You can't safely both use messages in files on shared devices.

The safe way to share the same messages is both use the same imap account.

We are using imap as protocol for access to the email accounts. The email is 3rd party email account. The shared email is an imap account. It is the same imap account.

I’m just trying to avoid having a duplicate of it held locally when we could share it. Or NOT. …. Messages has nothing to do with this. Not sure what you mean by messages. … I’m using thunderbird as an email client to access the via imap, email accounts held elsewhere. Which means, data is brought down to local machines from the mailboxes.

We are using imap as protocol for access to the email accounts. The email is 3rd party email account. …. Messages has nothing to do with this. Not sure what you mean by messages. … I’m using thunderbird as an email client to access the via imap, email accounts held elsewhere. Which means, data is brought down to local machines from the mailboxes.

Messages has nothing to do with this. Not sure what you mean by messages.

Your "data" = Wayne's "messages". The data that you want both of you to have access to consist of e-mail messages.

Wayne's point is: Use IMAP e-mail accounts and leave messages on the server, where they will be synchronized with each user's computer. Don't move messages to local folders, where only one user can access them.

The imap “messages” are downloaded. When thunderbird client displays them. Stored in the imap folder in Profiles folder on local machine. It’s synced. Which by definition means it’s on both. Laptop and email service providers server.

If there’s a way to sync without having at least 2 copies of data then it’s escaped me for 40 years.

My question is. Since we share the email account. Can we share both copies of the sync via Thunderbird. Ie. My “local” data of the shared imap email is shared and hence avoid another copy. But im getting a view that it’s not possible. . So be it.

So if I create a new folder on the laptop. And move emails onto it. That folder is then also created on the email server (since imap is the protocol in use). Then, when my wife connects to that same shared email, then her Thunderbird client downloads that folder with its messages moved into it and creates it local in her Profiles imap folder on her local system.

I am NOT using “local folders”. I am using imap and using the Profiles folder but have moved its location onto a folders on our NAS rather than in appdata /roaming etc. Mine in my folder. ( 2 data sets) Hers in her folders. (2 data sets).

Seeking to reduce it to 3 data sets total.

Hope that clarifies.

Thanks for the clarification. The answer is the same. :(

And I repeat. I am not consciously moving data. The sync process moves data.

You are saying don’t move. I’m not. You are saying to use sync. Which I am doing. Which moves data down to laptop.

I’m simply redirecting it to my NAS folder for my laptop to use. And Her NAS folder for her laptop to use. .

You’re missing the question being asked and being deliberately obtuse.

No, I really do understand, and I am not trying to be obtuse, and the answer really is the same. Good that you're not moving data. I'm not saying that you are. Continue syncing through IMAP. Continue not using local folders. That is the answer. What more do you want?

Ok. Got ya. Thanks.

What I hoped is the same as we have at one end of the diagram. Ie. On the email server of the shared email account there is one data set. Was hoping to get one sync’d that both clients could use.

It seems not. Oh well.

I hear you. I would want the same thing.

Managing multi-user access to a file requires programming that would be very unusual in an e-mail client.

If you are concerned about space, you could have Thunderbird download only headers or only messages in a certain time period. So there would not be duplicate storage of all messages.

You can also unsubscribe from folders that you do not need access to.

Maybe I could have clearer earlier. Sorry.

Thanks mate. No, Space isn’t the issue. The data is on a NAS. My “profiles” folder is on the NAS. This also allows me to use more than one laptop for my single Tbird profile.

I just find it a pointless sync loop. She makes a change (eg ads a messages folder in her email account). That goes up to email server(cos it’s imap) which then comes back down to my copy (cos it’s imap) and the change is then made there. Oh well. The local Duplicates mean I’ve already got a back up 😂😂 Poor design and yet I take your point re the programming. I’m retired now from 40 years in software business. Techy but not a core programmer. But I get it.

This is well documented at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data, and easily found by searching https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/products/thunderbird with key words "simultaneous" or "simultaneous access". However, if there is never going to be simultaneous access, feel free to point both computer accounts to the same profile on the NAS.

Also, good gosh, two copies of the mail store on the same NAS is not a backup. Not unless you are also backing up your NAS.

The knowledge base is a good friend to users. And also the people helping users. :)

Thanks. The guidance is welcomed. &. You know nothing of my NAS set up or the raid configuration. So, yes, its a fine back up.

That said. My comment was flippant and in jest.

Cheers.

T You know nothing of my NAS set up or the raid configuration. So, yes, its a fine back up.

Correct, but I do know that anyone that considers a local copy of an IMAP connected mail account a backup is someone that does not have a backup. At best IMAP on the local system can be considered is a local cache to reduce repeated downloads. It is not and can never be a backup whilst ever IMAP is in the equation as the connection to the server is required and the server is considered canonical. Loos you server copy, either through deletion or something more sinister and your local copy will also cease to exist on the next sync. You need something else.

Be aware hat there is a relatively long and obscure series of bugs related to storage of Thunderbird data on a remote object. Be it a server or a NAS. Thunderbird is not tested on network attached devices and every so often a bug pops up where the network file system is not doing it for Thunderbird, which expects significantly faster speeds of data delivery for it's "local files" than any network device can deliver. Even over fibre it is nothing like as fast as a local platter. Slow to respond, duplication of files and general corruption are all more frequent on network attached devices than on a local device. Sometimes it is the length of the UNC path that causes issues especially if you allow the windows search to index your mail in Thunderbird system integration. Talk about duplication. That is about as bad as you can get that setting. I offer this as a caution, not something you can fix. You are using Thunderbird in what amounts to an unusual manner and your experience may unearth undocumented issues because of that.