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In global search I'm now limited to less than 1000 results (hits). Why does it not give me more hits?

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  • 1 has this problem
  • 157 views
  • Last reply by atomicpro

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In global search I'm now limited to less than 1000 results (hits). Why does it not give me more hits? This is a deal breaker. Why have a global search if it won't show all the results. I don't remember this problem in the past. Here's what I notice. I put in a common work in the global search and no matter what word I type it limits me to under 1000 hits. So with a common word I'm not able to search back further than mid 2018, because that's about 977 hits. See how useless this is. Please please fix this.

In global search I'm now limited to less than 1000 results (hits). Why does it not give me more hits? This is a deal breaker. Why have a global search if it won't show all the results. I don't remember this problem in the past. Here's what I notice. I put in a common work in the global search and no matter what word I type it limits me to under 1000 hits. So with a common word I'm not able to search back further than mid 2018, because that's about 977 hits. See how useless this is. Please please fix this.

Chosen solution

it limits you to 1000 hits due to performance reasons.

These limits are controlled by two undocumented preferences in config editor

mailnews.database.global.search.im.limit mailnews.database.global.search.msg.limit

The first is the limit on chat conversations to return and the second is email. Both are integer values with a default of 1000. Increase it at your own risk, given they were set cautiously you might get a lot further before you hit the everything is frozen for a minute wall. Note that clicking show as list will be where the real performance issues may arrive. Up until then it is just a database query being returned as a web page. Note that you probably want a 64 bit version of Windows here.

The bug that set the limit for reference https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=742236

As opening in a list required the opening of all the subject folders that are contained in the search results, this can mean 32 bit windows can actually run out of file handles to manage the files. On your average consumer dell you will be running so slowly by then that it will not matter usually before that limit is hit. lack of memory and slow disks will make your eyes water.

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I tried rebuilding the global database as you suggested. It still has not solved my problem. It's still limited to 1000 hits. Again 1000 is not an acceptable amount. Why does the global search have a limit? Please help me find a solution.

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Chosen Solution

it limits you to 1000 hits due to performance reasons.

These limits are controlled by two undocumented preferences in config editor

mailnews.database.global.search.im.limit mailnews.database.global.search.msg.limit

The first is the limit on chat conversations to return and the second is email. Both are integer values with a default of 1000. Increase it at your own risk, given they were set cautiously you might get a lot further before you hit the everything is frozen for a minute wall. Note that clicking show as list will be where the real performance issues may arrive. Up until then it is just a database query being returned as a web page. Note that you probably want a 64 bit version of Windows here.

The bug that set the limit for reference https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=742236

As opening in a list required the opening of all the subject folders that are contained in the search results, this can mean 32 bit windows can actually run out of file handles to manage the files. On your average consumer dell you will be running so slowly by then that it will not matter usually before that limit is hit. lack of memory and slow disks will make your eyes water.

Modified by Matt

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This works great! It adds a little delay to the search but no issues. Still way faster than looking through several folders to try and find emails. FYI: I set mine at 6000.

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Also, Thank you!