Re: From Gnus to mu4e

[Suvayu Ali <fatkasuvayu+linux@gmail.com>]

Hi,

I think I can answer some of your queries.

On Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 11:23:36PM +0200, Julien Cubizolles wrote:
> 
> * Can OfflineImap or whatever imap sync tool used exclude some folders
>   in the main Maildir folder from being synced to the IMAP server ? I'd
>   like to be able to archive some old mail without it being sent to
>   Gmail.

Yes, it is possible.  Just use a folderfilter.  Something like this:

folderfilter = lambda foldername: foldername in ['INBOX', 'mysent',
	       'mailinglist', 'org-mode', 'mutt', 'Emacs', 'Tux', 'XFCE',
	       'bash', 'notmuch', 'travel', '[Google Mail]/Drafts']

So Colin's statement about mbsync being better than OfflineIMAP because
of this reason, is inaccurate.  Although, I have heard mbsync performs
better than OfflineIMAP, I still have to test this though.

> * Can mu4e use the Gmail labels for search queries ?

Probably not directly, but if it allows for limiting by folder name, it
should be possible.  You can do this with notmuch (I use notmuch).

> * If a message is tagged with several labels on Gmail, does it appear in
>   several folders in the local repository ? On a related note, if one
>   were to move a message from a folder in a repository synced with Gmail
>   to another folder not synced (for archiving purposes), I guess the
>   message would remain at least in the [Gmail]/All Mail folder. Is there
>   an easy way to remove it altogether from Gmail ?

There are many subtleties when it comes to Gmail's implementation of the
IMAP interface.  I would recommend reading these two articles:

- https://support.google.com/mail/answer/77657?hl=en
- https://support.google.com/mail/answer/78755?hl=en

That said, in Gmail, you need something like this:

When a message is marked as deleted and expunged from the last visible IMAP folder:
- [ ] Archive the message (default)
- [X] Move the message to the Bin
- [ ] Immediately delete the message forever

You can also set the last option, choosing the default will leave it in
Gmail.  On top of this, you should make sure the All Mail folder is
_not_ accessible over IMAP.  This is important.  As long as the message
is present in at least one IMAP folder, Gmail will retain it.  This is
where it becomes important how you choose to delete it.  With notmuch,
when you delete a message the delete flag will be forwarded to all the
respective messages in the maildir, which in turn ensures it is deleted
from Gmail the next time you sync.  Maybe mu4e does something similar.

Hope this helps,

-- 
Suvayu

Open source is the future. It sets us free.