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IMAP and POP3 Clients in C#

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28 Sep 2012CPOL1 min read 257.1K   16.6K   48   62
IMAP & POP3 Clients C#. A library for intuitive ease of use of these two protocols.

Introduction 

Searching on the web I was never able to find a library simple and effective way to manage email client with IMAP or POP3 without having to create a good wrapper.

So I decided to make available to the wrapper that is currently used to handle these two protocols. 

Background 

This library is a library wrapper of free Limisoft library (attached in the download). Lumisoft web site

This library allows you to create a client or IMAP or POP3 is 100% compatible with servers such as:

  • Gmail
  • Windows Live

Servers Libero, AOL, Exchange, Yahoo, etc.. are still in testing and not sure the 100% working. The POP3 protocol is implemented based on RFC 1939 Link .

The IMAP protocol is implemented based on the standard Internet Message Access Protocol - Version 4 rev1 Link .

Using the code

This simple library to be able to create basic client using the two protocols used in the web: IMAP and POP3

The library exposes two interfaces: IMailClient and IMail.

C#
public interface IEmail 
{
}

public interface IEmailClient 
{ 
}

IEmail is an instance of an email message on server. IEmailClient is an instance of a POP3 or IMAP client.

To construct an instance of a client to be used the factory "EmailClientFactory" passing the method "GetClient" the type of protocol you want to use

C#
public static class EmailClientFactory
{ 
    public static IEmailClient GetClient(EmailClientEnum type)
    {
        if (type == EmailClientEnum.IMAP) return new IMAP_Wrapper();
        if (type == EmailClientEnum.POP3) return new POP3_Wrapper();
        return null;
    } 
}

The interface IMailClient allows to manage the clients in the same way.

C#
public interface IEmailClient
{
    event EmailClient_OnMessagesLoaded OnMessagesLoaded;
    bool IsConnected
    {
        get;
        set;
    }
    List<IEmail> Messages
    {
        get;
        set;
    }
    void Connect(String server, String User, String pass, int port, bool useSSl);
    void Disconnect();
    void SetCurrentFolder(String folder);
    int GetMessagesCount();
    void LoadMessages();
    void LoadMessages(String start, String end);
    void LoadRecentMessages(Int32 lastSequenceNumber);
}

Using the library

C#
IEmailClient ImapClient = EmailClientFactory.GetClient(EmailClientEnum.IMAP); 
ImapClient.Connect("imap.gmail.com", "example@gmail.com", "examplePass", 993, true);    
ImapClient.SetCurrentFolder("INBOX"); 
// I assume that 5 is the last "ID" readed by my client. 
// If I want to read all messages i use "ImapClient.LoadMessages();"
ImapClient.LoadRecentMessages(5);
// To read all my messages loaded:
for (int i = 0; i < ImapClient.Messages.Count; i++)
{
    IEmail msm = (IEmail)ImapClient.Messages[i];
    // Load all infos include attachments
    msm.LoadInfos();
    Console.Writeline(msm.Date.ToString() + " - " + msm.From[0] + " - " + 
                      msm.Subject + " - " + msm.Attachments.Count);
}

History 

27/09/2012 : First version 1.0.0.0.

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
Software Developer (Senior) D.Net Solution
Italy Italy
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.

Comments and Discussions

 
AnswerRe: Delete email Pin
D.Net Solutions13-Dec-12 23:40
D.Net Solutions13-Dec-12 23:40 
QuestionRe: Delete email Pin
levelboy11-Jul-13 1:56
levelboy11-Jul-13 1:56 
AnswerRe: Delete email Pin
Member 1103443315-Oct-14 0:26
Member 1103443315-Oct-14 0:26 
QuestionI am a newbie here and need help with this Pin
GPS Waraich13-Dec-12 2:50
GPS Waraich13-Dec-12 2:50 
AnswerRe: I am a newbie here and need help with this Pin
D.Net Solutions13-Dec-12 23:42
D.Net Solutions13-Dec-12 23:42 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
mansoor.siddique14-Nov-12 4:49
mansoor.siddique14-Nov-12 4:49 
GeneralAttachments Pin
antonio_l4-Oct-12 3:07
antonio_l4-Oct-12 3:07 
GeneralRe: Attachments Pin
D.Net Solutions4-Oct-12 21:19
D.Net Solutions4-Oct-12 21:19 
top of the page there is a link to download
GeneralRe: Attachments Pin
antonio_l5-Oct-12 0:38
antonio_l5-Oct-12 0:38 
GeneralRe: Attachments Pin
antani7430-Jul-15 3:28
antani7430-Jul-15 3:28 
QuestionProblem using this library Pin
Member 392317128-Sep-12 2:58
Member 392317128-Sep-12 2:58 
AnswerRe: Problem using this library Pin
D.Net Solutions28-Sep-12 3:04
D.Net Solutions28-Sep-12 3:04 
GeneralRe: Problem using this library Pin
Member 392317128-Sep-12 3:17
Member 392317128-Sep-12 3:17 
GeneralRe: Problem using this library Pin
D.Net Solutions28-Sep-12 3:20
D.Net Solutions28-Sep-12 3:20 
GeneralRe: Problem using this library Pin
Member 775724528-Sep-12 8:43
Member 775724528-Sep-12 8:43 
GeneralRe: Problem using this library Pin
D.Net Solutions2-Oct-12 0:38
D.Net Solutions2-Oct-12 0:38 
GeneralRe: Problem using this library Pin
Member 77572452-Oct-12 9:20
Member 77572452-Oct-12 9:20 
QuestionQuery regarding using this Code Pin
hirenel28-Sep-12 1:00
hirenel28-Sep-12 1:00 
AnswerRe: Query regarding using this Code Pin
D.Net Solutions28-Sep-12 2:10
D.Net Solutions28-Sep-12 2:10 
QuestionGreat stuff Pin
SorenDalby27-Sep-12 23:33
SorenDalby27-Sep-12 23:33 
AnswerRe: Great stuff Pin
D.Net Solutions27-Sep-12 23:43
D.Net Solutions27-Sep-12 23:43 
GeneralRe: Great stuff Pin
Member 775724528-Sep-12 8:44
Member 775724528-Sep-12 8:44 
GeneralRe: Great stuff Pin
D.Net Solutions2-Oct-12 0:42
D.Net Solutions2-Oct-12 0:42 
GeneralRe: Great stuff Pin
Member 77572452-Oct-12 9:20
Member 77572452-Oct-12 9:20 

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