Can't find the global-messages-db.sqlite file
Hi, volunteers! Thanks for being here.
The Thunderbird search function has stopped working. It can't find anything - no matter the query, it returns no results.
I understand I need to rebuild the Global Database to fix that, and have read the instructions here:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database
It tells me to delete global-messages-db.sqlite from my TB profile. It links me to another page on how to find that profile. I follow these instructions:
"How to find your profile
Click on the menu button or menu bar. From the Help menu, click Troubleshooting Information. In the Application Basics section, Profile Folder, click on Show in Finder. The Mac Finder window will show the name of the profile as well as the path to it."
The finder window shows me this file: zfrnv9to.default-1445806062498. Nothing inside it looks like the file I'm supposed to delete, which is global-messages-db.sqlite.
I also used Mac spotlight to search on "global-messages-db.sqlite". It can't find anything like that on my Mac Air (which is running El Capitan). It's usually pretty reliable digging up files, but - no luck.
What do I do now?
Chosen solution
Zenos, thank you! I solved this on my own last night.
In case it helps the next person: I re-read the Mozilla page on finding the file.
Then, rather than searching through Application Basics, I dug through my User files myself, using the information that it would be under User/Library etc.
It took very few minutes of poking around to find it. I deleted it, restarted TB, and the search function is back.
The mystery I can't solve is why neither the method advised nor Mac's own Spotlight search didn't find it in the first place. But with time and patience, the manual file search did the job.
Thanks for advice, time, and help!
Read this answer in context 👍 0All Replies (5)
Thunderbird > preferences > Advanced > general.
You do have use global search and indexer turned on don't you?
Yes, I have both turned on.
I'm going to tackle this from another angle. I need to get that search function back ASAP.
If I can't find global-messages-db.sqlite, is my only other option to delete and re-install TB? And if that's the case - how would I go about backing up my current email files? To what would I export them that would allow me to re-import them to the freshly-installed TB?
Thanks!
I don't know the Mac, nor Finder. Does it show you hidden files? Can it be set to do so? If you can view hidden files then you should be able to find this file via your search function.
I do not understand the numerical suffix attached to your profile name. That's unusual in my experience. It's not necessarily a problem; you can rename your profile if you wish (I do myself, as I like it to have a meaningful name).
The file you're looking for is in your profile. Uninstalling and reinstalling your Thunderbird almost certainly won't help since this won't affect your profile.
Chosen Solution
Zenos, thank you! I solved this on my own last night.
In case it helps the next person: I re-read the Mozilla page on finding the file.
Then, rather than searching through Application Basics, I dug through my User files myself, using the information that it would be under User/Library etc.
It took very few minutes of poking around to find it. I deleted it, restarted TB, and the search function is back.
The mystery I can't solve is why neither the method advised nor Mac's own Spotlight search didn't find it in the first place. But with time and patience, the manual file search did the job.
Thanks for advice, time, and help!