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Mac Thunderbird - Moving message from IMAP folder to local folder does not delete message from IMAP folder

  • 5 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by keithc

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I’m using both Thunderbird 31.0 beta and 24.6.0 on OSX 10.9.3 and when I move a message from my IMAP inbox to my local folders, the message at first appears to be moved.

1) It disappears from the inbox folder display and 2) It is copied into my local folder

However, if I look in the IMAP trash folder the message is not there. When I go back to the IMAP inbox folder, the message reappears there. (It will also reappear if I simply refresh the IMAP inbox folder after moving the message).

If I delete the message from my IMAP inbox folder, it is correctly moved from my IMAP inbox folder to the IMAP trash folder, which is how I have my server settings delete options configured. Changing the server settings delete options doesn't affect the problem when moving messages.

Additionally, my local mail folders are configured as maildir, not mbox. (Not sure if that's relevant info..)

Thinking it may be something specific to my primary IMAP server, I tested moving messages from IMAP folders to my local folders with the Gmail IMAP server. Doing so the moved message appeared to be deleted on the IMAP folder, (the messages are always correctly copied to my local folders). Checked back immediately and the message appeared to have been removed from the IMAP folder. However, after waiting for a longer period of time, (about 30 minutes), the moved message had eventually reappeared back in my Gmail IMAP folders, (I've tried it on several different IMAP folders).

So I'm seeing this behavior trying to move email messages from my IMAP folders to my local folders using Thunderbird 24.6.0 and 31.0. The messages get copied correctly to my local folders and initially disappear from the IMAP folders, but eventually they reappear there.

I’m using both Thunderbird 31.0 beta and 24.6.0 on OSX 10.9.3 and when I move a message from my IMAP inbox to my local folders, the message at first appears to be moved. 1) It disappears from the inbox folder display and 2) It is copied into my local folder However, if I look in the IMAP trash folder the message is not there. When I go back to the IMAP inbox folder, the message reappears there. (It will also reappear if I simply refresh the IMAP inbox folder after moving the message). If I delete the message from my IMAP inbox folder, it is correctly moved from my IMAP inbox folder to the IMAP trash folder, which is how I have my server settings delete options configured. Changing the server settings delete options doesn't affect the problem when moving messages. Additionally, my local mail folders are configured as maildir, not mbox. (Not sure if that's relevant info..) Thinking it may be something specific to my primary IMAP server, I tested moving messages from IMAP folders to my local folders with the Gmail IMAP server. Doing so the moved message appeared to be deleted on the IMAP folder, (the messages are always correctly copied to my local folders). Checked back immediately and the message appeared to have been removed from the IMAP folder. However, after waiting for a longer period of time, (about 30 minutes), the moved message had eventually reappeared back in my Gmail IMAP folders, (I've tried it on several different IMAP folders). So I'm seeing this behavior trying to move email messages from my IMAP folders to my local folders using Thunderbird 24.6.0 and 31.0. The messages get copied correctly to my local folders and initially disappear from the IMAP folders, but eventually they reappear there.

Modified by jasn

Chosen solution

I don't run betas and I haven't seen this happen in TB24.6 on either of my regular computers (Linux and W7).

The thing that stands out is your use of maildir, which is not a standard feature of Thunderbird and is, I understand, only partially implemented so far.

You won't like this, but I'd have to suggest you see if using mbox makes any difference. If so, you have a useful bug to report to those developing maildir for Thunderbird.

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Modified by jasn

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Modified by jasn

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Chosen Solution

I don't run betas and I haven't seen this happen in TB24.6 on either of my regular computers (Linux and W7).

The thing that stands out is your use of maildir, which is not a standard feature of Thunderbird and is, I understand, only partially implemented so far.

You won't like this, but I'd have to suggest you see if using mbox makes any difference. If so, you have a useful bug to report to those developing maildir for Thunderbird.

Modified by Zenos

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Yep. That was it. I tested this by retrying the message move with the default berkelystore, (MBOX), and it worked correctly, (message was copied locally and deleted from the server folder). Then I found this bug at the mozilla bugzilla that seems to describe this problem affecting MAILDIR stores.

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=771643

Short term solution for me is to back to using POP3 to get my mail on this system, which is ok, because I eventually move my messages to local folders anyway.

Thanks

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Hmm, I am using mbox and I still get this issue. Windows 7, TB 31.0. I use IMAP as I also access mail through web accounts and on Android, so I don't want to just have it in TB. I use TB so I can store to local folders. I am trying to move my 4000+ messages that I want to keep to folders and clear them out of Google All Mail