Eudelf
Shannon's Eudora Deleted File Handler
contact: glider.bmezine.com
I like to backup all my email, including the messages that I delete. However, I don't like how big that can make Eudora's attachments directory. Even after deleting the viruses and images that I process for my site, I tend to build up about 25,000 "unlinked" images and other attachments per month. This software attempts to find all attachments that are not linked from unprocessed emails and allows you to bulk-execute commands on them.
This is a windows command line program, so you will have to be comfortable using a "DOS Prompt" to run it. You'll also need to know the locations of some of your Eudora files and directories. I have tested this with all current (as of Feb 2004) versions of Eudora. It has been tested under Windows XP, and should run on Win95 onward.
Usage:
Just run it from a command prompt and answer the questions (note: Eudelf will save your command and offer to re-execute the last command when it runs). Below are the options:
Eudora Mailbox(es)Using the Output Files:
You can specify as many mailboxes to scan as you'd like. Only files that are attached to (or embedded in) emails in these mailboxes will be considered valid for residency in the attachment directories. At a minimum you will probably want something like c:\program files\eudora\inbox.mbx (enter the full path and filename for the MBX file, not the TOC file).Eudora Attachment Directory
This will almost always be c:\program files\eudora\attach (no trailing slash), unless you are storing your attachments in a non-standard location or have installed Eudora in a non-default location.Eudora Embedded Directory
This will almost always be c:\program files\eudora\embedded (no trailing slash), unless you are storing your attachments in a non-standard location or have installed Eudora in a non-default location.Output file for FOUND files
If you select a filename for this output (you can skip it if you want to), a file will be created with protocommands for all the files that Eudora believes are in the directories and are linked from various emails. Usually you'd enter something like found.bat for this.Output file for LOST files
If you select a filename for this output (you can skip it as well if you'd like), a file will be created with protocommands for all the files that Windows can see in the attachment directories, but are not actually linked from current emails. You may notice that there are more of these files than you think there should be (ie. there will be more files than "windows count" - "eudora count"). This is usually due to some of the attachments not existing due to being deleted in the past (or other related error), or an analysis failure on the MBX file. Usually you'd enter something like lost.bat for this.
The output files are written in the format *CMD* filename *OPT*, with one file per line. If the filename needs it, quotes are placed around it. If you load this command file into notepad or another text editor, you can do simple search and replace to create your actual batch file. For example, I replace *CMD* with move and I also replace *OPT* with c:\mail\date\ to move all my expired files into a backup directory should I ever need to find them in the future.
General Notes:
You don't have to, but I'd strongly urge you to compress your mailboxes and close Eudora while this is running. I'd also advise you to manually read over the batch files at least the first couple times you use this in order to ensure it's operating like you think it should.
This software is free and open source and public domain. It comes without warranty of any kind and may contain dangerous bugs (although I doubt it does). Sourcecode is available below so you can check it or modify it. Other than that, enjoy, and use at your own risk!
Download:
eudelf.exe - 31,744 bytes - Executable program
eudelf.bas - 9,620 bytes - Source code (PBCC)