(Classic ASP) Using IMAP IDLE to Wait for Updates

This example demonstrates how to use the IMAP IDLE functionality in Chilkat.

Chilkat ActiveX Downloads

ActiveX for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows

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<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
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<%
' For versions of Chilkat < 10.0.0, use CreateObject("Chilkat_9_5_0.Imap")
set imap = Server.CreateObject("Chilkat.Imap")

' ....
' ....
' ....

' Select an IMAP mailbox
success = imap.SelectMailbox("INBOX")
If (success <> 1) Then
    Response.Write "<pre>" & Server.HTMLEncode( imap.LastErrorText) & "</pre>"
    Response.End
End If

' After a mailbox has been selected, IDLE may begin.
' Idling tells the IMAP server to push unsolicited updates for the selected
' mailbox to the connected client (which is your application).
success = imap.IdleStart()
If (success <> 1) Then
    Response.Write "<pre>" & Server.HTMLEncode( imap.LastErrorText) & "</pre>"
    Response.End
End If

' Once idling has started, your code still has to periodically check to see
' if any updates have arrived.  However, this is significantly different
' then what normally occurs when checking email.  The IdleCheck does NOT
' send a message to the IMAP server.  It simply checks the connection to see
' if any data has arrived.  If so, it can be consumed and the client (your app)
' can react appropriately.  

' Note: It is recommended that idling only run for a max of 20 minutes before stopping and
' re-starting the IDLE.  This is to maintain a minimum low level of activity so that 
' the IMAP server does not disconnect (which it may do if it considers the connection to 
' be truly inactive, i.e. forgotten).

' To check the connection for IDLE updates, call IdleCheck.  The 1st argument indicates how
' long we're willing to wait. We'll wait 1 millisecond:

idleResultXml = imap.IdleCheck(1)
If (imap.LastMethodSuccess <> 1) Then
    Response.Write "<pre>" & Server.HTMLEncode( imap.LastErrorText) & "</pre>"
    Response.End
End If

' See the online reference documentation for details regarding the XML that is returned.
' Your application code would parse the XML to determine what action to take.
' If the XML contains "<idle></idle>", then no updates are available and your application
' would call IdleCheck again at some point in the future.

' If updates are available, the IDLE must be terminated by calling IdleDone, like this:
success = imap.IdleDone()
If (success <> 1) Then
    Response.Write "<pre>" & Server.HTMLEncode( imap.LastErrorText) & "</pre>"
    Response.End
End If

' Once the IDLE is terminated, your application can make calls to fetch email, etc.
' Any attempt to communicate with the IMAP server prior to terminating the IDLE will
' result in failure.

' IMPORTANT: Please realize that your application code will be structured differently than shown here.
' The call to IdleCheck will likely be in a function/procedure that is periodically called
' after the IdleStart has been called from some other location in your app

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