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Local message disappears when moved offline to IMAP folder

  • 4 replies
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  • Last reply by Noca

Noca
Noca
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While in offline mode, if a message is moved from a local folder to an IMAP server folder (eg, Inbox), the message body is eliminated (message now blank). Attempting to move the message back to the local folder triggers an error:

"While working offline you cannot move or copy messages that were not downloaded for offline uses. From the Mail window, open the File menu, choose Offline, then uncheck Work Offline, and then try again."

Once Thunderbird is set to online, the message will disappear. Does not appear in server folder, server trash, local trash, or original local folder. Message is just gone.

I've seen the same behavior on two different identities (ie, different IMAP servers). Thunderbird 102.7.2 (64-bit), Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.2486.

Steps to reproduce: Switch Thunderbird to offline mode. Do not download messages for offline use. Select message in local folder (observe normal message contents). Click-drag message from local folder to IMAP server folder. Observe message moves to server folder, but message is now blank/empty. Switch Thunderbird to Online mode. Observe message in server folder disappears.

Expected behavior: 1) Message moved offline to IMAP server folder should retain message contents. Or worst case, user shouldn't be permitted to move the message. 2) Switching to online mode should not cause message to disappear.

Observed behavior: 1) Contents of message contents is lost when moved offline to IMAP server folder. 2) switching Thunderbird to online mode causes message to disappear.

While in offline mode, if a message is moved from a local folder to an IMAP server folder (eg, Inbox), the message body is eliminated (message now blank). Attempting to move the message back to the local folder triggers an error: "While working offline you cannot move or copy messages that were not downloaded for offline uses. From the Mail window, open the File menu, choose Offline, then uncheck Work Offline, and then try again." Once Thunderbird is set to online, the message will disappear. Does not appear in server folder, server trash, local trash, or original local folder. Message is just gone. I've seen the same behavior on two different identities (ie, different IMAP servers). Thunderbird 102.7.2 (64-bit), Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.2486. '''Steps to reproduce:''' Switch Thunderbird to offline mode. Do not download messages for offline use. Select message in local folder (observe normal message contents). Click-drag message from local folder to IMAP server folder. Observe message moves to server folder, but message is now blank/empty. Switch Thunderbird to Online mode. Observe message in server folder disappears. '''Expected behavior:''' 1) Message moved offline to IMAP server folder should retain message contents. Or worst case, user shouldn't be permitted to move the message. 2) Switching to online mode should not cause message to disappear. '''Observed behavior:''' 1) Contents of message contents is lost when moved offline to IMAP server folder. 2) switching Thunderbird to online mode causes message to disappear.

All Replies (4)

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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The behavior you describe is not a particular problem with Thunderbird but exactly how IMAP works. I'd suggest you make yourself familiar with IMAP. With IMAP all messages are managed on the server. If you attempt to move a message which has not yet been downloaded for offline use, then there is nothing but the header you have on your local disk.

Also see https://support.mozilla.org/kb/imap-synchronization

Noca
Noca Question owner
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Thank you for your response. And thank you for the link. I may have confused the issue by including that error message. The bottom line is that this procedure destroys local messages, simply by moving them to a server folder (while offline). This doesn't appear to be an intended feature of Thunderbird's IMAP implementation. Were you able to reproduce the behavior described?

christ1
christ1
  • Top 25 Contributor
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The bottom line is, with IMAP, do not move messages to a server folder while offline.

Modified by christ1

Noca
Noca Question owner
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Appears related to Bug 1550929 and Bug 568167, still open after 4 years and 13 years, respectively.