Reading GMail with Java

Question

I am attempting to write a Java class which will retrieve messages from GMail via POP3. So far, I have copied this code: http://www.java-tips.org/other-api-tips/javamail/connecting-gmail-using-pop3-connection-with-ssl-6.html

It does actually retrieve the messages, but I need to make it fetch only the unread messages. I have a GMail account I'm using for test purposes, with 3 messages: 1 read, 2 unread. The code correctly says there are 3 messages, but says there are 0 new messages.

When I add a line

folder.getUnreadMessageCount();

it returns 3. I would expect it to return 2, as one of the messages has been read (via Gamil web access)

What's going on? Is there any way I can retrieve only unread messages?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 25 '13 at 20:01

2

This is a limitation of the protocol. POP3 simply downloads all messages available at the server, but it does not make the read/unread status of the mail at the server side available. If you want to be able to query that kind of status, you'll have to use IMAP, instead.

answered Feb 25 '13 at 20:01

Jeen Broekstra

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Thanks! I originally thought that IMAP was for sending, POP was for receiving (shows how little I know about email) and your answer led me to further research, including this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5366767/retrieve-unread-emails-from-gmail-javamail-api-imap – NickJ Feb 25 '13 at 20:51

Reading GMail with Java

1 Answers1