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imaplib.py "select" mailbox names containing spaces. #90378

Closed as not planned
Closed as not planned
imaplib.py "select" mailbox names containing spaces.#90378
Labels
3.11only security fixesstdlibStandard Library Python modules in the Lib/ directorytopic-emailtype-featureA feature request or enhancement

Description

@mckenzm
mckenzm
mannequin
opened on Jan 1, 2022
BPO 46220
Nosy @terryjreedy, @mckenzm

Note: these values reflect the state of the issue at the time it was migrated and might not reflect the current state.

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GitHub fields:

assignee = None
closed_at = None
created_at = <Date 2022-01-01.13:08:23.738>
labels = ['type-feature', 'library', '3.11']
title = 'imaplib.py "select" mailbox names containing spaces.'
updated_at = <Date 2022-01-07.18:50:27.423>
user = 'https://github.com/mckenzm'

bugs.python.org fields:

activity = <Date 2022-01-07.18:50:27.423>
actor = 'terry.reedy'
assignee = 'none'
closed = False
closed_date = None
closer = None
components = ['Library (Lib)']
creation = <Date 2022-01-01.13:08:23.738>
creator = 'mckenzm'
dependencies = []
files = []
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 46220
keywords = []
message_count = 2.0
messages = ['409457', '410000']
nosy_count = 2.0
nosy_names = ['terry.reedy', 'mckenzm']
pr_nums = []
priority = 'normal'
resolution = None
stage = None
status = 'open'
superseder = None
type = 'enhancement'
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue46220'
versions = ['Python 3.11']

Activity

  1. mckenzm commented on Jan 1, 2022

    @mckenzm
    mckenzmmannequin
    on Jan 1, 2022
    MannequinAuthor

    A mailbox (folder) need not be for a recipient and need not be the private part of an RFC2822 address.

    Passing a value of "000 Bookings" to select() results in validation issues when the tokens are parsed as arguments and there are too many.

    It would be a nice-to-have to accept spaces in the name.

    Workaround is for a rule to be applied by a desktop email client such as Evolution to move it from the INBOX upon discovery according to filter criteria.

  2. mckenzm
    added
    stdlibStandard Library Python modules in the Lib/ directory
    type-featureA feature request or enhancement
    on Jan 1, 2022

  3. terryjreedy commented on Jan 7, 2022

    @terryjreedy
    terryjreedy
    on Jan 7, 2022
    Member

    I presume you mean the mailbox parameter of imaplib.IMAP.select().
    https://docs.python.org/3/library/imaplib.html#imaplib.IMAP4.select

    IMAP4.select(mailbox='INBOX', readonly=False)
    Select a mailbox. Returned data is the count of messages in mailbox (EXISTS response). The default mailbox is 'INBOX'. If the readonly flag is set, modifications to the mailbox are not allowed.

    Enhancements only go into future releases. Please make sure that the current main branch does not have the feature you are requesting.

    Neither our doc nor https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2060.html contain '2822', so you might be requesting something not supported.

    There is no active maintainer for this module, so response from someone familiar with imaplib may take awhile.

  4. terryjreedy
    added
    3.11only security fixes
    on Jan 7, 2022
  5. ezio-melotti
    transferred this issue fromon Apr 10, 2022
  6. serhiy-storchaka
    added
    topic-email
    on May 21, 2022

  7. vadmium commented on Apr 20, 2024

    @vadmium
    vadmium
    on Apr 20, 2024
    Member

    In general I believe select(mailbox) expects the argument to use the IMAP protocol astring syntax. Perhaps adding an encode_astring function would help?

  8. serhiy-storchaka commented on Jul 5, 2026

    @serhiy-storchaka
    serhiy-storchaka
    on Jul 5, 2026
    Member

    Mailbox names containing spaces are now quoted automatically since GH-152703. Closing as a duplicate of gh-40038.

  9. serhiy-storchaka
    closed this as not plannedon Jul 5, 2026
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