Trying to combine 4 profiles into one on Mac OS Sonoma
Sorry for the long=winded message but I figured it would save time to explain the steps from the beginning.
I've been using Thunderbird as an OSB for my archived messages from Apple Mail. In that scenario I create a .mbox file of all messages I want to save from a particular year and then import that into Thunderbird into a local folder with the year as the folder name. The version of Thunderbird where I was doing that is 115.10.1
I started testing Thunderbird version 139.0.2 as an Apple Mail replacement with only 2 of my email accounts.
Now I want to convert entirely out of Apple Mail. First I made a backup copy of the entire Thunderbird folder located in the User/Library folder onto an external hard drive that I then disconnected from my computer.
Then I downloaded the latest version 145.0 (aarch64) and installed it. (I still have the other 2 versions on my system) I opened it up and got into the profile manager (troubleshooting then about profiles) and discovered that I have 4 of them. I made the one that contains my archive the primary one. It does not have any connections to a live email account. I've only ever imported an .mbox file. Everything that I've archived is there. This is profile Number 1. I renamed it Archive so I could keep track of it.
Then I opened up each of the other 3 profiles in a new browser in sequence to see what they were.
It appears as if I have one that is empty. it opens up wanting me to set up an existing email address. I closed that one down. It's called Profile number 2.
The next one appears to be the current one for the 2 test email accounts. It has them properly configured, showing messages in the inbox and with the messages that are supposed to be archived off in the local folders I had created as I expect. I am calling this one profile number 3.
The third one first had me add the passwords for the 2 test accounts and then it is pretty close to number number 3 but is missing some of the local folders. This is called profile number 4.
Want I want to end up with is 1 profile. I would prefer to start with the one that has all my archive messages in their local folders, and then add the test accounts including all their messages from profile number 3 with its local folders. Once they are safely moved and part of the Archive profile I would like to delete all three numbered profiles. Once I am down to only one active profile and no others lurking about I plan to slowly start adding the rest of my email accounts moving them one by one out of Apple Mail and into Thunderbird.
I've read the various articles on moving out of Apple Mail into Thunderbird So I believe I can add the Apple email accounts to my Archive profile successfully. I have the import tools so I can import the .mbox files from Apple mail into those accounts.
Where I'm stuck is I can't seem to find an article that gives me detailed instructions on how to combine profiles within Thunderbird. All the articles imply keeping multiple profiles active and I would prefer not to do that.
I am sure I am just not searching properly but I am at a loss as to how to proceed. I do not want to delete any profiles or start adding more accounts until the profiles are cleaned up.
Thanks for reading this long explanation and I appreciate any help anyone can provide.
Wšě wotmołwy (4)
First, don't delete anything until everything works and, part of that, copy all profiles before doing anything - just to be safe. Second, you seem comfortable working with just files, so I suggest EXITING thunderbird and working with files. Third, I presume you know which of the folders is the active one. That is IMPORTANT.
OK, here are the basics: Message folders that are not specific to an account are in the Mail\Local Folders folder Messages in POP accounts can be saved, but require careful handling to maintain continuity.
Now, having defined that, just identify the missing items from the active profile and copy/paste them in from other profiles Yes, it can be that easy. but be careful and don't overwrite existing files. If copying what appears as a duplicate, rename first.
Thank you for the response.
A few further questions.
There are numerous sqlite databases in the 2 profile folders. Do I need to go into each one in the source profile I am moving and move the records out of those DBs and into the DB of the same name in the destination profile copy? A quick look inside most of them they seemed empty but I didn’t verify every single one nor all tables in the ones I did look at.
Similarly the json files that have the same name but different contents. Do they need to be merged?
Within the Local Folders Folder there are the files Trash Tras.msf Unsent Messages and Unsent Messages.msf I don't really care about either in either profile but wanted to be sure I could ignore those files.
I encourage focusing on files of your personal content, avoiding technical files. The only sqlite files of substance would be the abook.sqlite and history.sqlite if you had used Thunderbird to store contacts. In that case, look for the largest ones. Thunderbird just uses one profile, and if you succeed in getting all message folders together, you will have success.
I've gotten all the saved local folders moved successfully.
Now working to get the 2 actual email accounts added. Both of them are imap accounts.
UPDATE: Plan is to re-create the 2 accounts using the same setting I had from the old profile and see if they link to the existing mail folders properly. Found that information here: https://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Thunderbird
Wot oogiem změnjeny
Dyrbiće so pola swojeho konta přizjewić, zo byšće na přinoški wotmołwił. Prošu stajće nowe prašenje, jeli hišće wužiwarske konto nimaće.