Not redownloading the same read email [Palm Treo 650] - Treo Forums

Shaitan00 · 10-19-2006, 12:26 PM

Here is the situation - I have an ISP (Videotron) which provides me with an email address (something@videotron.ca) that I use as my primary contact email address...
My PALM TREO 650 is configured (VersaMail) to use this Videotron email account (via POP I imagine) directly (not through my PC or outlook).
My PC at home (running OUTLOOK 2003) is also configured to use this Videotron email account...

The idea is, when I am on the road I want to be able to get my @videotron.ca emails (only the ones I have not already read). And when I get home I want to Press SEND/RECIEVE on outlook and download ALL my emails (even the ones read via my Palm as I want to keep a copy on my PC seeing as I always delete them from my palm after read/reply).
So, in essence, when I download emails with my TREO I want it to only download emails that it has not already downloaded (but not remove them from the videotron email server) so that when I get home I can Send/Receive via outlook (which will get all the main on the videotron server to my pc and then delete it from the server).

I had assumed this would be trivial (don't a LOT of people want to do exactly this?)...
I got the Treo so I could read my un-read mail on-the-road while also being able to keep everything in outlook...

So, the problem is (if you haven't guessed it already) the following:
- If I get 10 emails (at my videotron account) and take them using my Palm Treo 650 it downloads all 10 (great)
- I will then read all 10 emails, and then trash->empty trash
- Now if I send/receive on my Palm again it will again download all 10 emails, but in this case it shouldn't download any as I already received those 10 emails...

I have been doing a lot of reading and came up with the following:
- Problem is @videotron.ca is POP and not IMAP (I called them, they have no clue what IMAP is let alone if they have it)
Looks like IMAP is what allows you to mark an email as read (somehow, not sure I get the logic but ...)

So I need a solution to my problem ... I cannot change email accounts (been using this for years) but anything else is an option...
Are there maybe other programs (aside from VersaMail) that can "check if this email has already been downloaded? etc..."
Are there any other options?

I would assume this is a common problem ... not a lot of IMAP mail servers around (at least none of the ISPs around my place seem to have it)
Any help would be GREALTY appreciated - very expensive to re-download the same emails over-and-over again....

plunker · 10-19-2006, 02:19 PM

I have a pop account and use it like you are describing.

In versamail you need to set under options, preferences, server, leave a copy on the server. This allows you to check your mail and when you get home you can retrieve it from your pc.

This might help the other part of your problem or maybe not. In versamail go to options, preferences, delivery and select get only mail 1 day or three days etc.. If you check your mail over and over you will keep getting it but only 1 days worth if you select it.

Shaitan00 · 10-19-2006, 02:49 PM

plunker: Thanks for the idea - sadly using the "days" concept won't work (I can not be sure how many days it will be between each time I check and I don't want to have to a)remeber when was the last time and b) change it each time I need to...

As for the 'leaving a copy on the server" - it already does that (thus the problem of always re-downloading the same emails from the server).

So you have a POP account and you have the SAME problem right?
Is there not a better tool (other then VersaMail) that can handle this situation properly?
What if you leave the messages either in your inbox OR in the trash - will VersaMail STILL redownload them all again? (there is no checking mechanism to see if I already have that email?) ... etc ...

Thanks,

plunker · 10-19-2006, 03:03 PM

There are better e-mail apps out there and I'm sure someone will help you with versamail. The last time I used my treo e-mail was in Vegas and I seem to remember it would download the e-mail only once to the treo. It would show 14 e-mails but I would only get the ones I had not downloaded. I don't know if this was a system thing in Vegas or my server at home. I'll try and play with it and let you know if mine works that way.

Shaitan00 · 10-19-2006, 03:29 PM

plunker: Much appreciated sir ....
Also - take note if the emails are left in your INBOX or TRASH when you see if they are re-downloaded please ...

I have no problems if I need to leave them on my Palm until I get home to Outlook - that would be a perfect solution if it works (I don't have it with me either, I'll test it when I get home) but from what I was reading it looks like it will actually always re-download them ALL no matter hope (I hope I am wrong ...)
Thanks,

plunker · 10-19-2006, 03:42 PM

I just received mail and tried to retrieve mail again and it would not send the e-mails again. I deleted the e-mail from my inbox and trash folder and they would download again to me.

So If you leave them on the treo you won't get them again. Not sure if removing from the inbox or empting trash allowed the messages to download again.

Just tried it and if the message is in your inbox or the trash you won't get it again. AS soon as I empty the trash and inbox the message will re download.

Shaitan00 · 10-19-2006, 04:09 PM

plunker: THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!
I will test it when I get home....
If this works then I am perfectly able to handle that situation ....