Multiple msgFilterRules.dat files and filter changes disappearing. And there are literally hundreds of msgFilterRules.dat files there, such as msgFilterRules-1.dat,
I'm using Thunderbird 68.11.0 on Windows 10. I'm having problems with message filters in that changes to a filter which are made in saved in one session are gone when I restart Thunderbird. At one time, thinking the problem might be that I had too many filters, I deleted over 100 filters (via Tools/Message Filters/Delete) that were no longer necessary, and when I restarted Thunderbird they were all there again. (Aarrggh) This with changes not being saved has been happening for about a month. I'm using filters with the local folders account only, which is a subfolder of the Dropbox folder. (This is in order to share the same local folders between two computers, however in the past month I've only been using one computer.)
I looked in my local folders folder and there are literally hundreds of msgFilterRules.dat files there, such as msgFilterRules-1.dat, msgFilterRules-2.dat, etc., up to msgFilterRules-305.dat. So I deleted all of these except the msgFilterRules.dat file and restarted Thunderbird. As soon as I exit Thunderbrd, it creates a msgFilterRules-2.dat file, next time a -3.dat file, etc. What is going on? I also notice Thunderbird is creating an .msf file for each of these, as if they were a mail file.
Somethng seems to be broke, but what? How can I fix this? Thanks for any help or advice. Bob
Modified by Wayne Mery
Chosen solution
Start Windows in safe mode https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode
Does the problem go away?
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Chosen Solution
Start Windows in safe mode https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12376/windows-10-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode
Does the problem go away?
Thanks, Wayne, it worked fine in Safe Mode.
So now back to running in normal mode, if I pause syncing with Dropbox, then the problem also goes away. No more multiple msgFilterRules.dat files, and all changes are saved properly. So there's a conflict there. Presumably Dropbox starts uploading the file as soon as Thunderbird starts writing to it, Thunderbird gets some iind of error and then creates a new copy with -1, -2, etc.? Which file will Thunderbird use the next time I start it?
Any suggestions how to fix this? For the time being I will pause Dropbox syncing before I edit the Message Filters, but that's not a real solution. FWIW my Lightning calendar add-on .ics file is also under Dropbox and that's changing all the time, but there are never any errors. And of course the mail files are also changing all the time. So there must be something diffrerent going on with the msgFilterRules.dat file.
Thanks, Bob
Ok, I get it, too much conflict potential, I'm moving local folders out of Dropbox. I had it this way because I use pop3, but I'll solve it another way. Thanks very much Wayne.
Just to complete this thread, I actually solved the problem by telling Dropbox to ignore this file. Works great.
Info at https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/restore-delete/ignored-files
I actually solved this problem by telling Dropbox to ignore this file. Works great.
Info at https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/restore-delete/ignored-files
Sorry for the above duplication. The above didn't work very long, so I have now moved Thunderbird's Local Folders out of Dropbox, much cleaner solution.