PHP and IMAP - Restoring Messages

I'm a beginner when it comes to PHP, so forgive me if this is a dumb question.

I know I can write a script that will connect to my IMAP server and save all the folders and messages to a mySQL database, but can I take the contents of the database, and put those messages back again? I haven't been able to find anything like that. I am going to be switching web hosts and I don't have access to the files on the new mail server.

Thanks!
Chris Zeman

are you having your emails stored into a database when they come into the mailserver? I know there are plugins that do that for you for some of them. Are you sure they are stored that way on your curent provider?

As for transferring them to another server I'm not sure about that, I don't have much experience going from one server to another with mail backups. What mail server do they use andw hat mail client are you using?

No, they're currently stored in flat text files generated by the mail server. The current server is either Linux or Unix through Just-Hosting. I wanted to write a script that would put the emails in a database, but parsing the text files might be easier or a better route. I was hoping to find a way to connect to the new mail server and "synchronize" so noone loses their email. I setup Outlook Express with a few of the email accounts already connecting using IMAP. That might be the easiest way to go, I guess, but at the same time I'd like to come up with a way to automate the process and distribute the script to others in the same boat as myself.

Chris