to_file()
-        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
-                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+                          file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
+        chat.msg_write([message])
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         assert cached_msg[0].file_path
 
         # repeat the last question with new arguments
@@ -510,7 +532,7 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
                                         tags={Tag('newtag')},
                                         file_path=Path('<NOT COMPARED>'))
         question_cmd(self.args, self.config)
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 1)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, [new_expected_response])
 
@@ -520,29 +542,29 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         Repeat multiple  questions.
         """
         mock_create_ai.side_effect = self.mock_create_ai
+        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
+                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
         # 1. === create three questions ===
         # cached message without an answer
         message1 = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                            tags=self.args.output_tags,
                            ai=self.args.AI,
                            model=self.args.model,
-                           file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0001.txt')
+                           file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0001{msg_suffix}')
         # cached message with an answer
         message2 = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                            Answer('Old Answer'),
                            tags=self.args.output_tags,
                            ai=self.args.AI,
                            model=self.args.model,
-                           file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / '0002.txt')
+                           file_path=Path(self.cache_dir.name) / f'0002{msg_suffix}')
         # DB message without an answer
         message3 = Message(Question(self.args.ask[0]),
                            tags=self.args.output_tags,
                            ai=self.args.AI,
                            model=self.args.model,
-                           file_path=Path(self.db_dir.name) / '0003.txt')
-        message1.to_file()
-        message2.to_file()
-        message3.to_file()
+                           file_path=Path(self.db_dir.name) / f'0003{msg_suffix}')
+        chat.msg_write([message1, message2, message3])
         questions = [message1, message2, message3]
         expected_responses: list[Message] = []
         fake_ai = self.mock_create_ai(self.args, self.config)
@@ -566,10 +588,8 @@ class TestQuestionCmdRepeat(TestQuestionCmd):
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.cache_dir)), 4)
         self.assertEqual(len(self.message_list(self.db_dir)), 1)
         expected_cache_messages = [expected_responses[0], message2, expected_responses[1], expected_responses[2]]
-        chat = ChatDB.from_dir(Path(self.cache_dir.name),
-                               Path(self.db_dir.name))
-        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='cache')
+        cached_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.CACHE)
         self.assert_msgs_equal_except_file_path(cached_msg, expected_cache_messages)
         # check that the DB message has not been modified at all
-        db_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc='db')
+        db_msg = chat.msg_gather(loc=msg_location.DB)
         self.assert_msgs_all_equal(db_msg, [message3])