move / copy to local folders
I think I see a pattern here, but I really want to understand it:
- If I drag a folder from the synchronizing IMAP account to LOCAL FOLDERS, it is only copied but the originals all remain on the server.
- But if I drag messages from a synchronizing folder to a folder in LOCAL FOLDERS, they are moved and deleted from the server.
- Or anyway, whatever the server really does with deleted e-mails, this is the way it looks in Thunderbird.
Any other guidance about moving/copying/archiving? I really don't want to mess this up.
Chosen solution
re :which settings ensure that all e-mails are downloaded in their entirety
I'm assuming you are using an imap mail account.
- 'Account Settings' > 'Synchronisation & Storage' for the account
- Select 'Keep messages on all folders for this account on this computer'
- Click on 'Advanced' button
- All folders AND subfolders need to be selected if you want a full download.
- Anything not selected will only download headers.
Disk Space:
- Select 'Synchronise all messages locally regardless of age'.
The safest method - I would suggest the following because you are talking about an imap account and anything you do will effect the server.
You could go into 'Offline' mode and force a complete up to date synchronisation. Once in offline mode it means you can get copies of emails put into 'Local Folders' and it should be alot smoother because there will not be any synching with server - you are in offline mode.
In imap folder:
- Hightlight a batch of emails
- right click on highlighted emails and select 'Copy to' and choose the required folder in 'Local Folders' mail account.
If you use the 'Move to' and it all goes pete tong (wrong) you could lose emails, but if you only doing a 'Copy to' then you can always repeat the action.
You have guessed correctly - drag and drop or 'Move to' means you are taking the email out of an imap folder and if not moving it to another imap folder, then it does not exist in imap account , so it gets deleted off the server.
As imap accounts are not truelly independent of server and anything you do in an imap account will effect whatever is on the server, I would advise you take a careful approach.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (3)
And PS: which settings ensure that all e-mails are downloaded in their entirety? I'm on a desktop when I use Thunderbird and I can afford to archive everything. Thanks very much.
Chosen Solution
re :which settings ensure that all e-mails are downloaded in their entirety
I'm assuming you are using an imap mail account.
- 'Account Settings' > 'Synchronisation & Storage' for the account
- Select 'Keep messages on all folders for this account on this computer'
- Click on 'Advanced' button
- All folders AND subfolders need to be selected if you want a full download.
- Anything not selected will only download headers.
Disk Space:
- Select 'Synchronise all messages locally regardless of age'.
The safest method - I would suggest the following because you are talking about an imap account and anything you do will effect the server.
You could go into 'Offline' mode and force a complete up to date synchronisation. Once in offline mode it means you can get copies of emails put into 'Local Folders' and it should be alot smoother because there will not be any synching with server - you are in offline mode.
In imap folder:
- Hightlight a batch of emails
- right click on highlighted emails and select 'Copy to' and choose the required folder in 'Local Folders' mail account.
If you use the 'Move to' and it all goes pete tong (wrong) you could lose emails, but if you only doing a 'Copy to' then you can always repeat the action.
You have guessed correctly - drag and drop or 'Move to' means you are taking the email out of an imap folder and if not moving it to another imap folder, then it does not exist in imap account , so it gets deleted off the server.
As imap accounts are not truelly independent of server and anything you do in an imap account will effect whatever is on the server, I would advise you take a careful approach.
Thank you so much. I was pretty sure there was not one simple answer in one place and I so appreciate getting it all put together as you did.
Re drag & drop: I did note that the behavior was different whether I dragged a folder vs. dragging the messages in the folder. I'll keep an eye out for any additional comments, but you have given me a lot.