[Gmail-Users] Re: Pop3 ONLY from the Inbox

unkerjay@gmail.com wrote:
> What I am suggesting is the option of perhaps pop3 by filter or by
> label. Something which allows not for EVERYTHING or from now
> on, but specifically selected emails and NO others.
>
> For example, in Windows Explorer there is either the option to
> use Shift-Click to select ALL or Ctrl-Click to Cherry pick items.
>
> There seems to be no cherry pick option for Pop3.

Correct. The protocol is not set up to work that way. That said,
there are mail programs that let you set up to download just the
headers, select from the headers the mail you want to download, then
download them and mark the others "read". When it is marked "read" on
the GMail server is when it no longer shows available for download.
Unfortunately the more popular POP3 reading programs (at least the
Microsoft ones) don't offer this option... it is a client-side issue.
I haven't personally used Thunderbird, and haven't used Eudora in over
a decade, but they might offer an option more to your liking. Or do an
online search for "selective POP3 download".

> In other words, say, I want to apply pop3 only to emails I've
> labeled "Special Project" for instance.

It's possible with a program like the ones I recommended above that you
could write a filter to automatically decide which ones to download and
which not.

> Based on the options given, I can't. I can just either pop3
> from this point forward or ALL emails.
>
> Now if I have over 500 emails in Gmail and only 25 in "Special
> Project", I have to take ALL 500 to get the 25 I need.
>
> If they're older emails, there's no way to get them using only
> the "from now on" option.

That's where the "Download all" option in GMail comes in. Once you
have your selective download program set up, turn your GMail POP3 to
ALL MESSAGES, and it will be able to get your older ones as well.

> Make more sense.?

Yes. Hopefully my answers do as well.