IMAP FAQ for Macintosh

Important Information and Resources

• Important information on Esoteric Settings and IMAP

• IMAP Settings

Mailboxes

• Transferring Messages

• Remote Mailboxes

• Eudora does not recognize my UNIX server INBOX

• Emptying Trash

• Server Side Trash Mailbox

• Deleting Messages

• Deleting Mailboxes

• Viewing Mailboxes and Folders not created in Eudora

• IMAP Attachments

• Archiving IMAP messages

Connectivity

• IMAP and PPP Connections

• IMAP and Kerberos V4 Authentication

• How to configure Eudora 5.0 to authenticate using Kerberos V$

• Sample Kerberos login

Known Issues with 5

• Losing Track of the IMAP Cache

• Error -43's and corrupt mailboxes

• New Mail Alerts

• Attachment Encoding in the Body of Received Messages

• IMAP Filtering Performance

• Viewing Extremely Large Messages

Esoteric Settings

To properly set hidden IMAP settings, it is imperative that the proper

version of Esoteric Settings is installed. To be sure you have the latest version installed, move the Esoteric Settings plugin (currently at 5.0) from the Extra Plugins folder to your Eudora Stuff folder. Remove all older versions of this plugin from your system as well.

Recommended IMAP Settings

By far the most efficient use of IMAP is to "Download Minimal Headers Only" when resyncing a mailbox.

Mac Eudora does provide a method to fetch messages and attachments (up to a certain size as well) during a resync for people that want to sync up and disconnect from the network for a while. For peak performance, we recommend this method be avoided.

Transferring Messages

Transferring messages when an IMAP personality is present may require a network connection. Also, some transfers take more time than you’d expect:

• POP->POP: Fast, local, no connection needed.

• IMAP->POP: Transfers are slower. The IMAP message is fully fetched, as well as attachments, and then is copied to a POP mailbox. This happens in the foreground, and the user is unable to do anything while the transfer is taking place. In future versions, this will be a threaded operation.

• IMAP->IMAP: On the same server, transfers are fast, depending on the server and connectivity rate. Commands are sent to move messages on the IMAP server. Nothing will be downloaded.

• IMAP->IMAP: On different servers are slow. Messages are piped between IMAP servers. Depending on the connection, this operation can be slow.

• POP->IMAP: Eudora prepares the messages to be transferred in the foreground, then sends them all in the background. These transfers will take some time as well, but at least you can still use Eudora while it’s happening.

IMAP and Remote Mailboxes

If the user has many (hundreds) of mailboxes on his IMAP server, refreshing the mailbox list could take several minutes. The mailbox list is refreshed when mailboxes are moved, or a mailbox with children is deleted - these operations can also take a long time.

Mailboxes can be added, renamed, and deleted (if empty) in short order.

Eudora does not Recognize my UNIX INBOX

Problem:

I've entered a location prefix for my IMAP personality because my IMAP mailboxes are inside a UNIX directory. After I click on the Refresh button in the mailboxes window, I can see all of my mailboxes except for my Inbox.

Solution:

Copy and paste the following into any new message and double click it (it will highlight as a URL). See the X-Eudora-Settings FAQ for more information.

<x-eudora-setting:12301=INBOX>

Eudora will look for INBOX instead of Inbox.

Emptying the IMAP Trash

By default, Eudora stores deleted IMAP messages in a trash mailbox on each IMAP server you're connected to. You can empty the IMAP trash mailbox in several ways:

By choosing Empty Trash from the Special menu. This empties your local (POP) Trash

mailbox along with any remote (IMAP) Trash mailbox for any IMAP server you've

connected to recently.

By pressing the Option key and choosing Empty All Trash Mailboxes from the Special menu. This empties both the local (POP) Trash mailbox and all IMAP Trash mailboxes you have created on the IMAP servers for your IMAP accounts.

By opening an IMAP mailbox, pressing the Shift key, and choosing Empty Trash on Current Server. This empties the trash mailbox belonging to the same server as the IMAP mailbox you opened.

By selecting an IMAP personality in the Personalities window, and choosing "Empty Trash for Selected Personalities" from the Special menu.

Also note that you can permanently remove individual messages from the IMAP Trash mailbox by selecting the messages to be removed, and selecting Nuke from the message menu (hold down shift+option to see the "Nuke" command). These messages will be erased, and can't be recovered.

Trash Mailbox

Mac Eudora defaults to using a trash mailbox on the IMAP server. This can cause problems if the user has read-only permissions on the server, or can't create IMAP mailboxes for other reasons. Typically the user will see errors about "Could not locate trash mailbox on the server" and similar.

The solution is to turn off "Use a trash mailbox on the server" in the Personality Extras settings panel for that IMAP personality.

Mac Eudora and Deleting messages

The user may choose to turn off "Use a Trash mailbox on the IMAP server" for compatibility or performance reasons. When switching to standard IMAP trash mode, messages that are deleted or transferred are flagged as deleted. Deleted messages can be removed from a mailbox by selecting option+Empty Trash (Remove Deleted Messages) from the special menu. You can click on the compact button of an IMAP mailbox at any time to remove deleted messages, whether you're using an IMAP trash mailbox or not.

Deleting IMAP Mailboxes

Before Mac Eudora deletes an IMAP mailbox, we make sure the mailbox is empty. If not, we warn the user. Eudora 4.2 issues an EXAMINE command to open the mailbox quickly to check if it's empty. Some servers don't allow a DELETE to be issued after an EXAMINE command.

Eudora 4.2 users on affected servers experience errors deleting mailboxes. A setting in Esoteric Settings 4.2:IMAP will stop Eudora from doing the initial EXAMINE command, and the delete should proceed without incident.

This issue has been addressed in 4.3 and beyond, and is no longer a problem

Folders/mailboxes created with other email clients

If you've created a new folder with a different IMAP client, and can see and access this folder with other IMAP clients but not Eudora, the solution is to 'Refresh Mailbox List' by clicking on the 'Refresh' button in the mailboxes window. The new mailboxes will then be recognized by Eudora.

Eudora 4.3 and IMAP attachments

In short, IMAP attachments always end up in the Attachments folder, along with all other POP attachments.

When you fully download an IMAP message with all of its attachments via the "Fetch Attachments" command in the server options menu, via a resync with the "Fetch attachments with message" setting enabled, or by opening an IMAP message with the "Fetch Everything on Message Open" (IMAP panel, Esoteric Settings 4.3) set, the attachments are fetched and placed into your standard Attachments directory.

If you've partially downloaded an IMAP message with attachments, you'll see the attachments at the end of the message with small down arrows next to them. While the message itself has been fetched, the attachments themselves have not, and remain on the server. Eudora places a "stub file" inside the "IMAP" folder in your settings folder to keep track of this remote attachment. The stub file is completely useless if moved or opened, it's something only Eudora can make sense of, and is hidden from the user. Once you click on the attachment, or choose "Fetch Attachments" from the server options menu, the attachment is downloaded and saved into your standard Attachments directory.

When working with IMAP messages in IMAP mailboxes, note that the attachments are treated as cache items as long as they have not been moved by the user. That is, if you delete an IMAP message (either via the Delete command or transferring the message to another folder when Fancy Trash Mode is enabled, or when the message is removed during a resync), the attachments are also deleted if they have not been moved. Fancy Trash Mode can be turned on from the Personality Extras settings screen, "Use a trash mailbox on the IMAP server". This setting is on by default.

When deleting IMAP messages, the attachments are also deleted as long as they are still in the Attachments folder, and Settings:Attachments:Trash Attachments With Messages is checked. Another note on stub files: When the user specifies an Attachment folder on a different volume than the Eudora Setting file, IMAP attachment stubs are saved within a folder named "IMAP Attachment Stubs" inside the user-specified attachment folder. These are intended to be hidden from the user, and should not be moved or deleted.

Archiving IMAP Messages Locally

If you would like to archive IMAP mail on the server, there are two ways to do it.

• Create a filter with a "copy to" action that copies all email downloaded to a local mailbox

• Select all messages you'd like to archive, hold down option on your keyboard, transfer to a local mailbox

IMAP and PPP Connections

Many IMAP operations require a network connection. In particular, you must have a network connection when doing the following actions within Eudora:

• Transferring an IMAP message

• Deleting/marking as deleted

• Opening an IMAP mailbox

• Creating an IMAP mailbox

• Deleting an IMAP mailbox

• Renaming an IMAP mailbox

• Moving an IMAP mailbox

The following actions may require an internet connection (i.e., if the message(s) are not fully fetched):

• Filtering

• Replying to an IMAP message

• Redirecting an IMAP message

• Forwarding an IMAP message

• Opening an IMAP message

• Previewing an IMAP message

• Searching an IMAP mailbox

• Printing

• Save-as

Any of these operations may require Eudora be connected to your IMAP server. If needed, and you're on a dialup link, Eudora will dial the phone.

If you're using OT/PPP, and have Eudora configured to hang up the phone after a mailcheck, it will not do so immediately after an IMAP operation completes. Instead, the PPP connection is kept open until after an idle period where no other IMAP operations are performed.

How long Eudora waits to hang up the phone can be configured in the IMAP settings panel (available when the latest version of Esoteric Settings is installed).

Kerberos V4 Authentication for IMAP Logins

Mac Eudora 4.3 supports K_V4 authentication for IMAP logins. This requires KClient 2.0 from MIT. Follow the link for "Getting Kerberos from MIT". Once you complete the Kerberos Distribution Authorization Form, look for MIT Kerberos for Macintosh 2.0. This download will include KClient 1.9 or later for Kerberos V_4.

NOTE: If an older version of KClient is installed, POP K_V4 authentication will work. A "Can not communicate with Kerberos -43" error may be displayed when you attempt to log into a K_V4 server.

Eudora can bypass Kerberos authentication and do a cleartext password. Install Esoteric Settings 4.3. Restart Eudora and go to Special:Settings:IMAP, select the personality that is connecting to a kerberized IMAP server. Check "Authenticate with cleartext passwords only". Eudora will send the login and password in cleartext and you should be able to log in.

How to Configure Mac 4.3 to do IMAP Kerberos Logins

The simple answer is you don't need to do anything special.

Configure Macintosh Eudora the same way you configure any other IMAP account. Macintosh Eudora will authenticate using Kerberos based on the CAPABILITY response from the server.

Sample Kerberos Login

If you are having difficulty establishing a Kerberos connection via IMAP, we recommend capturing a log of the IMAP session and comparing to the sample Kerberos login below. Most issues cannot be resolved by Eudora Technical Support. You should contact your email administrator to resolve any issues that may arise.

To log your IMAP session, install Esoteric Settings. Once installed, follow these instructions:

1. Go to Settings and find the "Logging" screen. Check the "All Bytes Transferred" box.

2. Check your IMAP mail.

3. Go back to Settings and turn off "All Bytes Transferred".

4. Open the "Eudora Log" file created in the folder where your Eudora Settings file resides. By default, Eudora Settings reside in the System Folder:Eudora Folder of the active startup volume.

Compare your log session with the successful Kerberos login session below, broken down line-by-line.

1. Thu Oct 14 14:45:37 1999

2. Version 4.2.1.1 (Alpha)

3. 213 64:0.0 Rcvd: "* OK cartman.qualcomm.com Cyrus IMAP4 v1.5.14 server ready\r\n"

4. 213 32:0.2 Sent: "00000 CAPABILITY\r\n"

5. 213 64:0.2 Rcvd: "* CAPABILITY IMAP4 IMAP4rev1 ACL QUOTA LITERAL+ NAMESPACE UIDPLUS X-NON-HIERARCHICAL-RENAME NO_ATOMIC_RENAME AUTH=KERBEROS_V4 UNSELECT\r\n"

6. 213 64:0.2 Rcvd: "00000 OK Completed\r\n"

7. 213 32:0.2 Sent: "00001 AUTHENTICATE KERBEROS_V4\r\n"

8. 213 64:0.9 Rcvd: "+ OAYkiQ==\r\n"

9. 213 32:0.9 Sent: "BAcBQlJPV04uRURVADggS+Y4wJ4qIx+fgSiX0nu7izYFtOujxRXuUoDhGyOk61sGyhM82 ol/J3Dup8IMEO74rqSDYVDa/Ikr5UT8V2dIABXaqAVC35gDf0QiC1oGrcWfuOVNxt8k9Q= =\r\n"

10. 213 64:0.9 Rcvd: "+ BXHerGTzIDQ=\r\n"

11. 213 32:0.9 Sent: "ZvmEGVeSBOTkUfBzbMU5+gJjmGrV4my8\r\n"

12. 213 64:0.9 Rcvd: "00001 OK User logged in (no protection)\r\n"

Lines 1 and 2: Handshake.

Line 3: Received response from the server letting Eudora know a connection has been established.

Line 4: Eudora sending the CAPABILITY command to see what authentication services the server supports.

Line 5: Received response from the server telling Eudora what types of authentication methods it supports.

NOTE: If the server does not return 'AUTH=KERBEROS_V4', the server is not accepting Kerberos connections. Contact your email administrator.

Line 6: Received response from the server telling Eudora it has completed sending the list of supported authentication methods.

Line 7: Eudora sending AUTHENTICATE KERBEROS_V4.

NOTE: If you do not see the command 'AUTHENTICATE KERBEROS_V4' following the 'OK Completed' command, the KClient software is not installed properly on your machine. Contact your email administrator or help desk for assistance.

Line 8: Server response requesting your Kerberos ticket.

Line 9: Eudora responding with your Kerberos ticket.

Lines 10 and 11: Ticket authentication. Read RFC 1731 for specific information.

Line 12: Server responding to successful login.

Losing Track of the IMAP Cache

Eudora 4.2.1 was susceptible to losing the IMAP Cache. If you are running Eudora Pro 4.2.1, we urge you to update to the latest version.

Error -43's and corrupted IMAP mailboxes

If you are experiencing problems with the local IMAP cache (-43 errors, corrupted IMAP mailboxes, etc), nuking the IMAP cache may be in order. Bring the personality up in the Personality Extras settings panel under Special/Settings.... Switch the personality to POP. The cache is zapped. Switch back to IMAP. Check mail or refresh the mailbox list, and all should be well.

Note: By deleting the IMAP cache, the following changes will be lost:

• Labels

• Subject Changes

• Pencil Edits

• Date changes resulting from these edits

Also, all messages will be refetched.

Mail Alerts and 4.3

The New Mail Alert and No New Mail alert will NOT display if one or more personalities set to check mail are set to skip Incoming filters. That is, if you uncheck "Run incoming filters" for one personality, and this personality is involved in the mailcheck, no mail alerts will be displayed.

Missing Attachments and Encoding in the Body of your Message

If you come across a message that's not properly downloaded (ie, it’s missing attachments, attachments show up encoded in the message, etc), it may be possible to refetch the message. Select the message in the mailbox, and choose “Remove Cached Contents” from the Message:Change:Server Options menu. With the message still selected, chose “Fetch Attachments” from the same menu. The message will be fetched in one big chunk from the IMAP server, which may help work around client and server bugs.

If this happens frequently, install the Esoteric Settings plugin. Find the IMAP panel in the settings screen, and check the “Download Everything on Message Open” option. All messages will be fetched like this with one command when you open them from this point on.

IMAP Filtering Performance

Eudora fetches the headers for each message that it needs to filter, and tries to filter from that information only. This is relatively fast.

If the user has a filter set to match the <<Body>> of a message, then Eudora will execute a SEARCH command on the IMAP server to filter the message. This could take a very long time.

If the user has specified a local mailbox, or a mailbox on a different IMAP server, as a transfer location (including the Trash mailbox), the message will be transferred during the filtering process. This can take a long time, as the message must be downloaded in full.

For best results, we recommend:

• Avoid <<Body>> filter matching when possible

• Use <<Personality>> filter matches

• Make sure messages aren't transferred between servers or to a local POP mailbox when unnecessary

• Reduce number of filters

IMAP and Extremely Large Messages

The POP code in Eudora splits very big messages in smaller, manageable chunks when they are received. This allows Eudora to read 5 MB text messages when only 2MB is available - the user just has to open multiple pieces of the same message.

Messages are split into <x-eudora-setting:6408> chunks if they are over <x-eudora-setting:7619> bytes in size.

If an IMAP message is over the default 250K split size, it will be split when it's downloaded from the IMAP server. Only the last part of the message will be available.

To read IMAP messages over <x-eudora-setting:7619> bytes, set that setting to something large (like 1 MB or so). Messages should then be fetched and displayed properly.

Please see our X-Eudora-Settings FAQ for additional information on the X-Eudora-Settings feature.

Note: You may have to increase Eudora's memory allocation to read very large messages.

KEYWORDS: EPMAC, IMAP