EML Parser Plugin

Overview

Streamline Email Integration and Archiving
The EML Parser Plugin addresses a critical gap in process automation: the handling of raw email files (.eml) stored within Appian. While Appian has native email pollers, many workflows rely on manually uploaded email files (e.g., drag-and-drop from Outlook to Appian Interface) or files ingested via generic document integrations. Without this plugin, these files are "black boxes"—their contents (subject, sender, body, attachments) are inaccessible to business rules.

Case Management Automation:

Scenario: A customer support agent attaches an email trail (.eml) to a Case Record.
Solution: The plugin automatically parses the file, extracting the sender to link the case to a Customer Record, and saves embedded attachments (PDFs, images) as separate Appian Documents for easy previewing.

Compliance & Archiving:

Scenario: A legal team uploads bulk email exports for audit.
Solution: The plugin extracts metadata (Sent Date, From, To) to create searchable database records, ensuring full auditability of communications without manual data entry.

Intelligent Document Processing (IDP):

Scenario: Emails containing invoices are uploaded.
Solution: The plugin strips the email wrapper, extracting the PDF invoice attachment and forwarding it downstream to Appian IDP or AI skills for processing.

Business Value:

Reduced Manual Effort: Eliminates the need for users to open emails locally and copy-paste data into Appian forms.
Enhanced Security: Automatically blocks malicious attachment types (e.g., .exe, .bat) before they enter your document repository.
Better Data Quality: Ensures email metadata is captured accurately and consistently for reporting and search.

Key Features & Functionality

Core Features:

Complete Metadata Extraction: Instantly parses standard email headers including Subject, From, To, CC, BCC, and Sent Date, enabling precise indexing and routing of email records.
Dual-Format Body Support: Extracts both text/plain and text/html body content independently. This allows you to display a clean, readable preview in Appian interfaces while preserving the original formatting for audit purposes.
Intelligent Attachment Handling:
- Automated Saving: Extracts embedded files from the EML and saves them as distinct Appian Documents.
- "Smart Default" Routing: If no target folder is specified, the plugin automatically saves attachments to the same folder as the parent email file, reducing configuration overhead.
- Size & Count Limits: Configurable thresholds (MaxAttachmentCount , MaxTotalBytes) to prevent storage overload from massive email dumps.
Security & Performance:
- Malicious File Blocking: Built-in security layer automatically detects and blocks dangerous attachment types (e.g., .exe, .bat, .js, .vbs) to protect your environment from malware embedded in emails.
- Recursion Protection: Implements a strict depth limit (30 levels) to prevent "Zip bomb" style attacks or infinite loops in deeply nested forwarded emails.