Chilkat2-Python

Check the Number of Messages in a POP3 Mailbox

Demonstrates the Chilkat MailMan.CheckMail method, which returns the number of messages currently available in the POP3 mailbox, or -1 if an error occurs. If no POP3 session is active, Chilkat connects and authenticates automatically using the configured settings. This example configures the POP3 connection and checks the message count.

Background: POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) is the classic protocol for downloading mail from a server to a client. A client connects, authenticates with a username and password, and can then list, retrieve, or delete messages. Modern connections use implicit TLS on port 995 (PopSsl = true). CheckMail is a quick way to ask "how many messages are waiting?" without downloading any of them.

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Chilkat2-Python

import chilkat2

# Demonstrates the MailMan.CheckMail method, which returns the number of messages currently
# available in the POP3 mailbox (or -1 if an error occurs).  If no POP3 session is active,
# Chilkat connects and authenticates automatically using the configured settings.

mailman = chilkat2.MailMan()

# Configure the POP3 server connection.
mailman.MailHost = "pop.example.com"
mailman.MailPort = 995
mailman.PopSsl = True
mailman.PopUsername = "user@example.com"
mailman.PopPassword = "myPassword"

# Check the mailbox.  A return value of -1 indicates an error.
numMessages = mailman.CheckMail()
print("Number of messages in the mailbox: " + str(numMessages))

# Note: Explicitly connecting/authenticating is optional.  Chilkat MailMan automatically
# connects and authenticates -- using the property settings above -- whenever a server
# operation requires it.  Calling the explicit connect/authenticate methods can still be
# helpful to determine whether a failure occurs while connecting or while authenticating.