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how can I find/clear the queue of IMAP actions ?

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Hello, by accident I deleted my entire IMAP inbox and trash. Thunderbird 38.2.0

Fortunately I have another PC who had the latest status of inbox, as he wasn't connected to the internet, thus didn't synch the deletions. So I thought the most easy way is to move all the mails of the inbox to another IMAP folder, I choose the "Notes" folder, before I go online with this PC again. Unfortunately, after dragging all mails to the notes folder, Thundebird tries to connect to the imap server. As I am not on the Internet yet, the mails cannot be moved from inbox to notes, so I am stuck. The mails are no longer in the inbox, but also did not arrive in the Notes folder...mouse cursor is blinking...

As I am afraid my inbox will sync and delete all mails immediately I don't want to connect to the internet now.

I have no idea how thunderbird IMAP works, but I assume all IMAP related actions, i.e. moving themails from Inbox to Notes, are somehow stored in a queue and are executed when an internet connection is establiushed next time.

Is there a way to clear that queue or what else do I have to do to keep my mails ?

Thanks for any help

regards Karl

Hello, by accident I deleted my entire IMAP inbox and trash. Thunderbird 38.2.0 Fortunately I have another PC who had the latest status of inbox, as he wasn't connected to the internet, thus didn't synch the deletions. So I thought the most easy way is to move all the mails of the inbox to another IMAP folder, I choose the "Notes" folder, before I go online with this PC again. Unfortunately, after dragging all mails to the notes folder, Thundebird tries to connect to the imap server. As I am not on the Internet yet, the mails cannot be moved from inbox to notes, so I am stuck. The mails are no longer in the inbox, but also did not arrive in the Notes folder...mouse cursor is blinking... As I am afraid my inbox will sync and delete all mails immediately I don't want to connect to the internet now. I have no idea how thunderbird IMAP works, but I assume all IMAP related actions, i.e. moving themails from Inbox to Notes, are somehow stored in a queue and are executed when an internet connection is establiushed next time. Is there a way to clear that queue or what else do I have to do to keep my mails ? Thanks for any help regards Karl

Ŋuɖoɖo si wotia

Txs, this worked !

Xle ŋuɖoɖo sia le goya me 👍 0

All Replies (4)

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So I thought the most easy way is to move all the mails of the inbox to another IMAP folder

That wouldn't help as the messages would still be removed by the server at the moment you connect to it. You need to move messages to a folder underneath Local Folders instead and then upload them to the server.

Unfortunately, after dragging all mails to the notes folder, Thundebird tries to connect to the imap server.

You need to put Thunderbird into offline mode. Needless to say, you need to have an offline copy of your messages in Inbox, not just the headers.

As I am afraid my inbox will sync and delete all mails immediately

This is exactly what would happen.

It is therefore important to always have a recent backup of the Thunderbird profile. Many people believe they don't need a backup when storing messages on the server. This is an illusion.

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Hi, I put Thunderbird in off-line mode, however both folders (Inbox and Notes) are empty now. However in the Profile (filesystem) I could see the folder Notes with all my messages. To be on the safe side I copied the folder.... Then I went online again. Notes IMAP folder remains empty, however the messages are still in the profile. Any way to make Thunderbird recognizing them ?

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You can install this add-on and import the corresponding mbox file for 'Notes' to a local folder. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/

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Ɖɔɖɔɖo si wotia

Txs, this worked !