Import e-mail folders from Shaw webmail to Thunderbird
I successfully installed Thunderbird (TB) 78.7.1 and set it up with a POPmail connection to my old Shaw webmail server, which is similar to gmail in its functionality. I do not want to use IMAP. My new TB's INBOX populated nicely with all my Shaw INBOX. However, I cannot figure out how to get into TB my current Shaw webmail OUTBOX (i.e., sent) or other folders that contain many old messages.
In Shaw webmail, the only option for exporting folders of saved messages is as a *.tgz file. I was able to export my "Travel" folder that way, and then used Winzip to unzip it to a *.tar file. I then extracted that *.tar file into a new "TravelTB" folder, and it contains a *.eml and a *.meta file for each of the messages. I closed TB, copied that "TravelTB" folder to the appropriate place in TB's profiles, which is where TB's current Inbox and Inbox.msf are located (inside Mail\pop.shaw.ca\. I then opened TB and it showed that TravelTB folder, and inside it are the *.eml and a *.meta files for each of the messages. However, I cannot open any of those, i.e., I cannot read them. What is the proper way to import my old mail-message folders into TB? Thanks in advance.
Chosen solution
To sfhowes,
That worked! I was trying to do it the hard way, I guess. Thanks very much!Read this answer in context 👍 0
All Replies (4)
Eml files can be imported to TB by drag and drop from File Explorer to a subfolder of Local Folders in TB, but I'm not familiar with the eml files in the tgz archive. If they are standard eml files, that would work.
You could also add the account as IMAP, subscribe the non-Inbox folders and copy them to subfolders of Local Folders, then remove the IMAP account. That would leave the POP account as before and the other folders in Local Folders.
To sfhowes, Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I'd rather not try the IMAP idea in your second paragraph until I am sure that your first paragraph's simpler idea does not work. So far it doesn't. Here is what I tried.
1. First I tested whether my example *.eml file is in standard format, as you asked. In File Explorer I right clicked on it and selected "Open with Thunderbird". That worked and the old e-mail message was perfectly readable.
2. Then I shut down Thunderbird.
3. Used File Explorer to create "Test travel folder" inside Thunderbird\Local Profiles\
4. While in File Explorer, I dragged two files into that folder, the *.eml and its *.eml.meta file, and then closed that window.
5. Started Thunderbird.
6. The folder "Test travel folder" appeared under "Local folders" in Thunderbird, and the two files were there. However, none of them was readable in Thunderbird, even though the *.eml file was the same one that I was able to read in Thunderbird in step 1 above.
Then I tried something else. 7. Used File Explorer to create "New test folder" inside Thunderbird\Profiles\*.default-release\Mail\Local Folders\
8. Again, while in File Explorer, I dragged two files into that folder, the *.eml and its *.eml.meta file.
9. Started Thunderbird.
10. However, there was no file visible under "Local folders" or anywhere else.
Is there anything else to suggest before trying IMAP?
Thanks again in advance.
It's very simple: create a subfolder of Local Folders in TB (right-click, New Folder...). Size the TB window and File Explorer so both are visible. Drag eml files from File Explorer and drop them onto the subfolder icon in the Folder Pane.
Chosen Solution
To sfhowes,
That worked! I was trying to do it the hard way, I guess. Thanks very much!