How can I read the mail body of a mail with Python?

Question

Log in and read subject works. An error occurs when reading the body. What is the error? In the internet the error was always in this part : " email.message_from_bytes(data[0][1].decode())"but I think this part is correct.

# Connection settings
        HOST = 'imap.host'
        USERNAME = 'name@domain.com'
        PASSWORD = 'password'

        m = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(HOST, 993)
        m.login(USERNAME, PASSWORD)
        m.select('INBOX')

        result, data = m.uid('search', None, "UNSEEN")
        if result == 'OK':
              for num in data[0].split()[:5]:
                    result, data = m.uid('fetch', num, '(RFC822)')
                    if result == 'OK':
                          email_message_raw = email.message_from_bytes(data[0][1])
                          email_from = str(make_header(decode_header(email_message_raw['From'])))
                          # von Edward Chapman -> https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7314942/python-imaplib-to-get-gmail-inbox-subjects-titles-and-sender-name
                          subject = str(email.header.make_header(email.header.decode_header(email_message_raw['Subject'])))
                          # content = email_message_raw.get_payload(decode=True)
                          # von Todor Minakov -> https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17874360/python-how-to-parse-the-body-from-a-raw-email-given-that-raw-email-does-not
                          b = email.message_from_string(email_message_raw)
                          body = ""

                          if b.is_multipart():
                              for part in b.walk():
                                  ctype = part.get_content_type()
                                  cdispo = str(part.get('Content-Disposition'))

                                  # skip any text/plain (txt) attachments
                                  if ctype == 'text/plain' and 'attachment' not in cdispo:
                                      body = part.get_payload(decode=True)  # decode
                                      break
                          # not multipart - i.e. plain text, no attachments, keeping fingers crossed
                          else:
                              body = b.get_payload(decode=True)
                          
        m.close()
        m.logout()


        txt = body
        regarding = subject
        print("###########################################################")
        print(regarding)
        print("###########################################################")
        print(txt)
        print("###########################################################")

Error message:

TypeError: initial_value must be str or None, not Message

Thanks for the comments and reply

Given `email_message_raw = email.message_from_bytes(data[0][1])`, `email_message_raw` is a message object which you then try to use in the call to `b = email.message_from_string(email_message_raw)` which expects a stirng. — , Oct 15 '20 at 18:37

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 21 '20 at 21:00

You have everything in place. Just have to understand a few concepts.

"email" library allows you to convert typical email bytes into an easily usable object called Message using its parser APIs, such as message_from_bytes(), message_from_string(), etc.

The typical error is due to an input error.

email.message_from_bytes(data[0][1].decode())

The function above, message_from_bytes, takes bytes as an input not str. So, it is redundant to decode data[0][1] and also inputting through the parser API.

In short, you are trying to parse the original email message twice using message_from_bytes(data[0][1]) and message_from_string(email_message_raw). Get rid of one of them and you will be all set!

Try this approach:

    HOST = 'imap.host'
    USERNAME = 'name@domain.com'
    PASSWORD = 'password'

    m = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(HOST, 993)
    m.login(USERNAME, PASSWORD)
    m.select('INBOX')

    result, data = m.uid('search', None, "UNSEEN")
    if result == 'OK':
          for num in data[0].split()[:5]:
                result, data = m.uid('fetch', num, '(RFC822)')
                if result == 'OK':
                      email_message = email.message_from_bytes(data[0][1])
                      email_from = str(make_header(decode_header(email_message_raw['From'])))
                      # von Edward Chapman -> https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7314942/python-imaplib-to-get-gmail-inbox-subjects-titles-and-sender-name
                      subject = str(email.header.make_header(email.header.decode_header(email_message_raw['Subject'])))
                      # content = email_message_raw.get_payload(decode=True)
                      # von Todor Minakov -> https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17874360/python-how-to-parse-the-body-from-a-raw-email-given-that-raw-email-does-not
                      # b = email.message_from_string(email_message_raw)
                      # this is already set as Message object which have many methods (i.e. is_multipart(), walk(), etc.)
                      b = email_message 
                      body = ""

                      if b.is_multipart():
                          for part in b.walk():
                              ctype = part.get_content_type()
                              cdispo = str(part.get('Content-Disposition'))

                              # skip any text/plain (txt) attachments
                              if ctype == 'text/plain' and 'attachment' not in cdispo:
                                  body = part.get_payload(decode=True)  # decode
                                  break
                      # not multipart - i.e. plain text, no attachments, keeping fingers crossed
                      else:
                          body = b.get_payload(decode=True)
                      
    m.close()
    m.logout()


    txt = body
    regarding = subject
    print("###########################################################")
    print(regarding)
    print("###########################################################")
    print(txt)
    print("###########################################################")

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 02 '20 at 10:45

from imap_tools import MailBox, AND

# get email bodies from INBOX 
with MailBox('imap.mail.com').login('test@mail.com', 'password', 'INBOX') as mailbox:
    for msg in mailbox.fetch():
        body = msg.text or msg.html

https://github.com/ikvk/imap_tools

How can I read the mail body of a mail with Python?

2 Answers2

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