The `msg-parser` module enables reading, parsing, and converting Microsoft Outlook MSG E-Mail files. It facilitates extracting email properties, handling nested MSG/EML attachments, and outputting message content as JSON strings or EML files. The library is currently at version 1.2.0 (last released December 2019) and is compatible with Python 3.4 and higher.
pip install msg_parserVerified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.
This quickstart demonstrates how to load an MSG file, access its properties (subject, sender), retrieve the message body, iterate through and save attachments, and convert the MSG file to EML format. It includes basic error handling for file existence.
Process large files sequentially, consider available memory, or explore alternative libraries (e.g., `extract-msg`) if memory becomes a bottleneck. Be mindful of system resources when dealing with numerous or massive MSG files.
Always wrap file parsing in `try-except` blocks to gracefully handle potential parsing errors. Validate input file integrity where possible, or use more robust error handling for unexpected file structures.
Test thoroughly with your specific MSG file types and Python versions. If you encounter issues with newer Python versions or complex/recent MSG features, you might need to contribute to the project or consider alternative, more actively maintained libraries.
Ensure the input file is a valid and intact Outlook MSG file. Verify the file path is correct and the file isn't zero-byte. If files are generated by third-party tools, check their output for compliance.
Double-check the `msg_file_path` variable. Ensure the file exists at that exact location and that you have read permissions. Use `os.path.exists()` for pre-check or provide an absolute path.
The `msg-parser` library generally handles encodings, but if this error occurs, it might be an edge case. Consider trying to explicitly specify encoding if the library allowed it (which `MsOxMessage` constructor doesn't directly expose for the main file content). Inspect the problematic part of the file (if possible) for its true encoding.