Your sample code only reflects client activity and does not emphsize UIDL or
how you would implement such a concept, nor does it say why you would want to.
The question was directed as to what approach one would take to implement
the monitoring of new/read messages at the server level. Many popular POP
servers support this concept now, and is easily proven by using common
clients on a couple of pc's. Each client will know which messages, the
previous client has read and which messages are still unread. This indicates
that the server is caching that information and presenting it to the client
requesting a LIST.
The RFC for POP version 3 states that POP is designed to house new messages
on the server until a client downloads them and ultimately deletes them. It
was not designed for enhanced mail manipulation. If you want to be elaborate
with message management, the RFC points you to IMAP.
How ever, since the RFC supports flagging a message for deletion, we can
take the opportuinity to extend the bit into a byte and use it as a tripple
state flag {New, Read, Delete}
Here is a bit of skeleton code to help illustrate my point. I hope it
helps. I realize that it is far from complete and less than optimal, but I
am sure you can glean from it, what I was trying to demonstrate and move
forward with your project.
<Serializable() > Public Enum MessageStates As Byte
[new] = 0
[read] = 1
[delete] = 2
End Enum
<Serializable() > Public Class Mailbox
Private m_MailMessages As MailMessages
Public Sub New()
m_MailMessages = New MailMessages
End Sub
Public Property Messages() As MailMessages
Get
Return m_MailMessages
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As MailMessages)
m_MailMessages = Value
End Set
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property Count() As Integer
Get
Dim TheCount As Integer
For Each mm As MailMessage In m_MailMessages
If mm.MessageSate <> MessageStates.d elete Then
TheCount = TheCount + 1
End If
Next
Return TheCount
End Get
End Property
Public NotInheritable Class MailMessages
Inherits Hashtable
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New()
End Sub
Public Overloads Sub Add(ByVal MessageID As String, ByVal MessagePtr As
MailMessage)
MyBase.Add(Mess ageID, MessagePtr)
End Sub
Public Overloads Function ContainsKey(ByV al MessageID As String) As
Boolean
If MyBase.Contains Key(MessageID) = True Then
If CType(MyBase.It em(MessageID), MailMessage).Me ssageSate <>
MessageStates.d elete Then
Return True
Else
Return False
End If
End If
End Function
Public Overrides Function GetEnumerator() As
System.Collecti ons.IDictionary Enumerator
Return New MailMessageEnum erator(Me)
End Function
Public Overloads Sub Remove(ByVal MessageID As String)
If MyBase.Contains Key(MessageID) = True Then
CType(MyBase.It em(MessageID), MailMessage).Me ssageSate =
MessageStates.d elete
End If
End Sub
Default Public Overloads Property Item(ByVal MessageID As String) As
MailMessage
Get
Return CType(MyBase.It em(MessageID), MailMessage)
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As MailMessage)
MyBase.Item(Mes sageID) = Value
End Set
End Property
End Class
Public NotInheritable Class MailMessageEnum erator
Implements IEnumerator
Private m_Enumerable As IDictionaryEnum erator
Public Sub New(ByVal MessageTable As MailMessages)
m_Enumerable = MessageTable.Ge tEnumerator
End Sub
Private ReadOnly Property IEnumerator_Cur rent() As Object Implements
System.Collecti ons.IEnumerator .Current
Get
Return m_Enumerable.Cu rrent
End Get
End Property
Private Function IEnumerator_Mov eNext() As Boolean Implements
System.Collecti ons.IEnumerator .MoveNext
m_Enumerable.Mo veNext()
End Function
Private Sub IEnumerator_Res et() Implements
System.Collecti ons.IEnumerator .Reset
m_Enumerable.Re set()
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property Current() As MailMessage
Get
Return CType(IEnumerat or_Current, MailMessage)
End Get
End Property
Public Function MoveNext() As Boolean
m_Enumerable.Mo veNext()
End Function
Public Sub Reset()
IEnumerator_Res et()
End Sub
End Class
Public NotInheritable Class MailMessage
Private m_MessageID As String
Private m_MessageState As MessageStates
Public Sub New(ByVal MessageID As String)
m_MessageID = MessageID
m_MessageState = MessageStates.[new]
End Sub
Public ReadOnly Property MessageID() As String
Get
Return m_MessageID
End Get
End Property
Public Property MessageSate() As MessageStates
Get
Return m_MessageState
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As MessageStates)
m_MessageState = Value
End Set
End Property
End Class
End Class
Public Class POPServer
Private m_Shutdown As Boolean
Private m_LoggedInUsers As Hashtable
Private m_Sessions As Hashtable
Private m_Mailboxes As Hashtable
Private Structure SessionInfo
Dim ClientSession As POPSession
Dim UserName As String
End Structure
Public Sub New()
m_Shutdown = False
m_Sessions = New Hashtable
m_Mailboxes = New Hashtable
m_LoggedInUsers = New Hashtable
End Sub
'main loop
Sub MainLoop()
Dim poplistener As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpListener
poplistener = New
System.Net.Sock ets.TcpListener (System.Net.IPA ddress.Parse("1 27.0.0.1"), 5555)
'With a TCPLisener, wait for a new connection
poplistener.Sta rt()
Do While Not m_Shutdown
'Accept any new clients out there
Dim POPClient As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient
POPClient = poplistener.Acc eptTcpClient
'We have a connection
'Pass it on
Dim ThisSessionInfo As SessionInfo
Dim ThisSession As POPSession
Dim POPThread As System.Threadin g.Thread
Dim SessionID As String
SessionID = System.Guid.New Guid.ToString
ThisSession = New POPSession(Me, POPClient, SessionID)
With ThisSessionInfo
.ClientSession = ThisSession
End With
m_Sessions.Add( SessionID, ThisSessionInfo )
POPThread = New System.Threadin g.Thread(Addres sOf
ThisSession.Ses sionStart)
POPThread.Start ()
Loop
poplistener.Sto p()
End Sub
Public Function SessionLogin(By Val SessionID As String, ByVal UserName As
String, ByVal Password As String) As Byte()
Dim bSuccess As Boolean
'Login Validation logic here
If bSuccess Then
If Not m_LoggedInUsers .ContainsKey(Us erName.ToUpper) Then
Dim SessionMap As Hashtable
SessionMap = New Hashtable
SessionMap.Add( SessionID, SessionID)
m_LoggedInUsers .Add(UserName, SessionMap)
Else
Dim SessionMap As Hashtable
SessionMap = CType(m_LoggedI nUsers(UserName ), Hashtable)
SessionMap.Add( SessionID, SessionID)
End If
If m_Sessions.Cont ainsKey(Session ID) Then
Dim ThisSessionInfo As SessionInfo
ThisSessionInfo = CType(m_Session s.Item(SessionI D), SessionInfo)
ThisSessionInfo .UserName = UserName.ToUppe r
End If
Dim ThisMailbox As Mailbox
'Deserialize the mailbox
m_Mailboxes.Add (UserName, ThisMailbox)
End If
End Function
Public Function SessionRETR(ByV al SessionID As String, ByVal MessageID As
String) As Byte()
Dim bData() As Byte
Dim bSuccess As Boolean
'Validate our session
'Read the message into our byte array
If bSuccess Then
Dim ThisSessionInfo As SessionInfo
If m_Sessions.Cont ainsKey(Session ID) Then
ThisSessionInfo = m_Sessions.Item (SessionID)
If m_Mailboxes.Con tainsKey(ThisSe ssionInfo.UserN ame) Then
Dim ThisMailbox As Mailbox
ThisMailbox = CType(m_Mailbox es.Item(ThisSes sionInfo.UserNa me),
Mailbox)
ThisMailbox.Mes sages(MessageID ).MessageSate = MessageStates.r ead
Return bData
End If
End If
End If
End Function
Public Sub SessionLogout(B yVal SessionID As String)
Dim ThisSessionInfo As SessionInfo
'Determine if we need to close this mailbox
If m_Sessions.Cont ainsKey(Session ID) Then
ThisSessionInfo = m_Sessions.Item (SessionID)
If m_LoggedInUsers .ContainsKey(Th isSessionInfo.U serName) Then
Dim SessionMap As Hashtable
SessionMap = m_LoggedInUsers .Item(ThisSessi onInfo.UserName )
If SessionMap.Cont ainsKey(Session ID) Then
SessionMap.Remo ve(SessionMap.I tem(SessionID))
If SessionMap.Coun t = 0 Then
If m_Mailboxes.Con tainsKey(ThisSe ssionInfo.UserN ame) Then
Dim ThisMailBox As Mailbox
ThisMailBox =
CType(m_Mailbox es.Item(ThisSes sionInfo.UserNa me), Mailbox)
'Check for deleted messages
SyncLock Me
For Each mm As Mailbox.MailMes sage In ThisMailBox.Mes sages
If mm.MessageSate = MessageStates.d elete Then
'Delete the message
ThisMailBox.Mes sages.Remove(mm )
End If
Next
End SyncLock
'Serialize the mailbox back to the hard drive
End If
m_Mailboxes.Rem ove(ThisSession Info.UserName)
m_LoggedInUsers .Remove(m_Logge dInUsers.Item(T hisSessionInfo. UserName))
End If
End If
End If
End If
End Sub
End Class
Public Class POPSession
'I think I should use delegate, but I can never figure them out
'Public Delegate Function Login(ByVal SessionID As String, ByVal UserName
As String, ByVal Password As String) As Byte()
'Public Delegate Function RETR(ByVal SessionID As String, ByVal MessageID
As String) As Byte()
'Public Delegate Sub Logout(ByVal SessionID As String)
'Public DoLogin As Login
'Public DoRETR As RETR
'Public DoLogout As Logout
Private m_PopServer As POPServer
Private m_TcpClient As System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient
Private m_SessionID As String
Private m_UserName As String
Public Sub New(ByVal PopServer As POPServer, ByVal POPClient As
System.Net.Sock ets.TcpClient, ByVal SessionID As String)
m_PopServer = PopServer
m_TcpClient = POPClient
m_SessionID = SessionID
End Sub
Public Sub SessionStart()
Dim clientcommand As String
Dim commandargs() As String
'Listen for new commands
While 1 = 1
'parsing logic here
Select Case clientcommand.T oUpper
Case "PASS"
'Assuming we already had the USER command
LocalPASS(comma ndargs(0))
Case "RETR"
LocalRETR(comma ndargs(0))
Case "QUIT"
LocalLogout()
End Select
End While
End Sub
Private Sub LocalPASS(ByVal Password As String)
Dim bData As Byte()
bData = m_PopServer.Ses sionLogin(m_Ses sionID, m_UserName, Password)
sendData(bData)
End Sub
Private Sub LocalRETR(ByVal MessageID As String)
Dim bData As Byte()
bData = m_PopServer.Ses sionRETR(m_Sess ionID, MessageID)
sendData(bData)
End Sub
Private Sub LocalLogout()
m_PopServer.Ses sionLogout(m_Se ssionID)
End Sub
Private Sub sendData(ByVal DataToSend As Byte())
Dim stream As System.net.Sock ets.NetworkStre am = m_TcpClient.Get Stream()
'Log Activity here
'Send Data
stream.Write(Da taToSend, 0, DataToSend.Leng th)
End Sub
End Class
"Chad Z. Hower aka Kudzu" wrote:
"=?Utf-8?B?TWFkZXN0cm8 =?=" <me_no_like_spa m_juanDOTromero @bowneDOTcom>
wrote in news:F7******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com: I am making a small program to retrieve e-mails from POP accounts. I
got all the e-mail parsing stuff figured out, but I cannot seem to
come up with a way to find out which e-mails are NEW so I don't have
to retrieve them all. If you have experience with this kind of thing,
POP3 does not keep track of what is new or not, you have to do that. You can use the UIDL command
to do this. There is a very basic demo here of POP3 client (Does not show UIDL, but it supports
UIDL):
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/POP3Client.asp
--
Chad Z. Hower (a.k.a. Kudzu) - http://www.hower.org/Kudzu/
"Programmin g is an art form that fights back"
Get your ASP.NET in gear with IntraWeb!
http://www.atozed.com/IntraWeb/
