Visual FoxPro

Start IMAP IDLE to Monitor a Mailbox

Demonstrates the Chilkat Imap.IdleStart method, which sends the IMAP IDLE command to begin listening for unsolicited mailbox updates. It takes no arguments. A mailbox must first be selected, and the server must advertise the IDLE capability.

Background: IDLE is IMAP's push mechanism: instead of polling for new mail, the client tells the server "notify me when something changes," and the server pushes updates as they happen. This is what enables near-instant new-mail alerts. While IDLE is active, no other IMAP command may be sent on that connection — call IdleDone to leave IDLE before issuing other commands.

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LOCAL lnSuccess
LOCAL loImap

lnSuccess = 0

*  Demonstrates the Imap.IdleStart method, which sends the IMAP IDLE command to begin listening
*  for unsolicited mailbox updates.  It takes no arguments.  A mailbox must be selected and the
*  server must advertise the IDLE capability.

loImap = CreateObject('Chilkat.Imap')

loImap.Ssl = 1
loImap.Port = 993

lnSuccess = loImap.Connect("imap.example.com")
IF (lnSuccess = 0) THEN
    ? loImap.LastErrorText
    RELEASE loImap
    CANCEL
ENDIF

lnSuccess = loImap.Login("user@example.com","myPassword")
IF (lnSuccess = 0) THEN
    ? loImap.LastErrorText
    RELEASE loImap
    CANCEL
ENDIF

lnSuccess = loImap.SelectMailbox("Inbox")
IF (lnSuccess = 0) THEN
    ? loImap.LastErrorText
    RELEASE loImap
    CANCEL
ENDIF

*  Enter IDLE mode to monitor the mailbox for changes (new mail, deletions, flag changes).
lnSuccess = loImap.IdleStart()
IF (lnSuccess = 0) THEN
    ? loImap.LastErrorText
    RELEASE loImap
    CANCEL
ENDIF

? "IDLE mode started."

*  While IDLE is active, no other IMAP command may be sent.  End IDLE before doing more work.
lnSuccess = loImap.IdleDone()
IF (lnSuccess = 0) THEN
    ? loImap.LastErrorText
    RELEASE loImap
    CANCEL
ENDIF

lnSuccess = loImap.Disconnect()
IF (lnSuccess = 0) THEN
    ? loImap.LastErrorText
    RELEASE loImap
    CANCEL
ENDIF

RELEASE loImap