CkPython

IMAP Find Emails by Date

See more IMAP Examples

Explains how to find emails by date using the IMAP protocol. CkPython

import sys
import chilkat

success = False

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

imap = chilkat.CkImap()

# Connect to an IMAP server.
imap.put_Ssl(True)
imap.put_Port(993)
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()

# In the IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) protocol, criteria strings are used to search for emails matching specific criteria on the mail server. 
# When searching for emails by date, you can use criteria strings to specify the date range you're interested in.
# 
# IMAP provides several options for searching emails by date using criteria strings. Here are the commonly used ones:
# 
# 1. BEFORE: Searches for emails sent before a specific date.
#    Example: BEFORE 01-Apr-2022
# 
# 2. ON: Searches for emails sent on a specific date.
#    Example: ON 01-Apr-2022
# 
# 3. SINCE: Searches for emails sent after a specific date.
#    Example: SINCE 01-Apr-2022
# 
# 4. SENTBEFORE: Searches for emails whose date header (sent date) is before a specific date.
#    Example: SENTBEFORE 01-Apr-2022
# 
# 5. SENTON: Searches for emails whose date header (sent date) is on a specific date.
#    Example: SENTON 01-Apr-2022
# 
# 6. SENTSINCE: Searches for emails whose date header (sent date) is after a specific date.
#    Example: SENTSINCE 01-Apr-2022
# 

# 
# The date format used in IMAP criteria strings is typically a specific format like "DD-Mon-YYYY" (e.g., "01-Apr-2022"), but some servers may also accept other formats 
# such as "YYYY-MM-DD". It's essential to check the documentation or specifications of the IMAP server you're working with to ensure compatibility with the 
# date format you're using.
# 
# By combining these date criteria strings with other search criteria (such as sender, recipient, subject, etc.), 
# you can effectively filter and retrieve emails based on various conditions.
# 

# Search for messages on a specific date.
# The date string is DD-Month-YYYY where Month is
# Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, or Dec.
onDate = "SENTON 15-Apr-2024"

# Search for messages between two dates.  SENTBEFORE
# finds emails sent before a date, and SENTSINCE finds
# email sent on or after a date.  The "AND" operation
# is implied by joining criteria, separated by spaces.
betweenDates = "SENTSINCE 12-Apr-2024 SENTBEFORE 15-Apr-2024"

# We can choose to fetch UIDs or sequence numbers.
fetchUids = True

messageSet = chilkat.CkMessageSet()
success = imap.QueryMbx(betweenDates,fetchUids,messageSet)
if (success == False):
    print(imap.lastErrorText())
    sys.exit()

print(messageSet.toCompactString())

# Download each email in the message set.
email = chilkat.CkEmail()
messageCount = messageSet.get_Count()
i = 0
while i < messageCount :
    success = imap.FetchEmail(False,messageSet.GetId(i),fetchUids,email)
    if (success == False):
        print(imap.lastErrorText())
        sys.exit()

    print(email.subject())
    # ...

    i = i + 1

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