ANPOP Developers Center > Using execIMAP4Command to manage folders and retrieve emails.

Important notice:* This product has integrated to EAGetMail POP3 Component, Please use EAGetMail POP3 Component instead of ANPOP POP3 Component.

EAGetMail Related Links:
Retrieve Email and Parse Email in Visual Basic
Retrieve Email and Parse Email in Visual C++
Retrieve Email and Parse Email in Delphi
Retrieve Email and Parse Email in VB.NET
Retrieve Email and Parse Email in C#
Retrieve Email and Parse Email in Managed C++

The POPMAIN object was built based on POP3 protocol before, although now it supports retrieving, deleting email from IMAP4 server. However, it can't implement all features of IMAP4 protocol by old methods. execIMAP4Command method helps developers to implement the all features of IMAP4 such as "Create Folder", "Delete Folder", "Move Email", "Copy Email" and etc. The following samples demonstrates the most operations in IMAP4 protocol.

Common Functions used in the following sample

[Visual Basic]
Function IsGoodResponse(ByVal s As String, ByVal id As String) As Boolean
    id = id & " OK"
    If InStr(1, s, id, vbTextCompare) > 0 Then
        IsGoodResponse = True
    Else
        IsGoodResponse = False
    End If
End Function

[C#]
public void VerifyResponse( string szId, string response )
{
  string s;
  s = szId.ToUpper();
  s += " OK";
  string r = response.ToUpper();
  if( r.Length == 0 )
  {
    throw new Exception( "Networking timeout, please try it later!" );
  }

  if( r.IndexOf( s ) < 0 )
  {
    throw new Exception( response );
  }
}

Query IMAP4 Folders

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 LIST and LSUB commands.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub QueryFolders( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
 
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  command = cmdId & " LIST """" *" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  
  Dim arLine
  arLine = Split(response, Chr(13) & Chr(10))
 
  Dim i, nCount
  nCount = UBound(arLine)
  Dim folder, s
  For i = LBound(arLine) To nCount
    s = Trim(arLine(i))
    s = Replace(s, Chr(10), "")
    s = Replace(s, Chr(13), "")
        
    If Trim(oImap4.ParseIMAP4Response(s, 0)) = "*" Then
      folder = oImap4.ParseIMAP4Response(s, 4)
      folder = oImap4.DecodeIMAP4Folder(folder)
      folder = Replace(folder, """", "")
      MsgBox folder
    End If
  Next
 
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing

End Sub

[C#]
public void QueryFolders( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password  )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
      
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
    
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    command = String.Format( "{0} LIST \"\" *\r\n", cmdId );
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response ); 
    
    string[] ar = response.Split( "\n".ToCharArray() );
    for( int i = 0; i < ar.Length; i++ )
    {
      string s = ar[i].Trim("\r\n".ToCharArray());
      if( s.Length == 0 )
        continue;
        
      if( s[0] != '*' )
        continue;
      
      string folder = oImap4.ParseIMAP4Response(s, 4);
      folder = oImap4.DecodeIMAP4Folder(folder);
      folder = folder.Trim( "\"".ToCharArray());
      MessageBox.Show( folder );
    }    
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
     MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Create IMAP4 Folder

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 CREATE command.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub CreateFolder( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  folder As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
 
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  command = cmdId & " CREATE """ & oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder) & """" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox "OK"
  
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void CreateFolder( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string folder )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
      
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    command = String.Format( "{0} CREATE \"{1}\"\r\n", cmdId, oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder));
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response ); 
    MessageBox.Show( "OK" );
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Delete IMAP4 Folder

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 DELETE command.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub DeleteFolder( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  folder As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
 
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  command = cmdId & " DELETE """ & oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder) & """" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox "OK"
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void DeleteFolder( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string folder )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
      
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    command = String.Format( "{0} DELETE \"{1}\"\r\n", cmdId, oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder));
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response );
    MessageBox.Show( "OK" ); 
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Rename IMAP4 Folder

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 RENAME command.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub RenameFolder( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  folder As String, newfolder As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
 
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  command = cmdId & " RENAME """ & oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder) & """" 
  command = command & " """ & oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(newfolder) & """" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox "OK"
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void RenameFolder( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string folder,
                          string newfolder )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
      
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    command = String.Format( "{0} RENAME \"{1}\" \"{2}\"\r\n", cmdId, 
                             oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder),
                             oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(newfolder));
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response );
    MessageBox.Show( "OK" ); 
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Append Message to IMAP4 Folder

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 APPEND command.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub AppendEml( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  folder As String, emlFileName As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 
  Dim oMsg AS ANPOPLib.POPMSG
  Set oMsg = new ANPOPLib.POPMSG
  
  If oMsg.ImportFile(emlFileName) <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "Unable to open the file: " & emlFileName
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If
  
  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
 
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  command = cmdId & " APPEND """ & oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder) & """ {"
  command = command & Len(oMsg.RawContent) & "}" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
    MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
    GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If InStr(response, "+") <> 1 Then
    MsgBox response
    GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
        
  extId = "-A001"
  command = extId & " " & oMsg.RawContent & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
            
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox "OK"
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void AppendEml( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string folder,
                          string emlFileName )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  POPMSGClass oMsg = new POPMSGClass();
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
    
    if( oMsg.ImportFile( emlFileName ) != 0 )
    {
      throw new Exception( "Unable open the selected file!" );
    }
				      
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    string cmdId, response, command;
    command = String.Format( "{0} APPEND \"{1}\" {{{2}}}\r\n", 
                    cmdId, 
                    oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(folder), 
                    oMsg.GetMessageSize());
    
    response = m_oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    if( response.Length == 0 )
    {
      throw new Exception( "Networking timeout, please try it again!");
    }
    if( response[0] != '+' )
    {
      throw new Exception( response );
    }
    
    string extId;
    extId = "-";
    extId += cmdId;
    command = extId + " " + oMsg.RawContent + "\r\n";
									
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response );
    MessageBox.Show( "OK" ); 
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Query Message's IMAP4 Flags

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 FETCH command.
Note: uid parameter is returned by GetMsgID method of POPMAIN object.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub QueryFlags( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  uid As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
  oImap4.IMAP4Folder = "Inbox"
  
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  oImap4.GetTotalOfMails
  
  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  command = cmdId & " UID FETCH " & uid & " (UID FLAGS)" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox response
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void QueryFlags( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string uid )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
    oImap4.IMAP4Folder = "Inbox";
    
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    oImap4.GetTotalOfMail();
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    command = String.Format( "{0} UID FETCH {1} (UID FLAGS)\r\n", cmdId, uid);
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response );
    MessageBox.Show( response ); 
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Change Message's IMAP4 Flags

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 STORE command.
Note: uid parameter is returned by GetMsgID method of POPMAIN object.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub ChangeFlags( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  uid As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
  oImap4.IMAP4Folder = "Inbox"
  
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  oImap4.GetTotalOfMails
  
  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  'add deleted and seen flags to this message.
  command = cmdId & " UID STORE " & uid & " +FLAGS.SILENT (\Deleted \Seen)" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox "OK"
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void ChangeFlags( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string uid )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
    oImap4.IMAP4Folder = "Inbox";
    
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    oImap4.GetTotalOfMail();
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    //add seen and deleted flags to this message
    command = String.Format( "{0} UID STORE {1} +FLAGS.SILENT (\\Deleted \\Seen)\r\n", cmdId, uid);
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response );
    MessageBox.Show( "OK" ); 
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Copy Message

Protocol detail: RFC 2060 COPY command.
Note: uid parameter is returned by GetMsgID method of POPMAIN object.

[Visual Basic]	
Sub CopyMessage( imap4Server As String, _
                  imap4User As String, _ 
                  imap4Password As String, _ 
                  uid As String,
                  targetFolder As String )
  Dim oImap4 As ANPOPLib.POPMAIN
  Set oImap4 = new ANPOPLib.POPMAIN 

  oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1
  oImap4.ServerPort = 143
  oImap4.IMAP4Folder = "Inbox"
  
  nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, imap4User, imap4Password ) 
  If nRet <> 0 Then
    MsgBox "error with connecting server"
    GoTo ErrorHandler
  End If

  oImap4.GetTotalOfMails
  
  Dim cmdId, response, command
  cmdId = "A001"
  'copy this message from inbox to targetfolder
  command = cmdId & " UID COPY " & uid & " """ & _
             oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(targetFolder) & """" & Chr(13) & Chr(10)
    
  response = Trim(oImap4.execIMAP4Command(command))
    
  If response = "" Then
     MsgBox "Networking timeout, please try it later!"
     GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
    
  If Not IsGoodResponse(response, cmdId) Then
      MsgBox response
      GoTo ErrorHandle
  End If
  MsgBox "OK"
ErrorHandler:
  Call oImap4.Close() 
  Set oImap4 = Nothing
  
End Sub

[C#]
public void CopyMessage( string imap4Server, 
                          string imap4User, 
                          string imap4Password, 
                          string uid,
                          string targetFolder )
{
  POPMAINClass oImap4 = new POPMAINClass();  
  int nRet = 0;
    
  try
  {
    oImap4.IMAP4Connection = 1;
    oImap4.ServerPort = 143;
    oImap4.IMAP4Folder = "Inbox";
    
    nRet = oImap4.Connect( imap4Server, 
                          imap4User, 
                          imap4Password ); 
    if( nRet != 0 )
      throw new Exception( "error with Connect" );
  
    oImap4.GetTotalOfMail();
    string cmdId, response, command;
    cmdId = "A001";
    //copy this message from "inbox" to targetFolder
    command = String.Format( "{0} UID COPY {1} \"{2}\"\r\n", 
            cmdId, 
            uid, 
            oImap4.EncodeIMAP4Folder(targetFolder));
    response = oImap4.execIMAP4Command( command ).Trim();
    VerifyResponse( cmdId, response );
    MessageBox.Show( "OK" ); 
  }
  catch( Exception e )
  {
    MessageBox.Show( e.Message );
  }
  
  oImap4.Close(); 
  oImap4 = null;
}

Samples

Please refer to IMAP4Folder, IMAP4FolderCSharp in ANPOP installation package.

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