Pascal (Lazarus/Delphi)

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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Pascal (Lazarus/Delphi)

program ChilkatDemo;

// Demonstrates using the Chilkat Pascal wrapper via the C bridge DLL.
// Builds as a console application under Lazarus (FPC) or Delphi.

{$IFDEF FPC}
  {$MODE DELPHI}
{$ENDIF}
{$APPTYPE CONSOLE}

uses
  {$IFDEF UNIX}
  cthreads,
  {$ENDIF}
  SysUtils,
  CkDllLoader,
  Chilkat.Imap;

// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

procedure RunDemo;
var
  success: Boolean;
  imap: TImap;

begin
  success := False;

  //  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.

  imap := TImap.Create;

  imap.Ssl := True;
  imap.Port := 993;

  success := imap.Connect('imap.example.com');
  if (success = False) then
    begin
      WriteLn(imap.LastErrorText);
      Exit;
    end;
  success := imap.Login('user@example.com','myPassword');
  if (success = False) then
    begin
      WriteLn(imap.LastErrorText);
      Exit;
    end;

  success := imap.SelectMailbox('Inbox');
  if (success = False) then
    begin
      WriteLn(imap.LastErrorText);
      Exit;
    end;

  //  Enter IDLE mode to monitor the mailbox for changes (new mail, deletions, flag changes).
  success := imap.IdleStart();
  if (success = False) then
    begin
      WriteLn(imap.LastErrorText);
      Exit;
    end;
  WriteLn('IDLE mode started.');

  //  While IDLE is active, no other IMAP command may be sent.  End IDLE before doing more work.
  success := imap.IdleDone();
  if (success = False) then
    begin
      WriteLn(imap.LastErrorText);
      Exit;
    end;

  success := imap.Disconnect();
  if (success = False) then
    begin
      WriteLn(imap.LastErrorText);
      Exit;
    end;


  imap.Free;

end;

// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

begin

  try
    RunDemo;
  except
    on E: Exception do
      WriteLn('Unhandled exception: ', E.ClassName, ': ', E.Message);
  end;

  WriteLn;
  {$IFDEF MSWINDOWS}
  WriteLn('Press Enter to exit...');
  ReadLn;
  {$ENDIF}
end.