Copy only Thunderbird messages (email) to a USB flash drive
I want to copy all of my messages to a USB drive. I do not want ALL of the profile, just my messages. Will making a copy of the "global-messages-db.sqlite" file do it for me? It is the biggest file in the profile at 218,720 KB Thanks.
Chosen solution
I wanted to copy all emails from ALL folders so I copied the global-messages-db.sqlite file and replaced the existing one and there they were, all files in all their respective folders. It was a piece of cake. Now I need to copy my calendars over.
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The importexport addon can extract all messages per folder in eml format. You could then copy them all to a USB.
Thanks, I have that add-on installed but have yet to try it. I assume if I "export" emails from a folder to a USB I can import them to a different TBird install on a different PC? Would copying and replacing the global-messages-db.sqlite file on the other PC work too?
The importexport addon can extract and also import.
pbrixey41 said
Thanks, I have that add-on installed but have yet to try it. I assume if I "export" emails from a folder to a USB I can import them to a different TBird install on a different PC? Would copying and replacing the global-messages-db.sqlite file on the other PC work too?
The sqlite file is not needed for this operation, and neither is an add-on. Select the messages in the folder (Ctrl+A to select all), then Ctrl+S to save them as eml files in an external File Explorer folder. To import them to another PC that has TB, create a subfolder of Local Folders, then add the eml files to the subfolder by drag and drop from File Explorer.
Chosen Solution
I wanted to copy all emails from ALL folders so I copied the global-messages-db.sqlite file and replaced the existing one and there they were, all files in all their respective folders. It was a piece of cake. Now I need to copy my calendars over.
When you open a message, does it show any content?
When I replaced the sqlite file with the one I copied, ALL of the emails were there, in ALL of their respective folders. Every one I open is correct with all original content. Easy Peasy, eh?
david said
The importexport addon can extract all messages per folder in eml format. You could then copy them all to a USB.
I did not want to bother dealing with individual email file and flders, too messy. I have thousands of them due to businesses, forums, groups etc that I own or manage. All I had to do was to copy and paste ONE file. Maybe others who want to do the same, they will try it to validate what I did.