The easiest way to run EXPUNGE for IMAP

Friday, January 4, 2008, 6:05 PM
Other Stuff by John (Article #164)

WARNING: This is serious Linux admin stuff. If you're just looking for CSS snippets,pass right on by this article. Don't dig into any of this unless you already know what an IMAP server really is and why any of this matters.

All that aside... SquirrelMail and IMAP aren't the happiest of friends. The particular fault is the manner in which subfolder get bloated if a webmail user only uses webmail, or use just webmail and POP3 mail from Outlook or Thunderbird. The most common problem arises when the Trash folder (not a feature that IMAP supports in its own right) get bloated. Not the hardest thing to have happen with the flood of modern spam. This becomes a real bitch because SquirrelMail isn't always able to run the IMAP EXPUNGE command, and consequently the user loses the ability to even view the Trash folder, let alone delete the contents. Depending on the version of SquirrelMail 1.x.x vs 2.x.x, the=is can be more trouble. SM1 doesn't do a very good job at all of coping with the EXPUNGE issue.

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So, the question then becomes, what is the easiest way to run EXPUNGE on a mail account?

The answer is to use Mozilla Thunderbird. While Thunderbird is an email client, it interacts the most seemlessly of any approach I have seen for dealing with IMAP.

Do the following...

FILE >> NEW >> ACCOUNT

When the new account dialog appears, make sure the radio button is highlighting EMAIL ACCOUNT then click the NEXT button.

Add all the usual information in the IDENTITY dialog. Whatever you use to log in to your SM webmail, then click the NEXT button.

The next dialog will ask you to select the type of server. Make sure you set it to IMAP and not POP. Type in your MX server address for the incoming server. Uncheck the GLOBAL INBOX. Click NEXT.

Set your incoming username in the next dialog. Keep in mind that if you need your full soandso@whatver.com email address in webmail, you will need to use the full thing here, also. Click NEXT.

You shouldn't need to change anything in the next dialog, account name, so bust out the trusty NEXT button again.

On the "Congratulations" dialog, uncheck the "Download Messages Now" box.

Now, on the left hand side your newly added account should appear with the full email address there. Right click on the email address and then click on "Properties".

In the next dialog, you will see a list of the email accounts on the left-hand side. Underneath your email account will be an item called "Server Settings". Single click on it.

On the right-hand side you will see setting for a number of things you already did.

This is where the magic gets done. At the bottom of the list is a check box for "Empty Trash on Exit". Make sure this is checked. Then click OK.

If there is a Trash icon underneath your email account on the left-hand side, single click on it. You may be prompted to enter account password. Once you do this, Thunderbird will download the entire contents of the Trash folder, and then run the EXPUNGE command on the IMAP server.

If there is not a Trash icon already under your email account, single click on the email address to highlight it. Now, go click the "GET MAIL" button at the top.

Thunderbird will acquire the info about the different folders from IMAP. Once you see the Trash icon appear and Thunderbird has stopped accessing the server, you can click on the Trash icon and it will work as described above.

Congratulations. You have just run the EXPUNGE command successfully.

Go check it in SquirrelMail.

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Welcome!

Wonder where to start with your web design business?

This blog follows along with my efforts to build and grow a website design business, Pro Content and Design.

The goal of this blog is to fill in blanks that may be empty as you get your business rolling.

This blog, particularly the source code section, is not intended for beginners. If you are not comfortable with databases, Ajax, DOM objects and other advanced methods, I strongly suggest you go take a look over at W3 Schools before even reading -- let alone tinkering with -- any of the code here.

I hope this blog has some value to web designers as they attempt to get their businesses going.

Good luck, and happy reading.

Thank you,
John Crawford
Pro Content and Design