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Change of file extensions in new Thunderbird.

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by sfhowes

John
John
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I quote from a previous correspondence to illustrate my problem: Question: Quote There are no mab files on the new PC's profile. How do I get my old address book on the new PC? Unquote Answer: Quote Copy the mab files into the profile folder of the new computer, and rename the 2 sqlite files, with TB closed. On restart, TB should convert the mab files to sqlite files, and create abook.mab.bak and history.mab.bak. Unquote

I get what needs to be done, but since I am not privy to the preceding communication, it could be the reason, I do not fully understand what is meant which files the quote renaming the 2 sqlite files unquote refer to, as pasting the abook.mab and History.mab and changing their file extension to sqlite failed to bring the desired result. Likewise, attempts to change the file extensions on abook.sqlite and history.sqlite brings no joy.

My version of Thunderbird is 91.3.2. I use win10 pro.

Can anyone bring some clarity? Thank you in anticipation

I quote from a previous correspondence to illustrate my problem: Question: Quote There are no mab files on the new PC's profile. How do I get my old address book on the new PC? Unquote Answer: Quote Copy the mab files into the profile folder of the new computer, and rename the 2 sqlite files, with TB closed. On restart, TB should convert the mab files to sqlite files, and create abook.mab.bak and history.mab.bak. Unquote I get what needs to be done, but since I am not privy to the preceding communication, it could be the reason, I do not fully understand what is meant which files the quote renaming the 2 sqlite files unquote refer to, as pasting the abook.mab and History.mab and changing their file extension to sqlite failed to bring the desired result. Likewise, attempts to change the file extensions on abook.sqlite and history.sqlite brings no joy. My version of Thunderbird is 91.3.2. I use win10 pro. Can anyone bring some clarity? Thank you in anticipation

All Replies (3)

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Every profile made by TB 91 has abook.sqlite and history.sqlite, the two default address books, that are empty in a new profile. Close TB and rename them to abook.sqlite.bak and history.sqlite.bak, so TB can recreate new sqlite files on restart, but first copy in abook.mab and history.mab. Now, when TB restarts, it should automatically convert the mab files to sqlite files. If that doesn't work, close TB and move the mab files out of the profile, e.g. to Documents, restart TB, import the mab files from Tools/Import...Address Books...Mork database...select a mab file.

andy191
andy191
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Hi, I'm jumping in on this one as I have a similar problem. I had a laptop crash and had Windows re-installed and lost all programmes including Thunderbird. I had previously backed up the TBird profile a couple of months ago. I have got my emails back but my contacts are .mab format and new TBird is .sqlite. I followed your advice above and imported abook.mab files. I now have all my sub-lists (although they are not named!). However my Personal Address Book and Collected Addresses are both empty. I tried to import history.mab but that crashed TBird. Might this be my total collection email addresses that I'm really after? I also have 25 impab.mab files - do I need to import all of those as well? Any help most gratefully received.

sfhowes
sfhowes
  • Top 10 Contributor
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If you have a crash ID from Help/More Troubleshooting, Crash Reports, post it here. It's a string starting with bp-... A new install would have empty Personal Address Book and Collected Addresses. Import abook.mab, then drag the contacts onto the Personal Address Book icon; same with history.mab and Collected Addresses.

The only way to import the impab.mab files is one at a time from Tools/Import.