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To: python-list@python.org
From: Dieter Maurer <dieter@handshake.de>
Subject: Re: Getting "empty" attachment with smtplib
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 08:37:24 +0100
References: <oSQos.17607$h94.1407@newsfe02.iad> <aZQos.6321$UE.1674@newsfe30.iad>
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Xref: csiph.com comp.lang.python:33374

Tobiah <toby@tobiah.org> writes:

> I just found out that the attachment works fine
> when I read the mail from the gmail website.  Thunderbird
> complains that the attachment is empty.

The MIME standard (a set of RFCs) specifies how valid messages
with attachments should look like.

Fetch the mail (unprocessed if possible) and look at its
structure. If it is conformant to the MIME standard, then
"Thunderbird" made a mistake; otherwise, something went wrong
with the message construction.

I can already say that "smtplib" is not to blame. It is (mostly) unconcerned
with the internal structure of the message -- and by itself
will not empty attachments.