block incoming emails when user defined attachment size exceeded - option?

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block incoming emails when user defined attachment size exceeded - option?

I live in an area where internet usage is charged per downloaded/uploaded MB.

Sometimes a friend will send an email with huge attachments, and Apple Mail brings the mail in automatically, costing me an arm and a leg.

Is there a way to tell Apple Mail: Bring in ALL mail EXCEPT messages which are larger than, say, 10mb? Let me look at those messages to decide whether they are worth bringing them in or not.

Thanks for the help!

MacBook Unibody, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 3, 2010 8:51 AM

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Answer 1

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Matt Clifton

Level 7

29,975 points

Aug 3, 2010 9:07 AM in response to Twirk

Since Mail can't apply a rule until the message is downloaded, the only way to do it is to make all attachments offline. In Accounts preferences, click on your account, click Advanced, and under "Keep copies of messages", choose "All messages, but omit attachments". When you receive a message with an attachment, it'll tell you how large it is, and you can choose whether or not to download it (by clicking the icon that's displayed in the message).

Matt

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Answer 2

Aug 3, 2010 9:15 AM in response to Twirk

Mail Preferences>Accounts: select the account in question. Go to the 'Advanced' tab and set 'Prompt me to skip messages over'... to a suitable size.

This will prevent the message downloading (you will be offered it again on the next check).

To remove the message, hit command-i, select the server in question if there is more than one, highlight the message and click 'Remove from Server'. (This is not undoable).

AFAIK you can't remove just the attachment, unfortunately: if your account offers webmail you could look at the message there and you might be able to remove the attachment there.

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Answer 3

Aug 3, 2010 9:17 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Roger: does that option only appear for POP accounts? (I have IMAP accounts only and don't see it.)

Matt

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Answer 4

Aug 3, 2010 9:20 AM in response to Matt Clifton

POP accounts only. An IMAP account is looking at the messages on the server, not downloading them unless you take specific steps to do this. As I don't use IMAP mail I can't say exactly what happens with attachments.

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Answer 5

Aug 3, 2010 9:26 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Gotcha, thanks!

Twirk, if you have POP accounts, Roger's instructions will work; for IMAP accounts, you can use the method I posted.

Matt

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Answer 6

Twirk Author

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Aug 7, 2010 7:00 PM in response to Matt Clifton

Matt and Roger,
Thank you very much for your help.

I am using IMAP, so the first solution was helpful for me. Hopefully someone else will benefit from the other POP solution as well.

Thanks again!

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Answer 7

Twirk Author

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Aug 11, 2010 12:23 PM in response to Matt Clifton

Hi Matt,
I have done as you suggested, however Apple Mail still downloads the attachments automatically.

Any ideas?

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Answer 8

Aug 11, 2010 1:34 PM in response to Twirk

Did you open such a message? If so, then the attachment will download. You have to avoid reading the message. I think in Mail 4.x, there is a delay in reporting whether a message has an attachment, and thus the size of the message. You may have to open another mailbox, and then come back to the Inbox to see the message attachments symbol. Not tested thoroughly, but have replicated some of this.

Note, my previous testing was with the Sent mailbox and an IMAP account re: attachments showing. Disregard the issue unless you find similar with Inbox.

Ernie

Message was edited by: Ernie Stamper

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Answer 9

Twirk Author

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Aug 29, 2010 5:51 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

Hey Ernie,
Yes i opened such a message. I understand the way it works now. I had been thinking there was a button inside the message body that showed what size the attachment was, which i then had to click if i wanted to download the attachment. But it is not that way.

My conclusion is that it is not possible to pick and choose which attachments to bring in or not, without major headache.

Also, leaving the "keep copies of messages for offline viewing" set to "all messages but omit attachments" means i would be downloading the attachments every time i open a message, guzzling my monthly internet bandwidth.

Thank you for all your input.

Much appreciated!

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Answer 10

Twirk Author

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Sep 9, 2010 4:58 AM in response to Twirk

So the answer to my question, is basically that it is not possible when using IMAP.

Perhaps this is a feature Apple will consider implementing, although i realize that internet usage is becoming cheaper, rendering, over time this option unnecessary.

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