Deleting not all, but X number of messages

[etweek]

Hello,

I'd like to use imap-backup as a tool not just to back up my emails, but also keep some of the old ones in check, so having the ability to leave messages on server if, for example:

• They're within 2 years from today
• They're in the first 500 emails
• They're in the first 1GB

I think this would predicate on the tool being able to scan through in order... If it's out of scope, is there another tool that can do this for me?

thanks!

[joeyates]

Hi @etweek

I think that this is not a functionality that is in scope for imap-backup itself. When modifying what's on the server, it only does so as a restore/mirror, and is very careful not to delete stuff it hasn't created.

This could certainly be done by using imap-backup as a library:

1. Load an account and log in (Imap::Backup::Configuration.new then select from accounts),
2. List folders, then folder messages (and reverse them),
3. Run through the emails filtering for the required conditions (i.e. > 2 years old),
4. Call Imap::Backup::Account.delete_multi on the unwanted emails.

There is a script (contrib/extract-email) that might be used as a guide.