How to preserve mailing lists?
Mailing lists are extremely helpful. I have set up almost a dozen lists. But then I bought a new computer and I want to migrate all my Thunderbird settings, including the mailing lists, to my new computer.
Why is that not possible? If I export my complete Personal Address Book, shouldn't that automatically include all my mailing lists?
Why encourage people to set up mailing lists if there is no way to preserve them? I have backed up each mailing list separately. But, if I import them into my Personal Address book, they simply create duplicates of contact that are already in my PAB.
I can only import those separate mailing lists into other address books, but then when I compose a new email, I cannot select all the contacts in those separate address books. So, what's the use of having separate address books when they seem to be totally unusable?
The old Outlook Express was the only email program that could easily back up all the contact lists (called Groups in IE) and just as easily import them into another computer, completely preserving all the mailing lists. Microsoft had a perfect email program, but then they discarded it and replaced it with ever poorer products that gradually stripped away all the useful features. In the latest Microsoft Mail program you can't even set up a mailing list. Useless.
If Outlook Express could preserve mailing lists, why can't other email clients do it too?
And what is the point in Thunderbird to allow me to only import my old mailing lists into a new address book that is then completely useless, or import them into the main Personal Address book, where they just create duplicate contacts? It seems Thunderbird offers us these useless features, while completely ignoring the most important issue: HOW TO PRESERVE MAILING LISTS?
Some of my mailing lists contain over 100 contacts. It is extremely time-consuming to recreate these lists manually, one record at a time.
Fixing this should be the highest priority. Or is there some workaround for now? Is there any way to preserve mailing lists?
Mafitar da aka zaɓa
See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-export
You will find import from an address book offers to import from a backed up profile.
Karanta wannan amsa a matsayinta 👍 2All Replies (4)
Zaɓi Mafita
See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/thunderbird-export
You will find import from an address book offers to import from a backed up profile.
Thank you, Matt! Your instruction did the job!
Just an additional remark.
The instructions given when you choose to "Export" from Thunderbird only say that you can export "accounts, messages, address books and settings". I doesn't even mention "mailing lists". It might help to add these two words to the explanation.
Also, it might help to say that "You will need to point to this ZIP file to import it on another computer." Because it is not really obvious how one would use that ZIP file. With most ZIP files, the first thing that needs to be done is to unzip it, .... and then what? Just the fact that a ZIP file is mentioned makes it sound like this will be a complicated process, which it is not. I figured it out. But it would certainly help to explain this on that same Export screen, clarifying how that ZIP file should be used later on.
mailing lists are a part of the address book they are included in. Unfortunately most file formats simply do not accommodate the concept of a mailing list. Most certainly not CSV which is about the most basic data interchange fomat there is.
Next time move your profile instead of creating a new one. It will save time and confusion.
Yes, Matt, I see now that moving the profile is all that is necessary. I spent way too much time trying to move individual mailing lists manually - which was unsuccessful.
There are just 2 related issues here:
1. Calling it a Profile. Most other places, a "profile" is just a few swhort pieces of information about the person, motsly the contact infor about that person adn perhaps some preferences. So,calling it "moving a profile" in Thunderbird is a bit misleading. I saw that option, but in my mind I erroneously interpreted that as follows: "I don't want to move my profile, I want to move my mailing lists." So, instead of call it a "profile", how about swaying: "Back up and move everything in Thunderbird."
2. Moving mailing lists. For the past many years, ever since Outlook Express has been discontinued, I have tried several other email programs and was disappointed every time, finding that there is no way to back up or move mailing lists. So, I just assumed that preserving mailing lists was too complicated and that's why nobody is able to make that work. All the email software can back up and preserve the basic address book, but not the mailing lists. So, for me, it was quite a revelation that Thunderbird CAN preserve mailing lists. And now that Outlook Express is gone, Thunderbird is the only email software I know that can preserve mailing lists. That's why I think it's important to spell that out in the Export instructions. Because, otherwise, the general assumption is that NOBODY can export mailing lists.
In other words, just saying that the Address books will be exported is not enough. Other similar software can export the Address Book but not the mailing lists. Most people don't know that this is now possible in Thunderbird.
Thunderbird should be shouting it from the rooftops: "WE CAN NOW PRESERVE YOUR MAILING LISTS. NOBODY ELSE CAN DO IT!!!"
Just a suggestion. :-)