Dear All,
Much to my chagrin, I find myself obliged to receive mail on an Exchange server that presents to the world only its Outlook-like web interface. That's right, no POP3, no IMAP, just the web interface.
It won't surprise you to learn that all I want to do with this setup is log in, find what new messages are in the inbox, and forward them to a friendlier mail server.
Doing this manually with a web browser, however, is a hassle, because the web interface has no facility for forwarding multiple selected messages simultaneously, so I have to open up each message individually, and forward them one at a time. (Aside: I suspect this is a configuration option that's been chosen by the local sysadmins of the Exchange server. If so, they must _really_ dislike me.)
So to my (surprisingly on-topic) question: is there an open-source client-side tool that can automate all this drudgery, please?
On 13/07/10 12:19, Dan wrote:
Dear All,
Much to my chagrin, I find myself obliged to receive mail on an Exchange server that presents to the world only its Outlook-like web interface. That's right, no POP3, no IMAP, just the web interface.
You don't mention what version of exchange. It can matter
If it is 2003, do you know if the sysadmin has enabled the outlook over https (different from OWA) connector. It should happen pretty much by default if they have been applying updates to the system. Because your very best option might sadly be to run Outlook in Wine (the CAL bought to allow you to use exchange should include a license for Outlook so you don't necessarily need a MS Office license)
Doing this manually with a web browser, however, is a hassle, because the web interface has no facility for forwarding multiple selected messages simultaneously, so I have to open up each message individually, and forward them one at a time. (Aside: I suspect this is a configuration option that's been chosen by the local sysadmins of the Exchange server. If so, they must _really_ dislike me.)
No it's a side effect of running the browser interface in anything other than IE. You get the minimal client mode which has various problems, no workable search and by default will time out halfway through a lengthy email. Some of the issues are fixable (like the timeout) but the issue you mention isn't as far as I know. But is there a reason you can't ask the admin to set up a server side rule or just simply redirect your mail to another address ?
So to my (surprisingly on-topic) question: is there an open-source client-side tool that can automate all this drudgery, please?
Well assuming 2003 then Evolution can I think talk to the Outlook Web Access pages and retrieve your mail from there...I suspect you will find that message rules don't work properly but at least your mail would be in a real client.
On Tue, 13 Jul 2010, Wayne Stallwood wrote:
But is there a reason you can't ask the admin to set up a server side rule or just simply redirect your mail to another address ?
The sysadmins volunteered the answer to this without being asked. The answer was that they won't countenance the use of the Exchange equivalent of a .forward file under any circumstances whatever. And a somewhat pointed offer of the opportunity to attend a training course in the use of OWA.
Thanks to all who replied. One or two of the leads sound promising.
On 13/07/10 12:19, Dan wrote:
Dear All,
Much to my chagrin, I find myself obliged to receive mail on an Exchange server that presents to the world only its Outlook-like web interface. That's right, no POP3, no IMAP, just the web interface.
Ouch! name and shame.
So to my (surprisingly on-topic) question: is there an open-source client-side tool that can automate all this drudgery, please?
I had a similar problem that I solved using a windows tool called macro-scheduler. But that's not open and not linux.
I could suggest a tool like w3m which may allow you to GET the webmail page and then you could build the necessary POST messages from within a shell script.
How simple or complex that script would be I can not say.
Some one also mentioned edbrowse which may also assist.
hth nev
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Dan -
nev young -
Wayne Stallwood