# Copyright (C) 2004 Mark H. Lyon <[email protected]>
#
# This file is the Mbox & Maildir to Gmail Loader (GML).
#
# Mbox & Maildir to Gmail Loader (GML) is free software; you can redistribute  
# it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License 
# as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of 
# the License, or (at your option) any later version. A copy of this license 
# should be included in the file COPYING. 
#
# GML is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT
# ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or
# FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License
# for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
# along with GML; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
# 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA

# Origional development thread at Ars Technica:
# http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=6330927813&m=108000474631
#
# Version 0.1 - 15 Jun 04 16:28 Supports Mbox
# Version 0.2 - 15 Jun 04 18:48 Implementing Magus` suggestion for Maildir
# Version 0.3 - 16 Jun 04 16:17 Implement Rold Gold suggestion for counters
# Further versions noted in python file

I recently was invited to use Google's GMail service by a friend.  As you 
certainly know, Google included an entire gigabyte of storage space with 
the account, which is wonderful for email packrats like me.  I, for instance, 
have all my email dating back from 1994 stored in Netscape.  When I realized 
the benefit of having all my email easily searched and managed through GMail, 
I looked for an option to import my existing messages.  No such feature exists.

To remedy this problem, I've created the Mbox & Maildir to Gmail Loader (GML).  

To use, simply download the executable to the same folder as your mbox files.  
Then, run the command:

  gml.exe [mbox or maildir] [mbox file or maildir path] [gmail address]

For example, when I transferred my Netscape email to my new GMail account, I 
used the command:

  gml.exe mbox "c:\mail\Inbox" [email protected]

The loader will then send one message every 2 seconds to GMail's servers.  
The delay between messages is to reduce the load sending so many messages 
will certainly create.  Start it running, go to bed, and see the results in 
the morning.  Alternatively, you can sort your messages as they come in. 

The messages will not be deleted from your local Mbox file, so you can 
continue to use that as a permanent storage location.  Personally, I have set 
up my mail to be stored on a POP3 server which is downloaded into Mozilla for 
long-term storage and forwarded to GMail for web-based usage.