How can I get Thunderbird to read msgFilterRules.dat?
Microsoft recently insisted that I do a factory reset on my Surface Pro 5 running Windows 10. Before destroying all my data and program information I was careful to be sure to backup everything. After reinstalling Thunderbird, 68.1.0 -32 bit, my message filters had disappeared - close to 150 of them. Research showed me that they should be stored in msgFilerRules.dat and that file was empty. Searching through several different backups I found a copy of the file that had the message filters.
Since then I have spent a couple of days trying every way I could think of to get Thunderbird to use the msgFilterRules.dat file that has the message filters. Thunderbird is reading and using the profile because it has the right email directories and sub-directories. Everything is perfect except the message filter screen is always empty. I have been careful to check the profiles.ini file for the path to the profile with the correct msgFilterRules.dat. It is correct.
I don't know where to go from here. I don't want to re-enter all those filters. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Chosen solution
The msgFilerRules.dat file from the backup should be copied into the correct account folder, while TB is closed. Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Open Folder to open the profile in File Explorer. In the Mail (for POP accounts) and ImapMail (IMAP accounts) folder there are subfolders named after the accounts. Copy the .dat file into the correct account subfolder. If the filters aren't working, check that the filter actions point to folders that actually exist. Enable the filter log and see if it offers clues as to why they aren't functioning properly.
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Chosen Solution
The msgFilerRules.dat file from the backup should be copied into the correct account folder, while TB is closed. Help/Troubleshooting Information, click Open Folder to open the profile in File Explorer. In the Mail (for POP accounts) and ImapMail (IMAP accounts) folder there are subfolders named after the accounts. Copy the .dat file into the correct account subfolder. If the filters aren't working, check that the filter actions point to folders that actually exist. Enable the filter log and see if it offers clues as to why they aren't functioning properly.
I had copied it into the profile folder but not in the sub-folder. Once I did that things started to work. There is one remaining issue. My message filters had a SpamAssassin filter before my disaster. Now I have back all the filters I created but I don't have the SpamAssassin filter. Can someone post the contents of the SpamAssassin filter so that I can recreate it? Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
Are you sure SpamAssassin was built into a filter? I notice that it can be selected in Tools/Account Settings, Junk Settings for an account. I would think it's applied if a filter is run 'Before or After Junk Classification'.