How do I delete messages, an inbox, and subfolders?

Issue

How do I delete messages, an inbox, and subfolders?

Solution

The following procedure can also be scripted by an administrator if desired (i.e., IMAP can be used like an API).

Deleting Contents of Inbox

This procedure does not delete the inbox or the user.

From IMAP (port 143), do the following commands:

Login administrator password

tag OK User logged in

Setacl user.fred Administrator Lrswipcda

tag OK Completed

Select user.fred

* FLAGS (\Answered \Flagged \Draft \Deleted \Seen)

* OK [PERMANENTFLAGS (\Answered \Flagged \Draft \Deleted \Seen \*)]

* 11263 EXISTS

* 12 RECENT

* OK [UNSEEN 1]

* OK [UIDVALIDITY 989348176]

tag OK [READ-WRITE] Completed

tag STORE 1:* +flags.silent \deleted

tag OK Completed

Expunge

* 1 EXPUNGE

* 1 EXPUNGE

* 1 EXPUNGE

* 0 EXISTS

* 0 RECENT

tag OK Completed

tag Logout

* BYE LOGOUT received

tag OK Completed

Alternatively, after,

tag Setacl user.username Administrator lrswipcda

use your favorite email client to delete and compact the mailbox using IMAP.

Deleting Inbox and Subfolders

From administration protocol or the CLI, enter the following commands:

Setacl user.username Administrator Lrswipcda

Mailbox Delete user.username

Mailbox Add user.username

Deleting a Range of Messages

From IMAP (port 143), do the following:

Login Administrator password

Setacl user.username Administrator Lrswipcda

Select user.username

Search All Before 30-Apr-2001 And After 01-Jan-2001

The list return is space separated. Change the spaces to commas and enter:

Store <list> +flags.silent \deleted

Expunge

Logout