can I check email with php?

I know how to send mail, but can I check it?

[pixeltierra]

so mail() is used to send mail.

How do I check mail?

[eelixduppy]

You will be able to find information here [php.net]. Good luck!

[proper_bo]

does anyone have experience of using this to allow users to add content to a site?

For example allow users to add blog posts or images by sending email?

Is this the way that you should go about it?

1) stick new emails in a database and delete them
2) process the emails content from the database

[the_nerd]

Simply use a <form> to upload information to your database - this way you cut out many loose ends:
- will the Email arrive (Spam Filters, ...)
- will the content be in the form that you expext,
- you'll have to cope with automated spam.

The only reason I see to do it would be an automated support system so you can catch customers' replay emails.

[pixeltierra]

the_nerd:

the considerations you mentioned are valid, however the system I'm needing to work with is the creation of a desktop application that needs to send info to the server and not rely on ftp or db ports being open. It will have to be an email or http file transfer. I haven't decided which to use yet.

[the_nerd]

pixeltierra,

I'd go for an http upload - meaning you have to process the uploaded file. And I always have mixed feelings letting people upload files to my server.

I you can make your customers paste the contents of their text files into a <textarea> - field in your http-form, you'll have the least effort.

good luck.

[proper_bo]

How about if you want users to be able to add content using only a mobile phone (with email capability) or on a computer in the middle of a third world country that can only cope with email?

The reason I want to know about checking email via php is that I want users to be able to contribute from locations that are less than modern or in ways that don't require full internet access.

[jatar_k]

if you want to add content or just process emails received to a specific address then you could use something like [procmail.org...]

we have used it to do automatic forum posts for support, add content automatically among other things