I think the only way to do this would be to set up the account as IMAP and then create a filter that moves all messages except Fred@domain to Local Folders.

Many thanks for your message.

So, just to clarify, as I need to get this right first time (fingers crossed!) -

1) Set up an account on Thunderbird for @domain using create a new account and set this to IMAP.

2) Create a filter to 'Move' all @domain to Thunderbird inbox (does this delete the mail from the IMAP server?).

3) Create an exclusion - but I can't now (I'm looking at the detail) see how; there isn't an exclude filter.

Perhaps I need to explain what I'm trying to do in more detail (as set up on WLM and working well). We have three registered email domains (say, D1, D2, & D3) which we use regularly. These are forwarded to one mail box (D4) on one paid for mail server (used to be free with our old ISP but isn't provided by our current one (we moved house!)). D1 and D2 are downloaded to our desktop (using forwarding to D4) with a filter to prevent download of D3; D3 is downloaded to our laptop (via D4) using filters to prevent download of D1 & D2. I thought your suggestion would work until I hit the exclusion problem - am I missing something?

Any further suggestions very much appreciated.

I think you can do it with POP.

Set Thunderbird to leave a copy on the server. This is a per-account setting.

Create a filter to remove it from the server if it isn't from fred. Create another filter. If it is from fred, delete it locally (leaving the copy on the server).

Thunderbird uses the standard protocols (POP, IMAP, SMTP) and by and large it has to download a message to work on it.

If you were using WLM with an outlook or hotmail account then they have the advantage of a proprietary protocol that allows the client to ask the server to do things on its behalf. In Thunderbird, we have to do it all in the client, because that's what the protocols require.

Note the the filters have, for the sender: is/isn't/contains/doesn't contain/begins with/ends with/is in my address book/isn't in my address book.

One of these is usually able to provide an exclusion.

I am with sfhowes in that if you want to work an account from multiple computers, IMAP is the way to go.

I am baffled by your machinations. You combine your accounts yet you want them separate. What does all this forwarding achieve?

Hello Zenos

Many thanks for your reply. I have 'played' around with this for a while but still can't solve it. (I'm not usually too bad at solving this type of thing - if there is an answer but I can't see one here!). Following your suggestions I have got most of the way but I am still left with a copy of the unwanted emails in the deleted folder which I don't want. Have you any further suggestions? Incidentally, the filter 'Do not Download it from the server' in Windows Live Mail works well on our own domains (registered with 123reg), we are not using either Outlook or Hotmail accounts.

With reference to your comments re our machinations! We are actually combining three domains, used for our emails, and another with a mail box for forwarding these domains, all registered with 123reg where one domain has a mailbox (I don't wish to add even more to the cost with more annual mail box charges!). ie we have *@domain1, *@domain2 and *@domain3 for our separate email addresses and forward@domain4 for the forwarding mailbox. We want domain 1 & 2 on our desktop and 3 (my wife's) on our laptop. It has been relatively simple so far but now with WLM effectively been withdrawn......