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mfSeen

mfSeen = 4

Example​

procedure CheckReadState(Message: TIdMessage; var HasBeenSeen: Boolean);
begin
  HasBeenSeen := mfSeen in Message.Flags;
end;

Usage​

mfSeen represents IMAP Seen state and the read flag affected by Velox's non-PEEK full-message retrieval.

Additional Technical Info​

mfSeen maps to IMAP \Seen and represents read state in the retrieved TIdMessage.Flags snapshot.

The example tests that snapshot. It is source-reviewed and is not executed by the documentation workflow.

Velox retrieval quirk

Velox first retrieves flags by UID, then downloads the full message with Indy's UIDRetrieve. That method explicitly uses the non-PEEK IMAP fetch path (RFC822, not BODY.PEEK), which asks the server to set \Seen as part of retrieval.

The full retrieval happens before Velox finishes sender, recipient and custom-script filtering. Consequently a message that is later skipped can already be marked Seen, regardless of the configured AfterReceiving action. Do not assume only successfully handled messages become read.

When AfterReceiving is Read, Velox initially skips messages whose fetched snapshot already contains mfSeen, then batches an explicit UID STORE add for handled UIDs. On a normal compliant server that final add is often redundant after non-PEEK retrieval, but it is still a separate command that can fail and affect the flow result.

State boundaries

  • Local set assignment sends no IMAP command.
  • Seen does not prove Velox processing succeeded, attachments were saved or a person read the content.
  • A server/client can add or remove it concurrently, subject to permanent flags and policy.
  • Use an external processing/audit key for exactly-once workflow decisions; read state alone is not a durable transaction marker.

Errors, performance and concurrency

Local testing is constant-time. Flag retrieval, full-message fetch and explicit STORE are separate network operations with separate failure points and snapshots.

Related entries

  • mfRecent is session-managed arrival state, not unread state.
  • mfDeleted participates in Velox delete/move handling.
  • TIdMessageFlagsSet documents local replacement and remote boundaries.

External references

Created 2026-07-15