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How do I use "File/Save As" to save multiple e-mails without having account/date/time captured in the filenames saved on my hard disk?

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  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė Toad-Hall

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In the process of changing computers and have e-mails back to 2011. I don't want to archive using Thunderbird, i.e. want to start with a clean slate on the new computer. If I use "File/Save As" on an individual e-mail, it will save it without adding my account name and e-mail date to the resultant filename of the e-mail being saved, but if I select multiple e-mails, it adds my account name, e-mail address, and date/time to all the filenames being saved. How do I keep this additional info from being added? The resultant filenames are too long to backup properly. As an aside, I suspect that the Thunderbird software is discarding e-mails with filenames that end up over the 255 character limit when I do these multiple-email saves. I am using version 60.8.0

In the process of changing computers and have e-mails back to 2011. I don't want to archive using Thunderbird, i.e. want to start with a clean slate on the new computer. If I use "File/Save As" on an individual e-mail, it will save it without adding my account name and e-mail date to the resultant filename of the e-mail being saved, but if I select multiple e-mails, it adds my account name, e-mail address, and date/time to all the filenames being saved. How do I keep this additional info from being added? The resultant filenames are too long to backup properly. As an aside, I suspect that the Thunderbird software is discarding e-mails with filenames that end up over the 255 character limit when I do these multiple-email saves. I am using version 60.8.0

Chosen solution

I use an addon extension called 'ImportExportTools'.

Once installed... 'Tools' > 'ImportExportTools' > 'Options' Select 'Filenames' tab. This allows you set up Filename choice. I selected checkbox 'Use following format' Then selected 'Subject' and 'Sender' and 'Date', as they are the most useful bits of info for me.

Download addon:

I have found this addon to have many useful benefits. Please note that addons are created and maintained by the author and not Thunderbird. As such the authors do rely on donations to afford time to maintain the programs.

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All Replies (3)

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Chosen Solution

I use an addon extension called 'ImportExportTools'.

Once installed... 'Tools' > 'ImportExportTools' > 'Options' Select 'Filenames' tab. This allows you set up Filename choice. I selected checkbox 'Use following format' Then selected 'Subject' and 'Sender' and 'Date', as they are the most useful bits of info for me.

Download addon:

I have found this addon to have many useful benefits. Please note that addons are created and maintained by the author and not Thunderbird. As such the authors do rely on donations to afford time to maintain the programs.

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This worked. In the version of Thunderbird I'm using (60.8.0), the add-on comes up in the Tools/Add-ons screen as the "ImportExport Tools NG" add-on, supposedly an enhancement of the one at the URL recommended in this solution, so I didn't have to use the file I downloaded from the recommended URL (I was able to install the tool directly from Thunderbird's "Tools/Add-ons" screen). The tool itself only exports an entire folder of messages (I have over 5K messages in the folder I'm working through), but I select and move the ones I want to export to an empty Thunderbird folder (select desired messages then right-click and use the "Move To" option) and then use the "Export all message in the folder" option of this add-on to export the temporary folder to the desired place on my hard-disk. From there, I open the temporary folder on my hard disk to get access to the individual messages. Would be nice if the ability to change the parameters saved in the filenames from Thunderbird itself, but this is definitely a workable solution. My thanks to Toad-Hall.

Modified by newdayrj

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Right click on folder > ImportExportTools can export a folder as an mbox file or export all messages in a folder in a variety of formats including .eml. But it also effects individual or selected/highlighted batches:

  1. the "File/Save As" for individual emails
  2. right click on highlighted email(s) in list and use 'Save selected messages'

By using the ImportExportTools > Options, you can set up the type of filename you prefer and those two options above will use those settings.