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author | Georg Brandl <georg@python.org> | 2007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000 |
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committer | Georg Brandl <georg@python.org> | 2007-08-15 14:28:22 +0000 |
commit | 116aa62bf54a39697e25f21d6cf6799f7faa1349 (patch) | |
tree | 8db5729518ed4ca88e26f1e26cc8695151ca3eb3 /Doc/library/imaplib.rst | |
parent | Delete the LaTeX doc tree. (diff) | |
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diff --git a/Doc/library/imaplib.rst b/Doc/library/imaplib.rst new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..fc7c23041cf --- /dev/null +++ b/Doc/library/imaplib.rst @@ -0,0 +1,540 @@ + +:mod:`imaplib` --- IMAP4 protocol client +======================================== + +.. module:: imaplib + :synopsis: IMAP4 protocol client (requires sockets). +.. moduleauthor:: Piers Lauder <piers@communitysolutions.com.au> +.. sectionauthor:: Piers Lauder <piers@communitysolutions.com.au> + + +.. index:: + pair: IMAP4; protocol + pair: IMAP4_SSL; protocol + pair: IMAP4_stream; protocol + +.. % Based on HTML documentation by Piers Lauder +.. % <piers@communitysolutions.com.au>; +.. % converted by Fred L. Drake, Jr. <fdrake@acm.org>. +.. % Revised by ESR, January 2000. +.. % Changes for IMAP4_SSL by Tino Lange <Tino.Lange@isg.de>, March 2002 +.. % Changes for IMAP4_stream by Piers Lauder +.. % <piers@communitysolutions.com.au>, November 2002 + +This module defines three classes, :class:`IMAP4`, :class:`IMAP4_SSL` and +:class:`IMAP4_stream`, which encapsulate a connection to an IMAP4 server and +implement a large subset of the IMAP4rev1 client protocol as defined in +:rfc:`2060`. It is backward compatible with IMAP4 (:rfc:`1730`) servers, but +note that the ``STATUS`` command is not supported in IMAP4. + +Three classes are provided by the :mod:`imaplib` module, :class:`IMAP4` is the +base class: + + +.. class:: IMAP4([host[, port]]) + + This class implements the actual IMAP4 protocol. The connection is created and + protocol version (IMAP4 or IMAP4rev1) is determined when the instance is + initialized. If *host* is not specified, ``''`` (the local host) is used. If + *port* is omitted, the standard IMAP4 port (143) is used. + +Three exceptions are defined as attributes of the :class:`IMAP4` class: + + +.. exception:: IMAP4.error + + Exception raised on any errors. The reason for the exception is passed to the + constructor as a string. + + +.. exception:: IMAP4.abort + + IMAP4 server errors cause this exception to be raised. This is a sub-class of + :exc:`IMAP4.error`. Note that closing the instance and instantiating a new one + will usually allow recovery from this exception. + + +.. exception:: IMAP4.readonly + + This exception is raised when a writable mailbox has its status changed by the + server. This is a sub-class of :exc:`IMAP4.error`. Some other client now has + write permission, and the mailbox will need to be re-opened to re-obtain write + permission. + +There's also a subclass for secure connections: + + +.. class:: IMAP4_SSL([host[, port[, keyfile[, certfile]]]]) + + This is a subclass derived from :class:`IMAP4` that connects over an SSL + encrypted socket (to use this class you need a socket module that was compiled + with SSL support). If *host* is not specified, ``''`` (the local host) is used. + If *port* is omitted, the standard IMAP4-over-SSL port (993) is used. *keyfile* + and *certfile* are also optional - they can contain a PEM formatted private key + and certificate chain file for the SSL connection. + +The second subclass allows for connections created by a child process: + + +.. class:: IMAP4_stream(command) + + This is a subclass derived from :class:`IMAP4` that connects to the + ``stdin/stdout`` file descriptors created by passing *command* to + ``os.popen2()``. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + +The following utility functions are defined: + + +.. function:: Internaldate2tuple(datestr) + + Converts an IMAP4 INTERNALDATE string to Coordinated Universal Time. Returns a + :mod:`time` module tuple. + + +.. function:: Int2AP(num) + + Converts an integer into a string representation using characters from the set + [``A`` .. ``P``]. + + +.. function:: ParseFlags(flagstr) + + Converts an IMAP4 ``FLAGS`` response to a tuple of individual flags. + + +.. function:: Time2Internaldate(date_time) + + Converts a :mod:`time` module tuple to an IMAP4 ``INTERNALDATE`` representation. + Returns a string in the form: ``"DD-Mmm-YYYY HH:MM:SS +HHMM"`` (including + double-quotes). + +Note that IMAP4 message numbers change as the mailbox changes; in particular, +after an ``EXPUNGE`` command performs deletions the remaining messages are +renumbered. So it is highly advisable to use UIDs instead, with the UID command. + +At the end of the module, there is a test section that contains a more extensive +example of usage. + + +.. seealso:: + + Documents describing the protocol, and sources and binaries for servers + implementing it, can all be found at the University of Washington's *IMAP + Information Center* (http://www.cac.washington.edu/imap/). + + +.. _imap4-objects: + +IMAP4 Objects +------------- + +All IMAP4rev1 commands are represented by methods of the same name, either +upper-case or lower-case. + +All arguments to commands are converted to strings, except for ``AUTHENTICATE``, +and the last argument to ``APPEND`` which is passed as an IMAP4 literal. If +necessary (the string contains IMAP4 protocol-sensitive characters and isn't +enclosed with either parentheses or double quotes) each string is quoted. +However, the *password* argument to the ``LOGIN`` command is always quoted. If +you want to avoid having an argument string quoted (eg: the *flags* argument to +``STORE``) then enclose the string in parentheses (eg: ``r'(\Deleted)'``). + +Each command returns a tuple: ``(type, [data, ...])`` where *type* is usually +``'OK'`` or ``'NO'``, and *data* is either the text from the command response, +or mandated results from the command. Each *data* is either a string, or a +tuple. If a tuple, then the first part is the header of the response, and the +second part contains the data (ie: 'literal' value). + +The *message_set* options to commands below is a string specifying one or more +messages to be acted upon. It may be a simple message number (``'1'``), a range +of message numbers (``'2:4'``), or a group of non-contiguous ranges separated by +commas (``'1:3,6:9'``). A range can contain an asterisk to indicate an infinite +upper bound (``'3:*'``). + +An :class:`IMAP4` instance has the following methods: + + +.. method:: IMAP4.append(mailbox, flags, date_time, message) + + Append *message* to named mailbox. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.authenticate(mechanism, authobject) + + Authenticate command --- requires response processing. + + *mechanism* specifies which authentication mechanism is to be used - it should + appear in the instance variable ``capabilities`` in the form ``AUTH=mechanism``. + + *authobject* must be a callable object:: + + data = authobject(response) + + It will be called to process server continuation responses. It should return + ``data`` that will be encoded and sent to server. It should return ``None`` if + the client abort response ``*`` should be sent instead. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.check() + + Checkpoint mailbox on server. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.close() + + Close currently selected mailbox. Deleted messages are removed from writable + mailbox. This is the recommended command before ``LOGOUT``. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.copy(message_set, new_mailbox) + + Copy *message_set* messages onto end of *new_mailbox*. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.create(mailbox) + + Create new mailbox named *mailbox*. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.delete(mailbox) + + Delete old mailbox named *mailbox*. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.deleteacl(mailbox, who) + + Delete the ACLs (remove any rights) set for who on mailbox. + + .. versionadded:: 2.4 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.expunge() + + Permanently remove deleted items from selected mailbox. Generates an ``EXPUNGE`` + response for each deleted message. Returned data contains a list of ``EXPUNGE`` + message numbers in order received. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.fetch(message_set, message_parts) + + Fetch (parts of) messages. *message_parts* should be a string of message part + names enclosed within parentheses, eg: ``"(UID BODY[TEXT])"``. Returned data + are tuples of message part envelope and data. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.getacl(mailbox) + + Get the ``ACL``\ s for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is supported + by the ``Cyrus`` server. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.getannotation(mailbox, entry, attribute) + + Retrieve the specified ``ANNOTATION``\ s for *mailbox*. The method is + non-standard, but is supported by the ``Cyrus`` server. + + .. versionadded:: 2.5 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.getquota(root) + + Get the ``quota`` *root*'s resource usage and limits. This method is part of the + IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.getquotaroot(mailbox) + + Get the list of ``quota`` ``roots`` for the named *mailbox*. This method is part + of the IMAP4 QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.list([directory[, pattern]]) + + List mailbox names in *directory* matching *pattern*. *directory* defaults to + the top-level mail folder, and *pattern* defaults to match anything. Returned + data contains a list of ``LIST`` responses. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.login(user, password) + + Identify the client using a plaintext password. The *password* will be quoted. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.login_cram_md5(user, password) + + Force use of ``CRAM-MD5`` authentication when identifying the client to protect + the password. Will only work if the server ``CAPABILITY`` response includes the + phrase ``AUTH=CRAM-MD5``. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.logout() + + Shutdown connection to server. Returns server ``BYE`` response. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.lsub([directory[, pattern]]) + + List subscribed mailbox names in directory matching pattern. *directory* + defaults to the top level directory and *pattern* defaults to match any mailbox. + Returned data are tuples of message part envelope and data. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.myrights(mailbox) + + Show my ACLs for a mailbox (i.e. the rights that I have on mailbox). + + .. versionadded:: 2.4 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.namespace() + + Returns IMAP namespaces as defined in RFC2342. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.noop() + + Send ``NOOP`` to server. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.open(host, port) + + Opens socket to *port* at *host*. The connection objects established by this + method will be used in the ``read``, ``readline``, ``send``, and ``shutdown`` + methods. You may override this method. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.partial(message_num, message_part, start, length) + + Fetch truncated part of a message. Returned data is a tuple of message part + envelope and data. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.proxyauth(user) + + Assume authentication as *user*. Allows an authorised administrator to proxy + into any user's mailbox. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.read(size) + + Reads *size* bytes from the remote server. You may override this method. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.readline() + + Reads one line from the remote server. You may override this method. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.recent() + + Prompt server for an update. Returned data is ``None`` if no new messages, else + value of ``RECENT`` response. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.rename(oldmailbox, newmailbox) + + Rename mailbox named *oldmailbox* to *newmailbox*. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.response(code) + + Return data for response *code* if received, or ``None``. Returns the given + code, instead of the usual type. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.search(charset, criterion[, ...]) + + Search mailbox for matching messages. *charset* may be ``None``, in which case + no ``CHARSET`` will be specified in the request to the server. The IMAP + protocol requires that at least one criterion be specified; an exception will be + raised when the server returns an error. + + Example:: + + # M is a connected IMAP4 instance... + typ, msgnums = M.search(None, 'FROM', '"LDJ"') + + # or: + typ, msgnums = M.search(None, '(FROM "LDJ")') + + +.. method:: IMAP4.select([mailbox[, readonly]]) + + Select a mailbox. Returned data is the count of messages in *mailbox* + (``EXISTS`` response). The default *mailbox* is ``'INBOX'``. If the *readonly* + flag is set, modifications to the mailbox are not allowed. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.send(data) + + Sends ``data`` to the remote server. You may override this method. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.setacl(mailbox, who, what) + + Set an ``ACL`` for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is supported by + the ``Cyrus`` server. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.setannotation(mailbox, entry, attribute[, ...]) + + Set ``ANNOTATION``\ s for *mailbox*. The method is non-standard, but is + supported by the ``Cyrus`` server. + + .. versionadded:: 2.5 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.setquota(root, limits) + + Set the ``quota`` *root*'s resource *limits*. This method is part of the IMAP4 + QUOTA extension defined in rfc2087. + + .. versionadded:: 2.3 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.shutdown() + + Close connection established in ``open``. You may override this method. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.socket() + + Returns socket instance used to connect to server. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.sort(sort_criteria, charset, search_criterion[, ...]) + + The ``sort`` command is a variant of ``search`` with sorting semantics for the + results. Returned data contains a space separated list of matching message + numbers. + + Sort has two arguments before the *search_criterion* argument(s); a + parenthesized list of *sort_criteria*, and the searching *charset*. Note that + unlike ``search``, the searching *charset* argument is mandatory. There is also + a ``uid sort`` command which corresponds to ``sort`` the way that ``uid search`` + corresponds to ``search``. The ``sort`` command first searches the mailbox for + messages that match the given searching criteria using the charset argument for + the interpretation of strings in the searching criteria. It then returns the + numbers of matching messages. + + This is an ``IMAP4rev1`` extension command. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.status(mailbox, names) + + Request named status conditions for *mailbox*. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.store(message_set, command, flag_list) + + Alters flag dispositions for messages in mailbox. *command* is specified by + section 6.4.6 of :rfc:`2060` as being one of "FLAGS", "+FLAGS", or "-FLAGS", + optionally with a suffix of ".SILENT". + + For example, to set the delete flag on all messages:: + + typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL') + for num in data[0].split(): + M.store(num, '+FLAGS', '\\Deleted') + M.expunge() + + +.. method:: IMAP4.subscribe(mailbox) + + Subscribe to new mailbox. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.thread(threading_algorithm, charset, search_criterion[, ...]) + + The ``thread`` command is a variant of ``search`` with threading semantics for + the results. Returned data contains a space separated list of thread members. + + Thread members consist of zero or more messages numbers, delimited by spaces, + indicating successive parent and child. + + Thread has two arguments before the *search_criterion* argument(s); a + *threading_algorithm*, and the searching *charset*. Note that unlike + ``search``, the searching *charset* argument is mandatory. There is also a + ``uid thread`` command which corresponds to ``thread`` the way that ``uid + search`` corresponds to ``search``. The ``thread`` command first searches the + mailbox for messages that match the given searching criteria using the charset + argument for the interpretation of strings in the searching criteria. It then + returns the matching messages threaded according to the specified threading + algorithm. + + This is an ``IMAP4rev1`` extension command. + + .. versionadded:: 2.4 + + +.. method:: IMAP4.uid(command, arg[, ...]) + + Execute command args with messages identified by UID, rather than message + number. Returns response appropriate to command. At least one argument must be + supplied; if none are provided, the server will return an error and an exception + will be raised. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.unsubscribe(mailbox) + + Unsubscribe from old mailbox. + + +.. method:: IMAP4.xatom(name[, arg[, ...]]) + + Allow simple extension commands notified by server in ``CAPABILITY`` response. + +Instances of :class:`IMAP4_SSL` have just one additional method: + + +.. method:: IMAP4_SSL.ssl() + + Returns SSLObject instance used for the secure connection with the server. + +The following attributes are defined on instances of :class:`IMAP4`: + + +.. attribute:: IMAP4.PROTOCOL_VERSION + + The most recent supported protocol in the ``CAPABILITY`` response from the + server. + + +.. attribute:: IMAP4.debug + + Integer value to control debugging output. The initialize value is taken from + the module variable ``Debug``. Values greater than three trace each command. + + +.. _imap4-example: + +IMAP4 Example +------------- + +Here is a minimal example (without error checking) that opens a mailbox and +retrieves and prints all messages:: + + import getpass, imaplib + + M = imaplib.IMAP4() + M.login(getpass.getuser(), getpass.getpass()) + M.select() + typ, data = M.search(None, 'ALL') + for num in data[0].split(): + typ, data = M.fetch(num, '(RFC822)') + print 'Message %s\n%s\n' % (num, data[0][1]) + M.close() + M.logout() + |