547 lines
17 KiB
ReStructuredText
547 lines
17 KiB
ReStructuredText
:mod:`imaplib` --- IMAP4 protocol client
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========================================
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.. module:: imaplib
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:synopsis: IMAP4 protocol client (requires sockets).
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.. moduleauthor:: Piers Lauder <piers@communitysolutions.com.au>
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.. sectionauthor:: Piers Lauder <piers@communitysolutions.com.au>
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.. revised by ESR, January 2000
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.. changes for IMAP4_SSL by Tino Lange <Tino.Lange@isg.de>, March 2002
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.. changes for IMAP4_stream by Piers Lauder <piers@communitysolutions.com.au>,
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November 2002
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.. index::
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pair: IMAP4; protocol
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pair: IMAP4_SSL; protocol
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pair: IMAP4_stream; protocol
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**Source code:** :source:`Lib/imaplib.py`
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--------------
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This module defines three classes, :class:`IMAP4`, :class:`IMAP4_SSL` and
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:class:`IMAP4_stream`, which encapsulate a connection to an IMAP4 server and
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implement a large subset of the IMAP4rev1 client protocol as defined in
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:rfc:`2060`. It is backward compatible with IMAP4 (:rfc:`1730`) servers, but
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note that the ``STATUS`` command is not supported in IMAP4.
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Three classes are provided by the :mod:`imaplib` module, :class:`IMAP4` is the
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base class:
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.. class:: IMAP4([host[, port]])
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This class implements the actual IMAP4 protocol. The connection is created and
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protocol version (IMAP4 or IMAP4rev1) is determined when the instance is
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initialized. If *host* is not specified, ``''`` (the local host) is used. If
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*port* is omitted, the standard IMAP4 port (143) is used.
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Three exceptions are defined as attributes of the :class:`IMAP4` class:
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.. exception:: IMAP4.error
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Exception raised on any errors. The reason for the exception is passed to the
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constructor as a string.
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.. exception:: IMAP4.abort
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IMAP4 server errors cause this exception to be raised. This is a sub-class of
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:exc:`IMAP4.error`. Note that closing the instance and instantiating a new one
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will usually allow recovery from this exception.
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.. exception:: IMAP4.readonly
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This exception is raised when a writable mailbox has its status changed by the
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server. This is a sub-class of :exc:`IMAP4.error`. Some other client now has
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write permission, and the mailbox will need to be re-opened to re-obtain write
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permission.
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There's also a subclass for secure connections:
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.. class:: IMAP4_SSL([host[, port[, keyfile[, certfile]]]])
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This is a subclass derived from :class:`IMAP4` that connects over an SSL
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encrypted socket (to use this class you need a socket module that was compiled
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with SSL support). If *host* is not specified, ``''`` (the local host) is used.
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If *port* is omitted, the standard IMAP4-over-SSL port (993) is used. *keyfile*
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and *certfile* are also optional - they can contain a PEM formatted private key
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and certificate chain file for the SSL connection.
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The second subclass allows for connections created by a child process:
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.. class:: IMAP4_stream(command)
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This is a subclass derived from :class:`IMAP4` that connects to the
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``stdin/stdout`` file descriptors created by passing *command* to
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``os.popen2()``.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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The following utility functions are defined:
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.. function:: Internaldate2tuple(datestr)
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Parse an IMAP4 ``INTERNALDATE`` string and return corresponding local
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time. The return value is a :class:`time.struct_time` instance or
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None if the string has wrong format.
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.. function:: Int2AP(num)
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Converts an integer into a string representation using characters from the set
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[``A`` .. ``P``].
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.. function:: ParseFlags(flagstr)
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Converts an IMAP4 ``FLAGS`` response to a tuple of individual flags.
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.. function:: Time2Internaldate(date_time)
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Convert *date_time* to an IMAP4 ``INTERNALDATE`` representation. The
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return value is a string in the form: ``"DD-Mmm-YYYY HH:MM:SS
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+HHMM"`` (including double-quotes). The *date_time* argument can be a
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number (int or float) representing seconds since epoch (as returned
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by :func:`time.time`), a 9-tuple representing local time (as returned by
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:func:`time.localtime`), or a double-quoted string. In the last case, it
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is assumed to already be in the correct format.
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Note that IMAP4 message numbers change as the mailbox changes; in particular,
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after an ``EXPUNGE`` command performs deletions the remaining messages are
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renumbered. So it is highly advisable to use UIDs instead, with the UID command.
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At the end of the module, there is a test section that contains a more extensive
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example of usage.
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.. seealso::
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Documents describing the protocol, and sources and binaries for servers
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implementing it, can all be found at the University of Washington's *IMAP
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Information Center* (http://www.washington.edu/imap/).
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.. _imap4-objects:
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IMAP4 Objects
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-------------
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All IMAP4rev1 commands are represented by methods of the same name, either
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upper-case or lower-case.
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All arguments to commands are converted to strings, except for ``AUTHENTICATE``,
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and the last argument to ``APPEND`` which is passed as an IMAP4 literal. If
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necessary (the string contains IMAP4 protocol-sensitive characters and isn't
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enclosed with either parentheses or double quotes) each string is quoted.
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However, the *password* argument to the ``LOGIN`` command is always quoted. If
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you want to avoid having an argument string quoted (eg: the *flags* argument to
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``STORE``) then enclose the string in parentheses (eg: ``r'(\Deleted)'``).
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Each command returns a tuple: ``(type, [data, ...])`` where *type* is usually
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``'OK'`` or ``'NO'``, and *data* is either the text from the command response,
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or mandated results from the command. Each *data* is either a string, or a
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tuple. If a tuple, then the first part is the header of the response, and the
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second part contains the data (ie: 'literal' value).
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The *message_set* options to commands below is a string specifying one or more
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messages to be acted upon. It may be a simple message number (``'1'``), a range
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of message numbers (``'2:4'``), or a group of non-contiguous ranges separated by
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commas (``'1:3,6:9'``). A range can contain an asterisk to indicate an infinite
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upper bound (``'3:*'``).
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An :class:`IMAP4` instance has the following methods:
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.. method:: IMAP4.append(mailbox, flags, date_time, message)
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Append *message* to named mailbox.
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.. method:: IMAP4.authenticate(mechanism, authobject)
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Authenticate command --- requires response processing.
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*mechanism* specifies which authentication mechanism is to be used - it should
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appear in the instance variable ``capabilities`` in the form ``AUTH=mechanism``.
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*authobject* must be a callable object::
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data = authobject(response)
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It will be called to process server continuation responses. It should return
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``data`` that will be encoded and sent to server. It should return ``None`` if
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the client abort response ``*`` should be sent instead.
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.. method:: IMAP4.check()
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Checkpoint mailbox on server.
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.. method:: IMAP4.close()
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Close currently selected mailbox. Deleted messages are removed from writable
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mailbox. This is the recommended command before ``LOGOUT``.
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.. method:: IMAP4.copy(message_set, new_mailbox)
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Copy *message_set* messages onto end of *new_mailbox*.
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.. method:: IMAP4.create(mailbox)
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Create new mailbox named *mailbox*.
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.. method:: IMAP4.delete(mailbox)
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Delete old mailbox named *mailbox*.
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.. method:: IMAP4.deleteacl(mailbox, who)
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Delete the ACLs (remove any rights) set for who on mailbox.
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.. versionadded:: 2.4
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.. method:: IMAP4.expunge()
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Permanently remove deleted items from selected mailbox. Generates an ``EXPUNGE``
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response for each deleted message. Returned data contains a list of ``EXPUNGE``
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message numbers in order received.
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.. method:: IMAP4.fetch(message_set, message_parts)
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Fetch (parts of) messages. *message_parts* should be a string of message part
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names enclosed within parentheses, eg: ``"(UID BODY[TEXT])"``. Returned data
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are tuples of message part envelope and data.
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.. method:: IMAP4.getacl(mailbox)
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Get the ``ACL``\ s for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is supported
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by the ``Cyrus`` server.
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.. method:: IMAP4.getannotation(mailbox, entry, attribute)
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Retrieve the specified ``ANNOTATION``\ s for *mailbox*. The method is
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non-standard, but is supported by the ``Cyrus`` server.
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.. versionadded:: 2.5
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.. method:: IMAP4.getquota(root)
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Get the ``quota`` *root*'s resource usage and limits. This method is part of the
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IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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.. method:: IMAP4.getquotaroot(mailbox)
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Get the list of ``quota`` ``roots`` for the named *mailbox*. This method is part
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of the IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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.. method:: IMAP4.list([directory[, pattern]])
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List mailbox names in *directory* matching *pattern*. *directory* defaults to
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the top-level mail folder, and *pattern* defaults to match anything. Returned
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data contains a list of ``LIST`` responses.
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.. method:: IMAP4.login(user, password)
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Identify the client using a plaintext password. The *password* will be quoted.
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.. method:: IMAP4.login_cram_md5(user, password)
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Force use of ``CRAM-MD5`` authentication when identifying the client to protect
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the password. Will only work if the server ``CAPABILITY`` response includes the
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phrase ``AUTH=CRAM-MD5``.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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.. method:: IMAP4.logout()
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Shutdown connection to server. Returns server ``BYE`` response.
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.. method:: IMAP4.lsub([directory[, pattern]])
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List subscribed mailbox names in directory matching pattern. *directory*
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defaults to the top level directory and *pattern* defaults to match any mailbox.
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Returned data are tuples of message part envelope and data.
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.. method:: IMAP4.myrights(mailbox)
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Show my ACLs for a mailbox (i.e. the rights that I have on mailbox).
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.. versionadded:: 2.4
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.. method:: IMAP4.namespace()
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Returns IMAP namespaces as defined in RFC2342.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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.. method:: IMAP4.noop()
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Send ``NOOP`` to server.
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.. method:: IMAP4.open(host, port)
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Opens socket to *port* at *host*. This method is implicitly called by
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the :class:`IMAP4` constructor. The connection objects established by this
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method will be used in the :meth:`IMAP4.read`, :meth:`IMAP4.readline`,
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:meth:`IMAP4.send`, and :meth:`IMAP4.shutdown` methods. You may override
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this method.
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.. method:: IMAP4.partial(message_num, message_part, start, length)
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Fetch truncated part of a message. Returned data is a tuple of message part
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envelope and data.
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.. method:: IMAP4.proxyauth(user)
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Assume authentication as *user*. Allows an authorised administrator to proxy
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into any user's mailbox.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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.. method:: IMAP4.read(size)
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Reads *size* bytes from the remote server. You may override this method.
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.. method:: IMAP4.readline()
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Reads one line from the remote server. You may override this method.
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.. method:: IMAP4.recent()
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Prompt server for an update. Returned data is ``None`` if no new messages, else
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value of ``RECENT`` response.
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.. method:: IMAP4.rename(oldmailbox, newmailbox)
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Rename mailbox named *oldmailbox* to *newmailbox*.
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.. method:: IMAP4.response(code)
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Return data for response *code* if received, or ``None``. Returns the given
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code, instead of the usual type.
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.. method:: IMAP4.search(charset, criterion[, ...])
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Search mailbox for matching messages. *charset* may be ``None``, in which case
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no ``CHARSET`` will be specified in the request to the server. The IMAP
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protocol requires that at least one criterion be specified; an exception will be
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raised when the server returns an error.
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Example::
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# M is a connected IMAP4 instance...
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typ, msgnums = M.search(None, 'FROM', '"LDJ"')
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# or:
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typ, msgnums = M.search(None, '(FROM "LDJ")')
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.. method:: IMAP4.select([mailbox[, readonly]])
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Select a mailbox. Returned data is the count of messages in *mailbox*
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(``EXISTS`` response). The default *mailbox* is ``'INBOX'``. If the *readonly*
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flag is set, modifications to the mailbox are not allowed.
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.. method:: IMAP4.send(data)
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Sends ``data`` to the remote server. You may override this method.
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.. method:: IMAP4.setacl(mailbox, who, what)
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Set an ``ACL`` for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is supported by
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the ``Cyrus`` server.
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.. method:: IMAP4.setannotation(mailbox, entry, attribute[, ...])
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Set ``ANNOTATION``\ s for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is
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supported by the ``Cyrus`` server.
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.. versionadded:: 2.5
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.. method:: IMAP4.setquota(root, limits)
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Set the ``quota`` *root*'s resource *limits*. This method is part of the IMAP4
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QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087.
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.. versionadded:: 2.3
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.. method:: IMAP4.shutdown()
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Close connection established in ``open``. This method is implicitly
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called by :meth:`IMAP4.logout`. You may override this method.
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.. method:: IMAP4.socket()
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Returns socket instance used to connect to server.
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.. method:: IMAP4.sort(sort_criteria, charset, search_criterion[, ...])
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The ``sort`` command is a variant of ``search`` with sorting semantics for the
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results. Returned data contains a space separated list of matching message
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numbers.
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Sort has two arguments before the *search_criterion* argument(s); a
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parenthesized list of *sort_criteria*, and the searching *charset*. Note that
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unlike ``search``, the searching *charset* argument is mandatory. There is also
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a ``uid sort`` command which corresponds to ``sort`` the way that ``uid search``
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corresponds to ``search``. The ``sort`` command first searches the mailbox for
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messages that match the given searching criteria using the charset argument for
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the interpretation of strings in the searching criteria. It then returns the
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numbers of matching messages.
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This is an ``IMAP4rev1`` extension command.
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.. method:: IMAP4.status(mailbox, names)
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Request named status conditions for *mailbox*.
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.. method:: IMAP4.store(message_set, command, flag_list)
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Alters flag dispositions for messages in mailbox. *command* is specified by
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section 6.4.6 of :rfc:`2060` as being one of "FLAGS", "+FLAGS", or "-FLAGS",
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optionally with a suffix of ".SILENT".
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For example, to set the delete flag on all messages::
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typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL')
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for num in data[0].split():
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M.store(num, '+FLAGS', '\\Deleted')
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M.expunge()
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.. method:: IMAP4.subscribe(mailbox)
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Subscribe to new mailbox.
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.. method:: IMAP4.thread(threading_algorithm, charset, search_criterion[, ...])
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The ``thread`` command is a variant of ``search`` with threading semantics for
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the results. Returned data contains a space separated list of thread members.
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Thread members consist of zero or more messages numbers, delimited by spaces,
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indicating successive parent and child.
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Thread has two arguments before the *search_criterion* argument(s); a
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*threading_algorithm*, and the searching *charset*. Note that unlike
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``search``, the searching *charset* argument is mandatory. There is also a
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``uid thread`` command which corresponds to ``thread`` the way that ``uid
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search`` corresponds to ``search``. The ``thread`` command first searches the
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mailbox for messages that match the given searching criteria using the charset
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argument for the interpretation of strings in the searching criteria. It then
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returns the matching messages threaded according to the specified threading
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algorithm.
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This is an ``IMAP4rev1`` extension command.
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.. versionadded:: 2.4
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.. method:: IMAP4.uid(command, arg[, ...])
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Execute command args with messages identified by UID, rather than message
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number. Returns response appropriate to command. At least one argument must be
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supplied; if none are provided, the server will return an error and an exception
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will be raised.
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.. method:: IMAP4.unsubscribe(mailbox)
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Unsubscribe from old mailbox.
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.. method:: IMAP4.xatom(name[, arg[, ...]])
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Allow simple extension commands notified by server in ``CAPABILITY`` response.
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Instances of :class:`IMAP4_SSL` have just one additional method:
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.. method:: IMAP4_SSL.ssl()
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Returns SSLObject instance used for the secure connection with the server.
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The following attributes are defined on instances of :class:`IMAP4`:
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.. attribute:: IMAP4.PROTOCOL_VERSION
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The most recent supported protocol in the ``CAPABILITY`` response from the
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server.
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.. attribute:: IMAP4.debug
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Integer value to control debugging output. The initialize value is taken from
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the module variable ``Debug``. Values greater than three trace each command.
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.. _imap4-example:
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IMAP4 Example
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-------------
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Here is a minimal example (without error checking) that opens a mailbox and
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retrieves and prints all messages::
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import getpass, imaplib
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M = imaplib.IMAP4()
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M.login(getpass.getuser(), getpass.getpass())
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M.select()
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typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL')
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for num in data[0].split():
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typ, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)')
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print 'Message %s\n%s\n' % (num, data[0][1])
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M.close()
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M.logout()
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