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Message filters

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  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu Toad-Hall

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Hi there I create message filters to sort out incoming messages and move them to specific folders. I have now 15 well functioning filters, but filter #16 keep getting deleted from the list. I have crested it in the same fashion as the other 15, but every day when i open Thunderbird, the mails from the sender this filter was supposed to move to another folder remain in the inbox. When opening Message filters the filter created to perform this task has disappeared from the list. Hope someone have an idea to why this happens? It's getting pretty annoying. :-)

All the best Steen

Hi there I create message filters to sort out incoming messages and move them to specific folders. I have now 15 well functioning filters, but filter #16 keep getting deleted from the list. I have crested it in the same fashion as the other 15, but every day when i open Thunderbird, the mails from the sender this filter was supposed to move to another folder remain in the inbox. When opening Message filters the filter created to perform this task has disappeared from the list. Hope someone have an idea to why this happens? It's getting pretty annoying. :-) All the best Steen

All Replies (1)

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Message Filters are stored in this file : msgFilterRules.dat

The 'msgFilterRules.dat' file is located in the mail account name folder in your profile.

The filter seems to be only available during the session, so I'm wondering if there is a problem writing to this file. Perhaps it has a 'Read only' attribute which needs removing in order to write to the file.

  • Menu icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
  • Under 'Application Basics' - half way - profile Folders - click on 'Open Folder'

A new window opens showing the contents of your profile name folder.

  • Exit Thunderbird now.

If the filter is for a POP account:

  • click on 'Mail' folder to see contents

If the filter is for an imap account :

  • Click on 'ImapMail' folder to see contents
  • Click on the mail account name folder for the account.
  • Look for the 'msgFilterRules.dat' file.
  • Right click on the 'msgFilterRules.dat' file and select 'Properties'
  • Under 'Attributes' ...is the 'Read Only' checkbox selected ?
  • If yes, uncheck that 'Read Only' checkbox.

If you want to see the contents of the 'msgFilterRules.dat' file, it can be opened using a text editor program like Notepad.

At the top it should say: version="9" logging="yes"

Then the filters are listed one after the other. This is what a typical filter may look like: name="TB Forum" enabled="yes" type="1" action="Move to folder" actionValue="mailbox://edited - mail account data/Thunderbird" condition="OR (from,is,notifications@support.mozilla.org) OR (from,is,no-reply@support.mozilla.org) OR (from,is,mailer@lithium.com) OR (from,is,support-notifications@mozilla.com)"

Okulungisiwe ngu Toad-Hall