How to make a copy of the IMAP Sent messages when the Sent folder file can not be found?
My Thunderbird works fine. I can also see messages sent in the Sent folder but I wonder are the sent messages only saved in the IMAP server. For the backup purposes I would like to copy the file of the Sent folder but I can not find a local file for it.
In /home/me/.thunderbird/44g5fxvp.default/ImapMail/mail.[mymail].fi I do have files Archives-1.sbd Archives.msf Deleted Messages Deleted Messages.msf Drafts.msf INBOX INBOX.msf inbox_old inbox_old.msf msgFilterRules.dat Sent.msf Templates.msf Trash.msf Trash.sbd
I.e.the Sent.msf esists but there is not file named Sent. Am I looking from a wrong place? Are my Thunderbird settings or preferences wrong? Is there something obvious I have missed?
What is the most convenient way to make a local copy of the Sent folder messages if Thunderbird does not make a local copy of it?
Information about my system: Application Basics Name Thunderbird Version 31.0 User Agent Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:31.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/31.0
Application Build ID 20140721092545 Enabled Plugins about:plugins Build Configuration about:buildconfig Memory Use about:memory
Mail and News Accounts [...] account3 (imap) mail.[mymail].fi:993 SSL/TLS Normal password smtpa.[mymail].fi:465 SSL/TLS Normal password true
Modified by -Sauli-
الحل المُختار
Subscribed folders in IMAP mail accounts that are set up to synchronise and place a copy of the server folder in the Profile, but this folder is constantly being updated to match the server, so if you get new mail then these changes are made to the server folder and the folder on your computer is updated to match the server folder. Or if you delete mail from your copy then it will update the server. So synchronised folders are constantly being changed and updated. By going offline whilst copying/moving, it stops activity on synchronised folders and allows you get a copy to anywhere else you desire. Less chance of something going awry. then go back into online mode.
I have known some people have issues copying/moving emails when in online mode that are resolved when in offline mode.
Easy way to go 'offline and online' To go offline: Click on 2 blue screen icon located in bottom left of status bar.
To go back online: click on 2 black screen icon located in bottom left of status bar.
Some helpful info on IMAP backup:
ImportExporttool - very useful:
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (4)
re: the Sent.msf esists but there is not file named Sent
That is because they are not stored on your computer they are stored on the server. The Sent.msf file is just an indexing file and does not store emails.
re INBOX, INBOX.msf, inbox_old, inbox_old.msf These subscribed folders have been synchronised to get a local copy onto your computer in your Thunderbird profile folder.
You need to do the same with the 'Sent folder.
then go into 'offline' mode to stop further synchronising. Then you can right click on selected emails and save as .eml files in a folder external to Thunderbird. You can also copy or move emails into a suitable folder in Local Folders. These folders keep emails on your computer, they are not modified by the server, they do not synchronise with any IMAP mail account.
Modified by Toad-Hall
Thanks Toad-Hall,
That answered well to my question. I did as instructed and I can confirm that now I do have also the Sent file, not just the Sent.msf.
To clarify, I have a comment to your answer. I did not have any problems in accessing or saving selected messages from the Sent folder. My problem was that while trying to do a complete backup of all of my folders by copying everything below ~/.thunderbird/ the Sent messages were not backuped because the file named Sent didn't exist.
I wonder why you suggest that "then go into 'offline' mode to stop further synchronising". Is there some reason to stop the further synchronising?
Sauli
الحل المُختار
Subscribed folders in IMAP mail accounts that are set up to synchronise and place a copy of the server folder in the Profile, but this folder is constantly being updated to match the server, so if you get new mail then these changes are made to the server folder and the folder on your computer is updated to match the server folder. Or if you delete mail from your copy then it will update the server. So synchronised folders are constantly being changed and updated. By going offline whilst copying/moving, it stops activity on synchronised folders and allows you get a copy to anywhere else you desire. Less chance of something going awry. then go back into online mode.
I have known some people have issues copying/moving emails when in online mode that are resolved when in offline mode.
Easy way to go 'offline and online' To go offline: Click on 2 blue screen icon located in bottom left of status bar.
To go back online: click on 2 black screen icon located in bottom left of status bar.
Some helpful info on IMAP backup:
ImportExporttool - very useful:
Thanks again Toad-Hall,
Another excellent answer. I have learnt a lot about synchronising and making backups.
Sauli