[exim] Re: Binary data format for Maildir messages?

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Author: Bill Cole
Date:  
To: Robert Nicholson via Exim-users
Subject: [exim] Re: Binary data format for Maildir messages?
On 2023-06-05 at 20:19:19 UTC-0400 (Mon, 5 Jun 2023 19:19:19 -0500)
Robert Nicholson via Exim-users <robert.nicholson@???>
is rumored to have said:

> What defines when the “data” format is used to store the message?


A message file in an interoperable Maildir/Maildir++ structure is a text
file, as defined by RFC822 and its successors as well as the suite of
RFCs defining MIME.

There's a good description of Maildir at
https://www.courier-mta.org/maildir.html

> The message ends up in some binary encoding and that makes it harder
> for me to test it thru my own filters with.


Many messages are partially or fully encoded with Base64 or
Quoted-printable to allow for non-ASCII content. See the MIME RFCs.

> Is there a way to convert such messages to the text format to make
> testing easier?


That depends on what the message contains and why it was encoded.

>
> For example of the messages looks like this
>
> 1686008819.M92410P2445.lhvm02.lizardhill.com,S=72137,W=74032:2,
>
> file 1686008819.M92410P2445.lhvm02.lizardhill.com,S=72137,W=74032:2,
> 1686008819.M92410P2445.lhvm02.lizardhill.com,S=72137,W=74032:2,: data



Try actually looking at it yourself. The 'file' utility is imperfect at
identifying email as such.

> as opposed to messages that look like this
>
> 1686009696.6909_0.lhvm02:2,S
>
> file 1686009696.6909_0.lhvm02:2,S
> 1686009696.6909_0.lhvm02:2,S: RFC 822 mail, ASCII text


The difference in name formats is a function of how the specific message
was delivered, i.e. what tool created the message file. See the link
above for details.


--
Bill Cole
bill@??? or billcole@???
(AKA @grumpybozo and many *@billmail.scconsult.com addresses)
Not Currently Available For Hire

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