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CkPython

IMAP Delete Old Email (before a specified date)

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Demonstrates how to delete email older than a particular date.

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CkPython
import sys
import chilkat

success = False

# This example assumes the Chilkat API to have been previously unlocked.
# See Global Unlock Sample for sample code.

imap = chilkat.CkImap()

# Connect to an IMAP server.
# Use TLS
imap.put_Ssl(True)
imap.put_Port(993)
# Use your IMAP server domain.  This example 
success = imap.Connect("imap.example.com")
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

# Login
success = imap.Login("myLogin","myPassword")
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

# Select an IMAP mailbox
success = imap.SelectMailbox("Inbox")
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

# Get message ID's for emails older than 1/1/2025
fetchUids = True
messageSet = chilkat.CkMessageSet()
success = imap.QueryMbx("SENTBEFORE 01-Jan-2025",fetchUids,messageSet)
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

# If desired, we can examine the Subject of each email to be deleted..
email = chilkat.CkEmail()
i = 0
count = messageSet.get_Count()
headerOnly = True

while i < count :
    success = imap.FetchEmail(headerOnly,messageSet.GetId(i),True,email)
    if (success == False):
        print(imap.lastErrorText())
        sys.exit()

    print(email.localDateStr())
    print(email.subject())

    i = i + 1

# Set the Deleted flag for each message:
success = imap.SetFlags(messageSet,"Deleted",1)
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

# Expunge and close the mailbox.
success = imap.ExpungeAndClose()
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

# Disconnect from the IMAP server.
success = imap.Disconnect()