Files in the spool are mail messages on the way in or out of the spool. You can determine what stage a message is in by looking at the first character in the file name and by looking at the file extension.
When an e-mail message is in the spool, it is a "data file" with a file name that begins with D. Data files have matching T, Q, and A files as they get processed.
First Character in Filename |
Explanation |
A |
A data file undergoing connection filtering and SPF testing; deleted when message is delivered. |
D |
A file that matches the data file while the message is inbound; when the message is fully received; the T file is renamed to a Q. |
T |
A file that matches the data file while the IMail Server attempts to deliver the message. |
A |
A locked file that is being processed. These files also have a tilde (~) in the file extension. (If three characters of the filename are nex, the file is being processed via (??web messaging or the IMail Web Client) or imail1.exe). |
*~?? |
A locked file that is being processed. These files also have a tilde (~) in the file extension. (If three characters of the filename are nex, the file is being processed by (??web messaging or the IMail Web Client) or imail1.exe). |
F |
A Mail to Fax file. |
Normally, messages are processed in a few seconds or minutes. However, if there is message delivery problem, the associated files may stay in the spool longer.
IMail does not delete the data file when a message is not deliverable; therefore, no message is ever truly lost.
If you reboot your system while a message is being received, IMail may leave behind the T and D files. You can use the Spool Cleaner utility to clean up these files.
About the Spool Directory (Queue)