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General discussion

Scripting or coding for Netscape Mail

Dec 2, 2007 11:41PM PST

Hi,
I was wondering what scripting language is available to access Netscape Mail resources.
Basically, I want to be able to run the script which would compress all the Netscape Mail folders and output the mail and address list to an Outlook 2003 pst file.
If there isn't a scripting language available, does anyone know what the general process is for parsing the Netscape mail and address files (if I were to use Java or C++)?
Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Frankly?
Dec 3, 2007 12:07AM PST

Just export it all and then either import it all or use the exported files to create your import file.

As to some of your questions, you should research this on google.com and of course KRUGLE.COM

Bob

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?
Dec 3, 2007 3:25AM PST

Thanks for the reply.
I don't quite get what you mean by 'export it all'. I'm trying to compact all the local folders and then export them to pst. For the export part I'm pretty sure I would first need to parse the mboxrd file that Netscape Mail uses and them somehow write that info to a new Outlook pst. I could probably figure out the export part, however the folder compaction part is where I would really need assistance.

Thanks.

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Defining goals rather than steps.
Dec 3, 2007 4:00AM PST

Your goal is set as getting the content to PST or rather Outlook. Why define the steps? Or rather why would I bother to compress at all?

Bob

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Time and Space
Dec 3, 2007 9:05AM PST

Well, compacting the Netscape Mail folders gets rid of the items that were marked for deletion. If I don't do that, I end up with a whole lot of extra mail that isn't required and that will take up unnecessary space and time (to transfer).

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Just so you know.
Dec 3, 2007 12:18PM PST
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Standard compacting not the issue
Dec 3, 2007 6:43PM PST

Well,
The problem isn't compacting the Netscape folders...it's how to do it via a script. I've already been doing it manually.
I wanted to write a script that could run the compacting process and export the data to an Outlook pst all in one go.

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Why not ...
Dec 3, 2007 6:45PM PST

skip deleted messages in the script that copies the messages?

Kees

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Good Idea
Dec 3, 2007 10:08PM PST

That's a pretty good idea, didn't even think of that.
However, the only issue that arises with this approach is that we would need to know the method Netscape uses to mark messages as deleted.

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Like you will have to know ...
Dec 3, 2007 10:12PM PST

the method that Netscape uses to register senders, receivers, times received, subject line, contents, attachments. Seems like just one more attribute

Kees

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I suppose
Dec 3, 2007 11:05PM PST

I suppose that's true. Finding information on this is proving to be pretty hard. I found some old source code for Netscape Messenger and found the developer forum at Mozilla.org and MozDev.org, maybe these will help.
Thanks.