Remove large # messages in POP Alias acct that were addressed to Master acct
Tbird 115.5.1 linux. Problem: All Master (POP) acct msgs (still on server) were D/L to associated Alias acct (a separate TB acct). ? Easiest / fastest way to remove msgs originally to the Master address from the Alias acct - - WITHOUT deleting them from server, or... risk of messing up the TB master acct messages?
The Alias is separate TB acct from the Master (vs. using alias sub-folders in Master acct). Filters move new msgs for alias accts after arriving in master accts.
Problem acct is POP. I made serious blunder of checking new msgs in an alias acct & a 'shady cat' (literal feline) forced me to also enter the Master acct PW in Alias acct settings. (shakes head)
Now, ~ 98% of msgs in Alias acct were for the Master. Some wouldn't matter if deleted from server, but deciding which takes time.
I could make BU of mailbox files for Alias & Master accts; Then in BOTH POP accts, UNcheck until I delete them under "Leave messages on server," for "Server Settings." Then manually del unwanted msgs in Alias acct. IF... works as advertised, fine. If software glitch, it could del those msgs from server. Some report issues - TB not leaving msgs on server.
Is there another, relatively quick way to remove unwanted msgs in the Alias acct (editing mailbox files, etc.) w/o affecting the Master acct or files on server? Assuming don't D/L new msgs in Alias acct again, if manually edited Alias acct Inbox file, would Inbox.msf - or others - also need editing?
Editing the Inbox file in a text editor is doable, but tedious. Also thought of exporting Inbox file to CSV (or such) into a SS, to sort / delete records. I could see problems w/ that. Thnx!
Chosen solution
In part from David's ideas, I decided the fastest, easiest way to get all unwanted msgs out of the TB - "Alias" acct's Inbox is:
- BU mail storage files from Thunderbird profile
- Create new sub-folder(s) under Alias acct
- Create filter rules to move unwanted msgs from Alias Inbox to sub-folders.
(Could drag/drop msgs to sub-folders, but a lot of msgs)
- Deal w/ unneeded duplicate msgs - in new sub-folders, as needed.
Total time ~ 10 min (if know where to find mail files & how to create sub-folders & message filters) That's It! Thanks!
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I don't fully grasp what you're doing, but I will try. - Since your intent is not to use the second account for downloading but to separate alias messages, I suggest you do this: -- set up an identity in the primary account for the alias, including sig if desired. -- change the filters to move all messages targeted to the alias to a separate folder -- eliminate the second account as that is a disaster waiting to repeat itself -- this lets you retrieve and reply to both email addresses from within the one account.
- to get messages to redownload to primary account, you could exit TB, and in Profile Mail\<accountname> folder, delete the popstate.dat file, which will cause all mail to redownload.
@ David - appreciate some of the good thoughts - may need to ponder some info. NOTE: This Alias acct has only ~ 40 msgs addressed to Alias; all others were to the Master addy.
The only prob I see (this specific instance) is,
- the mail TO Alias addy are already in the (separate) Alias acct;
- Alias msgs NO longer in Master acct (moved to Alias)
- Not sure can "just delete" Alias TB acct, as some Alias msgs may not still be on server.
- to get messages to redownload to primary account, you could exit TB, and in Profile Mail\<accountname> folder, delete the popstate.dat file, which will cause all mail to redownload.
Is this a good idea? ALL msgs (still on server) for Master addy will be re-DnLd'd to TB Master acct - duplicating most msgs. Seems bigger headache than now?
Only way I see that works w/o headache, is *if all desired msgs (Master & Alias addies) are still on server (not likely).
- And if All msgs were 1st BU'd, then deleted from TB Master acct, so no duplicates land in Master acct.
- If allowed duplicates in Master acct, then have task of removing 100's or 1000+ of duplicates vs. (current problem) isolating just 40 Alias msgs.
I can make BU of Alias mailbox files - won't solve problem - separating / removing the many Master msgs from a few Alias msgs.
Modified by JoeB
Chosen Solution
In part from David's ideas, I decided the fastest, easiest way to get all unwanted msgs out of the TB - "Alias" acct's Inbox is:
- BU mail storage files from Thunderbird profile
- Create new sub-folder(s) under Alias acct
- Create filter rules to move unwanted msgs from Alias Inbox to sub-folders.
(Could drag/drop msgs to sub-folders, but a lot of msgs)
- Deal w/ unneeded duplicate msgs - in new sub-folders, as needed.
Total time ~ 10 min (if know where to find mail files & how to create sub-folders & message filters) That's It! Thanks!
Modified by JoeB
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