"Compact Folders" message is confusing
I'm using Thunderbird 87.0b3 (32 bit) on a 64 bit PC I recently deleted an email and saw the message:
“Compact Folders. The messages you have deleted can be purged from disk. This operation will save you 202MB of disk space. Select the option below to let Thunderbird do this automatically without asking you.
[] Remove message deletions automatically and do not ask me. Proceed Cancel”
This message confused me. It was entitled “Compact Folders”, but then stated it would PURGE messages from my disc. Without ticking [] Remove message deletions automatically, I selected “Proceed”. I was very relieved to see that messages were compacted but none of my messages in “Trash” had been deleted.
I strongly suggest that this message should be rewritten to say: Compact folders. If you allow Thunderbird to compact your folders this operation will save xxx MB of disk space. Select the option below to let Thunderbird do this automatically without asking you. [] Compact folders automatically and do not ask me.
Chosen solution
My Chambers dictionary says that to purge means to remove impurities, to clear undesirable elements elements ...
This is exactly what Thunderbird is doing, even though it said compacting in earlier releases. Compacting may sound less alarming to non-technical users though.
... and compacting means compressing.
Thunderbird did never compress anything.
“The Messages you have deleted can be purged from the disk” means to me that the messages that I want to put into Trash can be obliterated completely from my computer hard drive and so will be irrecoverable.
This is true to some extend, but not in the way you seem to think it is. If you read the article and understood what's actually happening I suppose you wouldn't make that point.
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Compact and purge means essentially the same. It only purges messages from mail files you have deleted mor moved already. It certainly helps to understand why purging/compacting is necessary maintenance. https://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2011/07/compacting-what-is-it-and-why-must-i-do.html
Thank you christ1 for the link which explains compacting for Thunderbird. I disagree that compacting and purging have essentially the same meaning. My Chambers dictionary says that to purge means to remove impurities, to clear undesirable elements elements and compacting means compressing. “The Messages you have deleted can be purged from the disk” means to me that the messages that I want to put into Trash can be obliterated completely from my computer hard drive and so will be irrecoverable. I still strongly recommend that the wording is changed to be, “If you allow Thunderbird to compact your folders this operation will save xxx MB of disk space.”
Chosen Solution
My Chambers dictionary says that to purge means to remove impurities, to clear undesirable elements elements ...
This is exactly what Thunderbird is doing, even though it said compacting in earlier releases. Compacting may sound less alarming to non-technical users though.
... and compacting means compressing.
Thunderbird did never compress anything.
“The Messages you have deleted can be purged from the disk” means to me that the messages that I want to put into Trash can be obliterated completely from my computer hard drive and so will be irrecoverable.
This is true to some extend, but not in the way you seem to think it is. If you read the article and understood what's actually happening I suppose you wouldn't make that point.
Version 91 comes out in several weeks, in which the language of the compact dialog has been greatly improved. When you install version 91, if compact causes problems, please create a new support topic.
On 15th August 2021 I saw a message from Thunderbird about compacting messages. The revised wording is a considerable help to a simple user. Thank you.
Grrrrhwll said
On 15th August 2021 I saw a message from Thunderbird about compacting messages. The revised wording is a considerable help to a simple user. Thank you.
Thanks for the update
Wayne Mery said
Grrrrhwll said
On 15th August 2021 I saw a message from Thunderbird about compacting messages. The revised wording is a considerable help to a simple user. Thank you.Thanks for the update
Also, If you still have problems please post a new support request. And see https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/compacting-folders which now explains it MUCH better.