I need a filter on a message to FULLY FINISH before a next message starts to be filtered.

Starting with your problem symptom "Too many simultaneous connections on the server"...

1. How many pop accounts do you have? 2. Do any of your filters move messages to a different account? 3. Do your filters have more than one action (other than Stop Filter Execution)?

Hi Wayne, Thank you for your followup.

In reply to your questions: - I have three POP3 accounts serviced by that TB - None of the filters moves messages to another of those POP3s, but the very filter causing the "too many connections" forwards the filtered message to another address (a Gmail) which is not serviced by the TB - Yes, several of my filters have multiple actions, typically running a program of mine (that does no mailing) and then moving known trash to a local folder. The problematic filter (1) runs a program (no mailing), (2) forwards the message to a gmail address, (3) moves the message to a local folder, (4) calls a program that sleeps for a few seconds (my desperate and so far futile attempt to solve this problem) and (5) stops filter execution. This is the top filter (i.e. the 1st applied to a message).

When I call filters on five matching messages, I see five DOS boxes open immediately... although the sleep program waits for ten seconds!

Thank you for your help!

Emanuel

> When I call filters on five matching messages, I see five DOS boxes open immediately... although the sleep program waits for ten seconds!

You wouldn't see this with stock Thunderbird. Do you have the extension filtaquilla installed in Tools > Add-ons?

The DOS boxes came from the sleep program. I have now yanked it from the filter and no DOS boxes.

But yes, I do have FiltaQuilla add-on installed in TB.

The problematic filter (1) runs a program (no mailing), (2) forwards the message to a gmail address, (3) moves the message to a local folder, (4) calls a program that sleeps for a few seconds (my desperate and so far futile attempt to solve this problem) and (5) stops filter execution. This is the top filter (i.e. the 1st applied to a message).

I would guess that the problem lies in the execution of the send Vs Thunderbird choice of SMTP server for that send. Thunderbird makes some rather odd choices at times regarding the SMTP server to use in a filter to Forward.

It may be the SMRP for the identity that received the email, or it might be the "default" SMTP and that appears to be affected by your choice of folders. if you are not using ALL try that first. Then check that all of your SMTP server are functional. I have seen the to many connections error fed back by an invalid SMTP credential (in that case the person had set it for no password hat a password was required, so one connection exceeded the servers connection limit.

The other common cause is related to IMAP and you specifically talk about POP

What is the connection error verbatim please.

> if you are not using ALL try that first

Huh, what "ALL" are you referring to?

But gosh, you may be onto something: now the message is - see the screenshot (too many sessions). 😵

Oh no, it's the same message as before... 😢 Well not quite: it's too many sessions, not too many connections!

but what9is that server name?

Ok I googled that error and the AI came back with

This string is an outbound mail server error log from an SMTP transaction routed through CloudFilter (an anti-spam and email-filtering gateway used by major web hosts like Endurance International Group/EIG brands). It indicates that an outgoing email was blocked or rejected due to a violation of an Acceptable Use Policy (cmsmtp rejection).

it is largely based on this source from 2022 https://community.verizon.com/discussion/1251485/emails-not-arriving-to-vtext-com

Essentially the issue is your server is rejecting your mail, not a Thunderbird issue at all. My guess is your provider has rate limited your IP address and your filtering is sending the forwards to fast for their limits. But6 as you make no mention of your provider I can not form any sort of view as to what their sending limits may be.

SO it looks to me you need to determine what the sending limits imposed by your mail provider are and how you are exceeding them, not getting Thunderbird to filter things completely before moving to the next topic.

Let's try an experiment and see if it makes any substantive change.

1. Disable the filter when getting new mail
2. Place Thunderbird in offline mode.
3. Run the filter against the folder manually
4. Take Thunderbird back online to allow the sending of outgoing mail accumulated in the outbox.

Is there still an error? That should force a single send for each execution of the filter rather than for each match in the new mail. It might shed light as to the issue being numerical (number of emails) or connection frequency.

Our IP (including mail) is verio.com.

Let's try an experiment and see if it makes any substantive change.

   Disable the filter when getting new mail
   Place Thunderbird in offline mode.
   Run the filter against the folder manually
   Take Thunderbird back online to allow the sending of outgoing mail accumulated in the outbox. 

Is there still an error?

-- Will try. Thanks!!