CheckMail Docklet for ObjectDock

[Smaky]

Well... this is the first preview of my new docklet. Something that was requested in the forum.

This CheckMail Docklet will check multiple POP3 accounts and show a summarized count of new mails.

It is still under early development... many features does not work (like SSL & the program launch), just wanted to get it tested so I can get some feedback on how to continue.

The icons are not complete... (thanks schrom for contributing them), but you can choose whatever icon suites your taste. Just remember that the newmail icon is supposed to get overlaid over the background icon. The animation icon is used while searching for new mails.

To be fair... the Docklet is inspired on PopWatch application by PJNaughter (http://www.naughter.com/popwatch.html), Initially I tried to port it to the docklet environment... but I faced too many problems integrating MFC to the Docklet so I finally decided to re-write it from scrath... but I adopted many ideas from his app.

I have received reports that the docklets works fine under RKLauncher & Rocket Dock but I have not tested it myself.

Updates:

+ 09/11/2008 - Small update to fix make "Do not check this account for emails" and some temporary fix to let the docklet check accounts which were not working properly (because

of an MD5 issue).

+ 09/11/2008 - This time i fixed a few things. I disabled the options that are still not functional (like enabling SSL & Balloon tooltips), the run program parameters are now implemented & I have included the animation schmrom kindly contributed to the docklet) and removed the shadow & outline from the number of mails shown. Clicking on the red area where the number of mails are shown will cycle through every configured account showing the number of mails available for that account.

+ 09/12/2008 - The login procedure now supports MD5 hash of the password whenever the server supports it (APOP), I integrated the RSA C reference implementation.

+ 09/15/2008 - Small update to fix a bug that crashed OD when configuring the docklet's icons.

+ 09/21/2008 - Updated to support SSL enabled servers via OpenSSL (statically linked, so there is no need for an additional download).

+ 09/27/2008 - Added support for mailer application per account. Just configure the application at the account dialog (or choose to use the Default app - configured at the main config dialog). Added a right menu context menu sumarizing the account stat (the context menu still does nothing else... maybe tomorrow).

+ 09/28/2008 - Added support to access gmail accounts using HTTPS gmail API. Configure the account type for each account in the configuration dialog.

+ 10/01/2008 - Added support for IMAP servers.

+ 10/05/2008 - Added configuration option to support UNSEEN/RECENT messages when IMAP protocol is selected. Added options to configure the font & color of the text used by the docklet (sorry, rotation is not yet implemented... was harder than I thought).

+ 10/09/2008 - Added a configuration option to rotate the number of mails shown by the docklet. Added an option to turn off the animation playing while searching for new emails. I also changed the way the animation is composed. Now the animation is overlaid over the background, so you may use whatever background you want (provided we are able to get a new set of icons that has an animation that only shows the moving arrows).

+ 10/12/2008 - Fixed a bug that crashed OD when no internet connection is available and the docklet tries to check for new mail. I updated the code that rotated the text to achieve a better rotation look, the text should be smoother now (v.1.0.7b).

+ 10/13/2008 - Revisited the lauch application code again... fixed some bugs (I may have introduced some of them yesterday) and added a "Parameters" configuration option, for those who need to send parameters to the configured application. Fixed the spinner controls to work as expected (v.1.0.7d).

+ 10/15/2008 - Added a "Run application even when there are no mails" option to the general settings & account settings, this option will let you run your configured mail application even when no mails were reported (kind of a shortcut). Fixed some bugs in the code that generated the label shown by the docklet (under some circumstances it would not display the expected message - specially when a particular account was selected). Finally I added the icon sets provided by schmrom & Ghostwalker (there are now a default icon package, a gmail & a yahoo! icon set).

+ 10/18/2008 - The docklet is now able to show the mail application if it was previously lanunched & minimized.

+ 10/18/2008 - When setting up your accounts the docklet will show and use default ports for IMAP & POP3 protocols. You may still change them to another port if default ports do not meet your setup. Added an Mailbox option to configure the mailbox that will be queried when using IMAP protocol.

+ 10/19/2008 - Fixed the accounts context menu to properly show the appropiate icon (depending on whether the account has mails or not).

+ 10/19/2008 + Added error handling code to the Gmail HTTPS checking routing in order to reduce the crashig some users have been reporting. The general configuration settings dialos will now show centered in the screen & other config dialogs will be centered to the general config dialog (v0.1.0.7k).

+ 10/20/2008 + Revisited (again) the code for checking gmail using HTTPS, fixed a hidden bug that may be the culprit of some crashes reported lately - tested both OD/OD+ & RD (v0.1.0.7l).

+ 10/21/2008 + Fixed a bug that ElMaestro pointed out in the IMAP4 code that prevented it to properly process the information sent by some servers. Streamlined the code and fixed some bugs with the icons configuration dialog, it now will let you cancel the changes (previously changing icons was permanent even if you cancelled the dialog) (v0.1.0.7m).

+ 10/31/2008 + An small trick for halloween... at least the first release of the docklet. I have made a few quirks to the animation code hoping that it will prevent the dock from crashing (specially for RocketDock & RKLauncher). A few minor updates to the icon sets too.

+ 11/18/2008 + Changed the way IMAP accounts check for unseen mail. I hope this will fix some issues with incorrect mail counts that have been reported lately.

+ 11/21/2008 + Integrated the accounts context menu to the general context menu, after some thought it seems to be easier to have both menus integrated so it's easier to use. The docklet will check the accounts whenever an application gets launched and left-click + hold will do an Check Mail Now action (v.0.1.0.9b).

+ 09/12/2008: Fixed a bug that caused the font not being drawn with the selected size (v.0.1.0.9d).

+ 07/03/2009: Updated the configuration box with a tabbed dialog to support more setting for fonts. Added functionallity to backup/restore the docklet configuration & account profiles and to arrange them as needed. Added icon to support correct display of mail count over 100 (v.0.1.1.0a).

+ 10/03/2009: Fixed bug with large badge not showing the mail count centered.

+ 10/03/2009: Fixed a bug that prevented 'N/A' count from being properly displayed.

+ 26/03/2010: Updated docklet to be Windows 7 compatible. Fixed issues with IMAP when used to check gmail accounts.

+ 28/03/2010: Option added to play sound only when mail count changes.

+ 01/04/2010: Small bug fixes (v.0.1.1.0g).

+ 03/04/2010: Bug fix that prevented some POP3 account to work properly (v.0.1.1.0h).

You may download the docklet from:

CheckMail - 0.1.1.0k.zip

Edited April 4, 2010 by Smaky

[Husaini HB]

Got you !!, he he, thank's a lot fedroponce, got to try it

[wasko]

Great, finally somebody did it. Please add launch mail application from docklet, and maybe make it works with RK. Thanks a lot for this.

[schmrom]

It isn't showing new mails and it isn't starting the app

Can you please remove the shadow and the outline at the count of new mails?

Also the animation isn't showing

[Smaky]

Wel... that's what the application parameter should do... eventually... as soon as I get some time to code that.

Great, finally somebody did it. Please add launch mail application from docklet, and maybe make it works with RK. Thanks a lot for this.

On the other hand, what do you think that would be the best way to launch the app... as soon as new mail is received, or by double-clicking on the docklet?

Another question is that if you would like me to show the total mails available from all accounts... I have the idea that clicking on the number of mails would cycle through every account configured... showing the number of mails in that account. What do you all think?

[Smaky]

schmrom,

1) The docklet shows the sum of all mails at the server... I am not sure if there is a way to actually identify all "unread" messages in the server... right now I am using the POP3 stat command to retrieve the number of mails.

2) The application launch is not yet functional.

3) The animation is shown while searching for new mails... after the accounts are checked, the normal icon is shown again with the red dot. So if there is only one account configured and you have a fase internet connection it shout take 1 ot 2 secconds to check your server, so the animation would show just for a sec.

4) No problem with removing that... so you only want it plain white.

It isn't showing new mails and it isn't starting the app

Can you please remove the shadow and the outline at the count of new mails?

Also the animation isn't showing

[Husaini HB]

Wel... that's what the application parameter should do... eventually... as soon as I get some time to code that.

On the other hand, what do you think that would be the best way to launch the app... as soon as new mail is received, or by double-clicking on the docklet?

Another question is that if you would like me to show the total mails available from all accounts... I have the idea that clicking on the number of mails would cycle through every account configured... showing the number of mails in that account. What do you all think?

launch Thunderbird, fedroponce

I like the the 2nd idea.

but I don't know, it doesn't work so far in mine, do I miss something ?, maybe how to configure it ?, thank's fedroponce

[Smaky]

Thanks for your feedback

I'm not sure if I will be able to make it RK compatible... several of my docklets fail to work well under RK, I have no info on RK SDK, and little time to code.

...maybe make it works with RK.

[schmrom]

I know that there are mails on the server, but it isn't showing it

[Smaky]

Ok, I tested with the account you kindly set up for me and as I supposed it was related to the server accepting MD5 hashed passwords. So I disabled that and let do regular login... it should work now.

I know that there are mails on the server, but it isn't showing it

BTW, if anyone knows about a simple MD5 implementation for C++ please tell me so I can integrate it to the code.

[schmrom]

Thanks fedroponce

I made a better animation for it: Click me!

[Smaky]

Thank you!

That animation is much better...

Thanks fedroponce

I made a better animation for it: Click me!

[Smaky]

Thank you!

That animation is much better... I will include it in the deployment.

Thanks fedroponce

I made a better animation for it: Click me!

[Smaky]

It is fixed (I hope)... I tested here and it worked.

You may configure whatever mail app you want and it might get lauched automatically or by clicking on th docklet.

launch Thunderbird, fedroponce

I like the the 2nd idea.

but I don't know, it doesn't work so far in mine, do I miss something ?, maybe how to configure it ?, thank's fedroponce

[Smaky]

Well, almost all functionallity is now ready... there are a few things I would like to have your feedback so I may continue with development.

1) Do you think that SSL support should be implemented?

2) Do you think that MD5 encryption for password should be implemented (in case the server supports it)?

3) Should some kind of password encryption should be added so the password will not get saved in plain text? (Not sure if the SDK will let me save a binary value to the INI fine).

4) Continuing on the click-cycling stuff... what other information should be shown and how? I have the name of the connection & the last "result" for the checking... that is, I could show the name of the current selected account & the result of the last check (like... Checked OK, Not able to connect, Not able to log-in, etc.)

Thanks for your feed-back

[Ghostwalker]

Will this not work with Gmail? My bad I just noticed SSL, please add SSL support.

By the way fedroponce I had to reformat my harddrive and will get you the animation image for your printer docklets as soon as I can (sorry).

[Smaky]

I have been facing some problems to integrate SSPI to the docklet... this way SSL would work.

If anyone out there knows more about SSPI I will surely appreciate your help!

Will this not work with Gmail? My bad I just noticed SSL, please add SSL support.

[Ghostwalker]

I have an imap account also anyway of adding imap support?

[Smaky]

Small update again... fixed a bug that crashed OD while configuring the docklet icons.

Still trying to figure out how to implement SSPI+SSL to give support for SSL POP3 mail... hope it does not take too long.

[Smaky]

Well I will have to research on that.

I have an imap account also anyway of adding imap support?

[Ghostwalker]

Thanks your up there with some of the best docklet makers you, Ave and Matonga.

[Smaky]

Thanks a lot... just by considering me among those guys! Wel... I really think I'm not still up to the challenge... but will continue working my way up!

Thanks your up there with some of the best docklet makers you, Ave and Matonga.

[Smaky]

I have finally completed a test base project for using OpenSSL to connect to a POP3 server via SSL... I was able to retrieve my gmail account stats from it.

So, stay tunned... I hope I will be able to integrate this to the docklet in a few days.

This would create a dependency on OpenSSL libraries... what do you think?

[Ghostwalker]

That would be fine If I remember right openSSL was not that big of a download.

[Smaky]

I think I will include OpenSSL as an static link, so it would not be necessary to download anything else.. it will just increase the size of the docklet download a bit... (I believe it's about 200K or a bit more).

That would be fine If I remember right openSSL was not that big of a download.