[GH-ISSUE #171] Vey low priority idea: batch import of mailing list archives #140

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opened 2026-02-25 21:34:15 +03:00 by kerem · 1 comment

kerem commented

2026-02-25 21:34:15 +03:00

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Originally created by @dumblob on GitHub (Mar 8, 2017).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/cypht-org/cypht/issues/171

Originally assigned to: @jasonmunro on GitHub.

Maling lists have wildly different cultures. Some have messages in archives, which are mostly valid for few hours, but some lists have mostly messages which are valid for several years. For the second type of mailing lists it would be really handy if there was any possibility to import historical messages from corresponding archives (e.g. by uploading a gzip as produced by mailman - see the rightmost column on http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/pipermail/arm-netbook/ for instance).

Not sure though whether IMAP supports this (just to "store" old messages without changing dates in their bodies). Anyone any insights or comments on this?

Originally created by @dumblob on GitHub (Mar 8, 2017). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/cypht-org/cypht/issues/171 Originally assigned to: @jasonmunro on GitHub. Maling lists have wildly different cultures. Some have messages in archives, which are mostly valid for few hours, but some lists have mostly messages which are valid for several years. For the second type of mailing lists it would be really handy if there was any possibility to import historical messages from corresponding archives (e.g. by uploading a gzip as produced by mailman - see the rightmost column on http://lists.phcomp.co.uk/pipermail/arm-netbook/ for instance). Not sure though whether IMAP supports this (just to "store" old messages without changing dates in their bodies). Anyone any insights or comments on this?

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2026-02-25 21:34:15 +03:00

kerem commented

2026-02-25 21:34:16 +03:00

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@jasonmunro commented on GitHub (Mar 8, 2017):

It's possible to store a message without altering it (IMAP APPEND), however, while the header dates won't change, there is an "internal date" or "arrival date" that the IMAP server controls which will correspond to the date the message was imported.

I took a look at one of the archive files, looks like a standard MBOX files format. We could build an imap_import plugin that takes 1 or more of these, and appends them to the selected folder.

@jasonmunro commented on GitHub (Mar 8, 2017): It's possible to store a message without altering it (IMAP APPEND), however, while the header dates won't change, there is an "internal date" or "arrival date" that the IMAP server controls which will correspond to the date the message was imported. I took a look at one of the archive files, looks like a standard MBOX files format. We could build an imap_import plugin that takes 1 or more of these, and appends them to the selected folder.