[Imap-protocol] IMAP MOVE extension

[Stu Brandt]

Since the focus here seems to be on conveying the state following a 
partially completed Move for those who can't implement an atomic move, 
how about something like the following?

       Example:    C: A003 MOVE 3000:3002 Trash
                   S: * 3000 EXPUNGE
                   S: * 3001 COPIED
                   S: A003 NO MOVE Incomplete


Avoiding a Move command because it can't be atomic for *some* 
implementations simply shifts the burden of atomicity back to the client 
since nearly all clients I've seen offer a Move action.  I wonder how 
many clients actually graciously handle a partially successful Copy + 
Store/Expunge vs. how many just punt and shift the cleanup burden to the 
user who has no clue why they now have copies of their messages in both 
Inbox and <pick-a-name>.

- Stuart

Mark Crispin wrote:

> A successful MOVE, on the other hand, is an unconditional guarantee that

> all the requested message(s) were moved.  But it it?  Similarly, a failed

> MOVE ought to be an unconditional guarantee that none of the requested

> messages(s) were moved.  But, once again, is it?

>

> What happens when there is an error in the middle of the move?  Is 

> there a

> state in which some messages were moved and others were not?  Is there a

> state in which some messages appear in both places (so it was a copy 

> after

> all)?  Is there a state in which some messages vanished completely?