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Just copying msgFilterRules.dat doesn't work. What am I missing?

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  • Last reply by Zenos

rmads
rmads
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Moving existing iMac users to a "refreshed" iMac (reformat drive, load new OS X, install apps, etc). Loading new copy of Thunderbird which is acting as client to GMail. Folder structure and messages copy over just fine from GMail when I configure Thunderbird. But, users have created specific message filters within Thunderbird to shuttle messages to specific folders. I SHOULD (according to all I've read) just be able to copy the corresponding msgFilterRules.dat from their old iMac to the proper (in this case Imap.Mail) folder that contains the reference to the mail server. I confirm that the old file does indeed have the filter definitions I'm looking for. I copy it into the appropriate folder on the new machine and it is simply not recognized when I check Tools > Message Filters, they are not there. What did I miss? What magic fairy dust is required other than what I am doing?

Moving existing iMac users to a "refreshed" iMac (reformat drive, load new OS X, install apps, etc). Loading new copy of Thunderbird which is acting as client to GMail. Folder structure and messages copy over just fine from GMail when I configure Thunderbird. But, users have created specific message filters within Thunderbird to shuttle messages to specific folders. I SHOULD (according to all I've read) just be able to copy the corresponding msgFilterRules.dat from their old iMac to the proper (in this case Imap.Mail) folder that contains the reference to the mail server. I confirm that the old file does indeed have the filter definitions I'm looking for. I copy it into the appropriate folder on the new machine and it is simply not recognized when I check Tools > Message Filters, they are not there. What did I miss? What magic fairy dust is required other than what I am doing?

All Replies (1)

Zenos
Zenos
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Any reason you're not just copying the whole profile?

Any variation in folder structure or naming can kill filters. Copying the whole profile is more likely to successfully preserve the structure.

I have copied filter files and it has worked. Without looking over your shoulder, it's hard to know where you missed the fairy dust.