From: Bugs (bb1@humboldt.edu)
Date: Thu Mar 27 2003 - 17:35:44 EST
Hello,
My thanks to the responders that gave me the solution. I used the
perl script at the bottom from Steve, and it works great, thanks!
Bugs
---------------------My request-------------------------------
>
> Hi,
> Does anyone have a script, or program to remove messages from a users
> inbox?
> Thanks
--------------------------------------------------------------
>From lhecking@nmrc.ie Thu Mar 27 14:14:15 2003
It's not easily scripted, really.
One way to script it is formail/procmail, if you can easily identify
the messages to be deleted; identify in a manner that can be programmed
into a procmail recipe, that is.
If you want to do it interactively, you can try mutt (www.mutt.org).
It has excellent search/regexp/view limitation capabilities, and can
apply a broad range of operations onto a (tagged) set of messages).
>From Robert.Binkley@acxiom.com Thu Mar 27 14:15:03 2003
script******************************************
#!/usr/bin/env python
"""The purpose of this script is to trim a standard Unix mbox file. If the
main function is called, it expects two parameters in argv. The first is the
number of most recent messages to keep. The second is the path to the mbox
file."""
import sys, string, os
from mailbox import UnixMailbox
from tempfile import mktemp
from shutil import copyfile
error = sys.stderr.write
def count_messages(file):
"""The purpose of this function is to count the messages in the mailbox,
rewind the mailbox seek pointer, and then return the number of messages
in
the mailbox file."""
count = 0
while 1:
line = file.readline()
if not line: break
if line[:5] == "From ":
count = count + 1
file.seek(0)
return count
def trim(file, keep):
"""This purpose of this function is to perform the actual trimming of
the
mailbox file."""
count = count_messages(file)
print "\nThere are %d messages in the mailbox file." % count
if count <= keep:
print "\nThis file already contains less than the desired number of"
print "messages. Nothing to do."
return
remove = count - keep
print "\nNeed to remove %d messages..." % remove
tempfilename = mktemp()
tempfile = open(tempfilename, "w")
copying = 0
while 1:
line = file.readline()
if not line: break
if line[:5] == "From ":
if remove:
remove = remove - 1
continue
else:
copying = 1
if not copying:
continue
tempfile.write(line)
tempfile.close()
copyfile(tempfilename, file.name)
os.unlink(tempfilename)
def main():
"""This function expects sys.argv to be set appropriately with the
required options, mentioned in the module's docstring. It is the entry
point for the rest of the program."""
if len(sys.argv) != 3:
error("Usage: %s <number to keep> <mbox file>\n" % sys.argv[0])
sys.exit(1)
keep = string.atoi(sys.argv[1])
filename = sys.argv[2]
if not os.path.exists(filename):
error("ERROR: File %s does not exist\n" % filename)
sys.exit(1)
print "Trimming %s to %d messages..." % (filename, keep)
file = open(filename, "r")
trim(file, keep)
file.close()
print "\nDone trimming %s." % filename
if __name__ == '__main__': main()
############################################################################
>From Robert.Binkley@acxiom.com Thu Mar 27 14:15:16 2003
i just finished this perl mail clean up mbox
#!/usr/local/bin/perl
$mbox = "/usr/spool/mailINBOX";
print "cleaning out fluff mail...\n";
opendir(MBOX, "$mbox") || die "Can't open mail box directory\n" ;
@fn = readdir MBOX ;
foreach $fn (@fn) {
open (MSG, "<$mbox/$fn") || die "Can't open mail message $fn\n" ;
next if -d "$mbox/$fn" ;
foreach () {
/Gutenberg/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/ht_lit/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/hyperjournal/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/html-wg/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/PetriNet/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/deptcal/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/UMCP COGNITIVE SCIENCE/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/Email from Reader/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/CatoSource New User/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/MAILER-DAEMON/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/Mailer-Daemon/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
/press-releases\@wired.com/ && do { `rm -f $mbox/$fn`; last; };
}
close MSG ;
}
>From: Steve Lowe <Steve.Lowe@aurora.edu>
#!/usr/local/bin/perl -- -*-perl-*-
#
# Copyright (c) Information Systems, The Press Association Limited 1993
# Portions Copyright (c) Computer Newspaper Services Limited 1993
# All rights reserved.
#
# License to use, copy, modify, and distribute this work and its
# documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
# provided that you also ensure modified files carry prominent notices
# stating that you changed the files and the date of any change, ensure
# that the above copyright notice appear in all copies, that both the
# copyright notice and this permission notice appear in supporting
# documentation, and that the name of Computer Newspaper Services not
# be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution or use
# of the work without specific, written prior permission from Computer
# Newspaper Services.
#
# By copying, distributing or modifying this work (or any derived work)
# you indicate your acceptance of this license and all its terms and
# conditions.
#
# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND,
# EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED
# WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND
# NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY
# AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ANY DUTY TO SUPPORT OR
# MAINTAIN, BELONGS TO THE LICENSEE. SHOULD ANY PORTION OF THE SOFTWARE
# PROVE DEFECTIVE, THE LICENSEE (NOT THE COPYRIGHT OWNER) ASSUMES THE
# ENTIRE COST OF ALL SERVICING, REPAIR AND CORRECTION. IN NO EVENT SHALL
# THE COPYRIGHT OWNER BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
# DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR
# PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS
# ACTION, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF
# THIS SOFTWARE.
#
#
# $Id: expire_mail,v 1.1 1993/06/03 10:43:26 phil Exp $
#
#
# Information Systems Engineering Group
# Phil Male
#
local($_rcsid) = '$Id: expire_mail,v 1.1 1993/06/03 10:43:26 phil Exp $';
local($_copyright) = 'Copyright (c) Information Systems, The Press Association Limited 1993';
require "getopts.pl"; # option handling
require "timelocal.pl"; # time conversion
require "ctime.pl"; # ctime for pseudo-mailing
require "stat.pl"; # file status
# Perl mail expire.
# This program removes old messages from system mailboxes.
# It assumes the format of mailboxes to be standard
# sendmail format mail with a blank line followed by a `From ' line
# starting each and every message. Mailbox locking is via flock.
# Works under SunOS.
#
# Options as follows:
# -v verbose output
# -V display version information and quit
# -d debug mode (no change to mailbox)
# -l display messages for crontab output
# -z do not delete zero length mailboxes
# -t do not reset access and modification times on mailbox
# -o always open mailbox, never just test modification date
# -M append a message detailing deleted messages for the user
# -T do not record delivery of mail summary on mailbox date
# -a days messages whose age is greater than days are expired
# -O days messages whose age is greater than days are expired
# -u user only consider messages from user (regexp)
# -S read|old only consider messages with status `old' or `read'
# -s subject only consider messages with subject (regexp)
#
# Based on expire_mail by Steve Mitchell (steve_mitchell@csufresno.edu)
#
#####
#
# Definitions
#
#####
# site postmaster -
$postmaster = "postmaster\@mail.aurora.edu";
# current user
$me = getlogin || (getpwuid($<))[0] || "unknown";
$home = $ENV{'HOME'};
# default mailbox for a user - XXX change this as required
$default_mailbox = $ENV{'MAILBOX'} || "/var/spool/mail/$me";
# notice to append to list of deleted messages
$notice = "
Please read your mail on a regular basis. Old mail should be deleted,
or be filed in your personal mail folders. If you do not know how to
use mail folders, please refer to the `Guide to EMail Nnews'
available from Information Systems department.
If you have any other queries regarding the mail system, please send
mail to $postmaster.
Processed by the MAIL System ROOT Account";
# set the umask for temp files
umask( 0700 );
# make stdout unbuffered
select(STDOUT); $| = 1;
$LOCK_EX = 2; # lock
$LOCK_UN = 8; # unlock
$START_TIME = time; # time right now
$SEC_PER_DAY = 24 * 60 * 60; # seconds in a day
$line_buffer = ""; # empty line buffer
# month numbers
$mon_num{'Jan'} = 0;
$mon_num{'Feb'} = 1;
$mon_num{'Mar'} = 2;
$mon_num{'Apr'} = 3;
$mon_num{'May'} = 4;
$mon_num{'Jun'} = 5;
$mon_num{'Jul'} = 6;
$mon_num{'Aug'} = 7;
$mon_num{'Sep'} = 8;
$mon_num{'Oct'} = 9;
$mon_num{'Nov'} = 10;
$mon_num{'Dec'} = 11;
#####
#
# Support
#
#####
# line buffer for look-ahead
sub get_line
{
local( $line ) = ""; # line to return
if( ! ($line_buffer eq "") ) {
$line = $line_buffer;
$line_buffer = "";
} else {
$line = <MBOX>;
}
return $line;
}
# read message from mailbox
sub read_message
{
local( $msg ) = ""; # message to send back
local( $prev_blank ) = 1; # assume previous line blank
local( $seen_from ) = 0; # seen a from line
local( $line ) = ""; # current line
# reset some globals
$msg_status = "";
$msg_subject = "";
$msg_date = "";
while( $line = &get_line ) {
if( $line =~ /^From\s+([^\s]+)\s+(.*)$/ ) {
# if previous line was blank, then legal from line
if( $prev_blank ) {
# if already seen a legal from line, then this is next message
if( $seen_from ) {
# pushback this from line
$line_buffer = $line;
return $msg;
}
$seen_from++;
# From line found, extract information
( $msg_from, $msg_date ) = ( $1, $2 );
$msg_stamp = &rctime( $msg_date );
$msg_age = &days_old( $msg_stamp );
}
} elsif( $line =~ /^[Ss]tatus: ([A-Za-z]+)/ ) {
( $msg_status ) = ( $1 );
} elsif( $line =~ /^[Ss]ubject: (.*)$/ ) {
( $msg_subject ) = ( $1 );
}
# set previous line
if( $line =~ /^$/ ) {
$prev_blank = 1;
} else {
$prev_blank = 0;
}
$msg .= $line;
}
return $msg;
}
# write a message into a mailbox
sub write_message
{
print TMPF "@_";
}
# parse the ctime string into a time value
# From line contains local time
sub rctime
{
local( $pt ) = @_; # time to convert
local( $ct ) = -1; # converted time
if( $pt =~ /^([A-Za-z]+)\s+([A-Za-z]+)\s+([0-9]+)\s+([0-9:]+)\s+([0-9]+)/ ) {
( $day, $mon, $mday, $time, $year ) = ( $1, $2, $3, $4, $5 );
( $hour, $min, $sec ) = split( ':', $time );
if( $year > 1900 ) { $year -= 1900; }
$ct = &timelocal($sec,$min,$hour,$mday,$mon_num{$mon},$year);
}
return $ct;
}
# age in days
sub days_old
{
local( $agev ) = @_; # time to convert
return( ( $START_TIME - $agev ) / $SEC_PER_DAY );
}
# basename
sub basename
{
local( $path ) = @_; # path to find the base of
local( $base ) = rindex( $path, "/" );
if( $base < 0 ) {
$base = $path;
} else {
$base = substr($path, $base + 1);
}
return $base;
}
# usage message
sub usage
{
print STDERR "usage: expire_mail [-vlV] [-zotTM] [-d] { [-O days] [-u user] [-S read|old] [-s subject] } mailbox...\n";
exit 0;
}
#####
#
# Main
#
#####
&Getopts( 'VvO:a:ou:zdS:s:MtTl' ) || &usage;
# compat
$opt_a = $opt_O if ($opt_O && !$opt_a);
# check version
if( $opt_V ) {
print "expire_mail: mail expiry agent\n";
print "expire_mail: $_expire_mail_rcsid\n";
&usage;
}
# use default mailbox if non supplied
if( $#ARGV < $[ ) {
$ARGV[0] = "$default_mailbox";
}
# decode status option
if( $opt_S ) {
if( $opt_S eq "old" ) {
$opt_S = "O";
} elsif( $opt_S eq "read" ) {
$opt_S = "R";
} else {
print STDERR "expire_mail: status may only be one of `old' or `unread'\n";
&usage;
}
}
# check we are actually doing some processing
if( !$opt_a && !$opt_u && !$opt_S && !$opt_s ) {
print STDERR "expire_mail: must specify at least one of -O, -u, -S or -s\n";
&usage;
}
# debug mode implies verbose mode
if( $opt_d ) { $opt_v = 1; }
# foreach mailbox...
while( $mailbox = shift ) {
if( $opt_v ) { print STDOUT "Checking mailbox $mailbox\n"; }
# does mailbox exist
if( ! -f $mailbox ) { next; }
# stat the mailbox
@sb = &Stat($mailbox);
# can it be deleted now?
if( !$opt_o && $opt_a ) {
# check the modification date
$age = &days_old(@sb[$ST_MTIME]);
if( $age > $opt_a ) {
if( $opt_v ) { print STDOUT "Expiring mailbox $mailbox\n"; }
if( !$opt_d ) {
if( $opt_z ) {
open( MBOX, ">$mailbox" ) ||
print STDERR "expire_mail: failed to truncate $mailbox\n";
close( MBOX );
} else {
unlink( $mailbox ) ||
print STDERR "expire_mail: failed to remove $mailbox\n";
}
}
next;
}
}
# open the mailbox
if( !open( MBOX, "+<$mailbox" ) ) {
print STDERR "expire_mail: unable to open $mailbox\n";
next;
}
# lock the mailbox
if( !flock( MBOX, $LOCK_EX ) ) {
print STDERR "expire_mail: unable to lock $mailbox\n";
close( MBOX );
next;
}
# open the temporary file
$tmpname = "$mailbox.exp$$";
if( !open( TMPF, "+>$tmpname" ) ) {
print STDERR "expire_mail: unable to create temporary file for $mailbox\n";
close( MBOX );
next;
}
unlink( $tmpname );
# init counters
$count = 0;
$exp = 0;
# read each message in turn
while( $msg = &read_message ) {
$count++;
# looking for specific from users
if( $opt_u ) {
if( ! ($msg_from =~ /$opt_u/) ) {
if( $opt_v ) {
print STDOUT "\tMsg #$count: from \r";
}
&write_message( $msg );
next;
}
}
# check message status
if( $opt_S ) {
if( !($msg_status =~ /$opt_S/) ) {
if( $opt_v ) {
print STDOUT "\tMsg #$count: status \r";
}
&write_message( $msg );
next;
}
}
# check message subject
if( $opt_s ) {
if( ! ($msg_subject =~ /$opt_s/) ) {
if( $opt_v ) {
print STDOUT "\tMsg #$count: subject \r";
}
&write_message( $msg );
next;
}
}
# only other thing to check is message age
if( $opt_a ) {
if( $msg_age <= $opt_a ) {
if( $opt_v ) {
print STDOUT "\tMsg #$count: newer \r";
}
&write_message( $msg );
next;
}
}
# log the expiry
if( $opt_v ) {
print STDOUT "\tMsg #$count: expired \r";
}
# copy message accross if in debug
if( $opt_d ) {
&write_message( $msg );
} else {
# record the mail message from and subject line
$pad = ' ' x (25 - length($msg_from) );
$npad = ' ' x ( 4 - length($count) );
$subjects[$exp] = "$npad$count $msg_from$pad $msg_date\n $msg_subject\n";
}
# increment the expired message count
$exp++;
}
if( !$opt_d ) {
# if sending mail to the owner of the mailbox, append message on the end
if( $opt_M && $exp > 0 ) {
chop( $ct = &ctime(time) );
$to = &basename( $mailbox );
print TMPF "From mail_expire $ct\n";
print TMPF "From: mail_expire (Mail Expiry Agent)\n";
print TMPF "Reply-To: $postmaster\n";
print TMPF "To: $to\n";
print TMPF "Subject: Expired Mail Summary\n\n";
print TMPF "The following messages have been automatically removed from your\n";
print TMPF "mailbox by the mail expiration agent.\n\n";
# fitted to $subjects layout
print TMPF " Msg From & Subject Dated\n\n";
foreach $msg ( @subjects ) {
print TMPF "$msg\n";
}
print TMPF "$notice\n\n";
if( !$opt_T ) {
# set the modification time for the mailbox to be now
@sb[$ST_MTIME] = time;
}
}
# copy data back into mailbox to preserve permissions, creation time
# and user and group id
# zero length the mailbox
truncate( MBOX, 0 );
# *** START Critical
# any data to copy?
if( $exp < $count ) {
# restart both files
seek(MBOX, 0, 0);
seek(TMPF, 0, 0);
# copy file into mailbox, better with sysread/syswrite?
while( <TMPF> ) {
print MBOX $_;
}
} elsif( !$opt_z ) {
unlink( $mailbox );
}
# *** END Critical
}
# unlock mailbox
flock( MBOX, $LOCK_UN );
# close files
close( MBOX );
close( TMPF );
# reset access and modification dates
# if we have sent mail, then the modification time is the time of the mail
if( !$opt_t ) {
utime( @sb[$ST_ATIME], @sb[$ST_MTIME], $mailbox );
}
# show counters
if( $opt_v || ( $opt_l && $exp ) ) {
print "$mailbox contained $count messages, expired $exp messages\n";
}
}
Bugs Brouillard Unix system administrator
Humboldt State Univ. Information Technology Services
Arcata, Calif.
email bb1@humboldt.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.7 : Sat Apr 12 2008 - 10:49:14 EDT