Convert Maildir to Mbox

Convert Maildir to mbox

If you have access to both servers via imap (or can temporarily arrange it), you might want to consider using an imapsync tool, eg:

http://freshmeat.net/projects/imapsync/

If that won't work, you should be able to ignore the dovecot files, but beware that you'll likely lose information like which messages are read and any flags set on the messages. (The imapsync method would preserve all those things.)

Convert simple emaildump to maildir or mbox format

One solution is to use csplit

Example:

csplit -z -k mail_export_file "/Mimeole/" {*}

The "Mimeole" part should ideally be expanded, but I suck at regex so I leave that as an exercise for the reader.

mime extracted emails back to mbox format

Originally I was writing \n\nFrom me...\n" To ensure the required blank line in front of each From... I think the initial blank line is what Dovecot was unhappy with.

I rewrote it so as the original parsing script was breaking the message attachments out, I added the 2 lines below (before and after the line that was writing the individual messages). So now it did not start off with a blank line.

print OUT "From me\@myserver.com  Fri Sep  1 15:18:53 2017\n";
$ent->bodyhandle->print(\*OUT);
print OUT "\n\n";

OUT is the resulting mbx file. Since the original messages had the content-length header, at least Dovecot and Outlook are happy with the resulting format. So I'm good now I think.

migrate from Thunderbird to Maildir

Don't care for Thunderbird and its data structures.

Just configure and set up the IMAP server in Thunderbird, then move all local folders/mails to the IMAP server (by drag'n'drop).

The IMAP server will take care for its own data structures - which will be maildir in your case if you configured it that way.

Python mailbox encoding errors

Note

@Jimmy2Times could be very True in saying that this module may not be updated for 3.0.
This is not an answer particularly rather a probable explanation of what is going on, why, how to reproduce it, other people can benefit from this. I am trying further to complete this answer.

I have put up whatever I could find as Edit below

=====

I think this is what is happening

Among many other characters in your data, you have the two chars - \x9d and \xe5 and these are encoded in some encoding format say iso-8859-1.

when Python 3.0 finds the encoded string it first tries to guess the encoding of the string and then decode it into unicode using the guessed encoding (the way it keeps encoded unicode strings - Link).

I think its the guessing part is where it is going wrong.

To show what's most likely going on -

Let's say the encoding was iso-8859-1 and the wrong guess was cp1252 (as from the first traceback).

The decode for \x9d fails.

In [290]: unicode(u'\x9d'.encode('iso-8859-1'), 'cp1252')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<type 'exceptions.UnicodeDecodeError'>    Traceback (most recent call last)

/home/jv/<ipython console> in <module>()

/usr/lib/python2.5/encodings/cp1252.py in decode(self, input, errors)
     13 
     14     def decode(self,input,errors='strict'):
---> 15         return codecs.charmap_decode(input,errors,decoding_table)
     16 
     17 class IncrementalEncoder(codecs.IncrementalEncoder):

<type 'exceptions.UnicodeDecodeError'>: 'charmap' codec can't decode byte 0x9d in position 0: character maps to <undefined>

The decode for \xe5 passes but then, when the message is retrieved from Python somewhere it is trying to encode it in ascii which fails

In [291]: unicode(u'\xe5'.encode('iso-8859-1'), 'cp1252').encode('ascii')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<type 'exceptions.UnicodeEncodeError'>    Traceback (most recent call last)

/home/jv/<ipython console> in <module>()

<type 'exceptions.UnicodeEncodeError'>: 'ascii' codec can't encode character u'\xe5' in position 0: ordinal not in range(128)

============

EDIT:

Both your problems are in line #2. Where it first decodes into unicode and then encodes into ascii

First do easy_install chardet

The decode error:

In [75]: decd=open('jalf_decode_err','r').read()

In [76]: chardet.detect(decd)
Out[76]: {'confidence': 0.98999999999999999, 'encoding': 'utf-8'}
##this is what is tried at the back - my guess :)
In [77]: unicode(decd, 'cp1252') 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<type 'exceptions.UnicodeDecodeError'>    Traceback (most recent call last)

/home/jv/<ipython console> in <module>()

/usr/lib/python2.5/encodings/cp1252.py in decode(self, input, errors)
     13 
     14     def decode(self,input,errors='strict'):
---> 15         return codecs.charmap_decode(input,errors,decoding_table)
     16 
     17 class IncrementalEncoder(codecs.IncrementalEncoder):

<type 'exceptions.UnicodeDecodeError'>: 'charmap' codec can't decode byte 0x9d in position 2812: character maps to <undefined>'

##this is a FIX- this way all your messages r accepted
In [78]: unicode(decd, chardet.detect(decd)['encoding']) 
Out[78]: u'Return-path: <root@apps2.servage.net>\nEnvelope-to: public@jalf.dk\nDelivery-date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:49:53 -0400\nReceived: from [77.232.66.102] (helo=apps2.servage.net)\n\tby c1p.hostingzoom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.69)\n\t(envelope-from <root@apps2.servage.net>)\n\tid 1KWdZu-0003VX-HP\n\tfor public@jalf.dk; Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:49:52 -0400\nReceived: from apps2.servage.net (apps2.servage.net [127.0.0.1])\n\tby apps2.servage.net (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4A87F980026\n\tfor <public@jalf.dk>; Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:49:46 +0100 (BST)\nReceived: (from root@localhost)\n\tby apps2.servage.net (8.13.8/8.13.8/Submit) id m7MKnkrB006225;\n\tFri, 22 Aug 2008 21:49:46 +0100\nDate: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:49:46 +0100\nMessage-Id: <200808222049.m7MKnkrB006225@apps2.servage.net>\nTo: public@jalf.dk\nSubject: =?UTF-8?B?WW5ncmVzYWdlbnMgTnloZWRzYnJldiAyMi44LjA4?=\nFrom: Nyhedsbrev fra Yngresagen <info@yngresagen.dk>\nReply-To: info@yngresagen.dk\nContent-type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8\nX-Abuse: Servage.net Listid 16329\nMime-Version: 1.0\nX-mailer: Servage Maillist System\nX-Spam-Status: No, score=0.1\nX-Spam-Score: 1\nX-Spam-Bar: /\nX-Spam-Flag: NO\nX-ClamAntiVirus-Scanner: This mail is clean\n\n\nK\xe6re medlem\n\nH\xe5ber du har en god sommer og er klar p\xe5 at l\xe6se seneste nyt i Yngresagen. God forn\xf8jelse!\n\n\n::. KOM TIL YS-CAF\xc8 .::\nFlere og billigere ungdomsboliger, afskaf 24-\xe5rs-reglen eller hvad synes du? Yngresagen indbyder dig til en \xe5ben debat over kaffe og snacks. Yngresagens Kristian Lauta, Mette Marb\xe6k, og formand Steffen M\xf8ller fort\xe6ller om tidligere projekter og vil gerne diskutere, hvad Yngresagen skal bruge sin tid p\xe5 fremover.  \nVil du diskutere et emne, du br\xe6nder for, eller vil du bare v\xe6re med p\xe5 en lytter?\nS\xe5 kom torsdag d. 28/8 kl. 17-19, Kulturhuset 44, 2200 KBH N \n \n::. VIND GAVEKORT & BLIV H\xd8RT .:: \nYngresagen har lavet et sp\xf8rgeskema, s\xe5 du har direkte mulighed for at sige din mening, og v\xe6re med til at forme Yngresagens arbejde. Brug 5 min. p\xe5 at dele dine holdninger om f.eks. uddannelse, arbejde og unges vilk\xe5r - og vind et gavekort til en musikbutik. Vi tr\xe6kker lod blandt alle svarene og finder tre heldige vindere. Sp\xf8rgeskemaet er her: www.yngresagen.dk\n\n::. YS SPARKER NORDJYLLAND I GANG .::\nNordjylland bliver Yngresagens sunde region. Her er regionsansvarlig Andreas M\xf8ller Stehr ved at starte tre projekter op: 1) L\xf8beklub, 2) F\xf8rstehj\xe6lpskursus, 3) Mad til unge-program.\nVi har brug for flere frivillige til at sparke projekterne i gang. Vi tilbyder gratis fede aktiviteter, gratis t-shirts og ture til K\xf8benhavn, hvor du kan m\xf8de andre unge i YS. Har det fanget din interesse, s\xe5 t\xf8v ikke med at kontakte os: nordjylland@yngresagen.dk tlf. 21935185. \n\n::. YNGRESAGEN I PRESSEN .::\nL\xe6s her et udsnit af sidste nyt om Yngresagen i medierne. L\xe6s og lyt mere p\xe5 hjemmesiden under \u201dYS i pressen\u201d.\n\n:: Radionyhederne: Unge skal informeres bedre om l\xe5n \nUnge ved for lidt om at l\xe5ne penge. Det udnytter banker og rejseselskaber til at give dem l\xe5n med t\xe5rnh\xf8je renter. S\xe5dan lyder det fra formand Steffen M\xf8ller fra landsforeningen Yngresagen. \n\n:: Danmarks Radio P1: Dansk Folkeparti - de \xe6ldres parti? \nHvorfor er det kun fattige \xe6ldre og ikke alle fattige, der kan s\xf8ge om at f\xe5 nedsat medielicens?\nDansk Folkepartis ungeordf\xf8rer, Karin N\xf8dgaard, og Yngresagens formand Steffen M\xf8ller debatterer medielicens, \xe6ldrecheck og indflydelse til unge \n\n:: Frederiksborg Amts Avis: Turen til Roskilde koster en holdning!\nFor at skabe et m\xf8de mellem politikere og unge fragter Yngresagen unge gratis til \xe5rets Roskilde Festival. Det sker med den s\xe5kaldte Yngrebussen, der kan l\xe6ses mere om p\xe5 www.yngrebussen.dk\n\n \n \nMed venlig hilsen \nYngresagen\n\nLandsforeningen Yngresagen\nKulturhuset Kapelvej 44\n2200 K\xf8benhavn N\n\ntlf. 29644960\ninfo@yngresagen.dk\nwww.yngresagen.dk\n\n\n-------------------------------------------------------\nUnsubscribe Link: \nhttp://apps.corecluster.net/apps/ml/r.php?l=16329&e=public%40jalf.dk%0D%0A&id=40830383\n-------------------------------------------------------\n\n'

Now its in unicode so it shouldn't give you any problem.

Now the encode problem: It is a problem

In [129]: encd=open('jalf_encode_err','r').read()

In [130]: chardet.detect(encd)
Out[130]: {'confidence': 0.78187650822865284, 'encoding': 'ISO-8859-2'}

#even after the unicode conversion the encoding to ascii fails - because the criteris is strict by default
In [131]: unicode(encd, chardet.detect(encd)['encoding']).encode('ascii')
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
<type 'exceptions.UnicodeEncodeError'>    Traceback (most recent call last)

/home/jv/<ipython console> in <module>()

<type 'exceptions.UnicodeEncodeError'>: 'ascii' codec can't encode character u'\u0159' in position 557: ordinal not in range(128)'

##changing the criteria to ignore
In [132]: unicode(encd, chardet.detect(encd)['encoding']).encode('ascii', 'ignore')
Out[132]: 'Return-path: <info@kollegierneskontor.dk>\nEnvelope-to: alf@5elements.net\nDelivery-date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:10:08 -0400\nReceived: from pfepc.post.tele.dk ([195.41.46.237]:52065)\n\tby c1p.hostingzoom.com with esmtp (Exim 4.66)\n\t(envelope-from <info@kollegierneskontor.dk>)\n\tid 1INQgX-0003fI-Un\n\tfor alf@5elements.net; Tue, 21 Aug 2007 06:10:08 -0400\nReceived: from local.com (ns2.datadan.dk [195.41.7.21])\n\tby pfepc.post.tele.dk (Postfix) with SMTP id ADF4C8A0086\n\tfor <alf@5elements.net>; Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:10:04 +0200 (CEST)\nFrom: "Kollegiernes Kontor I Kbenhavn" <info@kollegierneskontor.dk>\nTo: "Jesper Alf Dam" <alf@5elements.net>\nSubject: Fornyelse af profil\nDate: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 12:10:03 +0200\nX-Mailer: Dundas Mailer Control 1.0\nMIME-Version: 1.0\nContent-Type: Multipart/Alternative;\n\tboundary="Gark=_20078211010346yhSD0hUCo"\nMessage-Id: <20070821101004.ADF4C8A0086@pfepc.post.tele.dk>\nX-Spam-Status: No, score=0.0\nX-Spam-Score: 0\nX-Spam-Bar: /\nX-Spam-Flag: NO\nX-ClamAntiVirus-Scanner: This mail is clean\n\n\n\n--Gark=_20078211010346yhSD0hUCo\nContent-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1\nContent-Transfer-Encoding: Quoted-Printable\n\nHej Jesper Alf Dam=0D=0A=0D=0AHusk at forny din profil hos KKIK inden 28.=\n august 2007=0D=0ALog ind p=E5 din profil og benyt ikonet "forny".=0D=0A=0D=\n=0AVenlig hilsen=0D=0AKollegiernes Kontor i K=F8benhavn=0D=0A=0D=0Ahttp:/=\n/www.kollegierneskontor.dk/=0D=0A=0D=0A\n\n--Gark=_20078211010346yhSD0hUCo\nContent-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1\nContent-Transfer-Encoding: Quoted-Printable\n\n<html>=0D=0A<head>=0D=0A=0D=0A<style>=0D=0ABODY, TD {=0D=0Afont-family: v=\nerdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: 12px; color: #666666;=0D=0A}=0D=0A</=\nstyle>=0D=0A=0D=0A<title></title>=0D=0A=0D=0A</head>=0D=0A<body bgcolor=3D=\n#FFFFFF>=0D=0A<hr size=3D1 noshade>=0D=0A<table cellpadding=3D0 cellspaci=\nng=3D0 border=3D0 width=3D100%>=0D=0A<tr><td >=0D=0AHej Jesper Alf Dam<br=\n><br>Husk at forny din profil inden 28. august 2007<br>=0D=0ALog ind p=E5=\n din profil og benyt ikonet "forny".=0D=0A<br><br>=0D=0A<a href=3D"http:/=\n/www.kollegierneskontor.dk/">Klik her</a> for at logge ind.<br><br>Venlig=\n hilsen<br>Kollegiernes Kontor i K=F8benhavn=0D=0A</td></tr>=0D=0A</table=\n>=0D=0A<hr size=3D1 noshade>=0D=0A</body>=0D=0A</html>=0D=0A\n\n--Gark=_20078211010346yhSD0hUCo--\n\n'

In [133]: len(encd)
Out[133]: 2303

In [134]: len(unicode(encd, chardet.detect(encd)['encoding']).encode('ascii', 'ignore'))
Out[134]: 2302

CAUTION: as you can see there could be minor to moderate loss of data in this procedure. So its upto the user to use it or not.

so the code should look like

import chardet

for msg in src:
    msg=unicode(msg, chardet.detect(msg)['encoding']).encode('ascii', 'ignore')
    dest.add(msg)

Convert Maildir to Mbox