| Dart Home | PowerTCP Mail for ActiveX | Custom Development | Reply | PowerTCP Mail for ActiveX Topics | Forums |
| Author | Forum: PowerTCP Mail for ActiveX Topic: IMAP IDLE command |
| awaresoft mgreene@bdurham.com From: annandale, NJ USA Posts: 16 Member Since: 09/27/02 |
posted October 3, 2002 7:33 AM We are using the most current version of Dart Mail Tools downloaded for evaluation one week ago. When we issue the Imap.Command( "IDLE" ) we receive the error message "An error occured in the protocol." Here's the output from our trace file: ---> a000 CAPABILITY <--- * CAPABILITY IMAP4 IMAP4rev1 ACL QUOTA NAMESPACE UIDPLUS ID NO_ATOMIC_RENAME UNSELECT CHILDREN MULTIAPPEND SORT THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT THREAD=REFERENCES IDLE <--- a000 OK CAPABILITY ---> a001 LOGIN "bdsales" "bdsales" <--- a001 OK You are so in ---> a002 NOOP <--- a002 OK Completed ---> a003 IDLE <--- + go ahead ---> a003 IDLE <--- a003 BAD Invalid Idle continuation ---> a005 LOGOUT <--- * BYE LOGOUT received a005 OK Completed Note: You will see two IDLE commands above. We only issued one. Apparently your control re-issues the 2nd IDLE after it receives the "+" response (a retry on an unanticipated response?) My understanding of IMAP is that we can enter an IDLE state and wait for our IMAP server to notify us of new mail via your IMAP's Alert() event. Our goal is to produce a mail client that polls for new email in a friendly manner. Using the IDLE command and your Alert event seems to be the best choice. Any suggestions? Thanks! Malcolm |
K M Drake From: Utica, NY USA Posts: 3406 Member Since: 07/14/00 |
posted October 3, 2002 1:16 PM Hi Malcolm, I was not able to reproduce the double IDLE send, though the server was a very simple one of my creation (our Imap server does not support the optional command). I am not sure if the Alert event functions properly. Frankly, you are the first that I can recall ever asking about it. Have you considered using a timer, and simply logging in, checking boxes, and logging out after each specified interval (like Outlook Express does)? That may be your best bet. -ken |
| awaresoft mgreene@bdurham.com From: annandale, NJ USA Posts: 16 Member Since: 09/27/02 |
posted October 3, 2002 2:00 PM Hi Ken, Thanks for your follow-up! I think that the ability to support the IDLE command (and your Alert event) is critical to anyone using your product to build professional IMAP solutions. In researching my request, I noticed that many of your current customers had posted questions about how to receive email notifications. Polling for updates via login, message check, logout is not network friendly (especially if messages are being retained on the server) and many IMAP servers will detect and block abusive logins. My understanding is the IDLE command is a widely-implemented IMAP extension. This command is discussed in detail in RFC 2177. To summarize this spec, the IDLE command allows the server to instantly update the client when new mail arrives. This eliminates the need to poll and is in fact much quicker than polling because there is no between-poll delays. In my opinion, IDLE functionality is one of the major advantages of IMAP over POP. I have been reviewing your Mail Tools and think it is a fantastic product(!) with the current exception of lack of support for the IDLE command and potential lack of support for the Alert command. My guess is that Mail Tools double send of an IDLE command and the resultant error is something that can safely be ignored, i.e. once we've initiated an IDLE state we will stay in that IDLE state until we explictly leave it with a DONE command or until an IMAP server times us out. In other words I am assuming most servers will not terminate our IDLE state on receipt of bad commands (that's my reading of the specs anyway). This means that your current product may be able to support the IDLE command (ignoring protocol errors it may raise) as long as the Alert method is able to detect server responses. I haven't had any luck with your Alert event - I thought it was because the server didn't accept our IDLE command. But perhaps the Alert event doesn't work? I can give you a test IMAP account if you want to investigate this further. I can also supply you with URL's relevant to RFC 2177 and my research on how others have implemented IMAP IDLE support. And I am willing to beta test any enhancements you want tested. I'm willing to help - just let me know what you need me to do. Regards, Malcolm |
Alex Gladshtein From: Rome, NY USA Posts: 131 Member Since: 12/27/00 |
posted October 3, 2002 2:23 PM Hello Malcolm, We are going to take a close look at IDLE, especially since we are in the process of adding IMAP to our Mail for .NET product. As we are in the mail mode, we will also use this as an opprotunity to revisit the ActivX product and any feedback that we get from our customers will be very valuable to us. Thanks, Alex Gladshtein |
| awaresoft mgreene@bdurham.com From: annandale, NJ USA Posts: 16 Member Since: 09/27/02 |
posted October 3, 2002 2:36 PM Alex, Thanks for your follow-up. Unfortunately, our customers are still committed to ActiveX solutions so my focus is on helping you find a solution for your ActiveX customers. Per my previous comments, I am happy to help out any way I can including providing a test account, beta test support (and code), and IDLE command research. Feel free to email me personally if you want my help or give me an email address where I can post my comments privately. Will someone on your team be posting a follow-up message on this thread indicating the state of the IMAP Alert event, i.e. does it work, does it work with extra help by the developer, or does it not work at all. I'm not trying to pressure you guys on a solution, I just want to avoid spinning my wheels trying to put together a solution that will not work. Thanks! Malcolm |
| Alex Gladshtein From: Rome, NY USA Posts: 131 Member Since: 12/27/00 |
posted October 3, 2002 3:31 PM Malcolm, Ken is looking into the Alert situation and will post on this thread. I will send you an email with an address that you can use for any feedback. Thanks, Alex |
| Reply | PowerTCP Mail for ActiveX Topics | Forums |
This site is powered by
PowerTCP WebServer for ActiveX
|