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Copies and folders setting - only allows to save a sent message in IMAP server, OR local folders. I want both. Can it be done?

  • 9 replies
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  • Last reply by Matt

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When I send a message, I want it to go to SENT folder on IMAP server and stay there, so that I can have a copy of that same message sync'ed to my cell phone.

But I also want "A Copy" in my local folders. That way, when my server deletes all messages that are X days old (part of normal server maintenance), I will still have the original message saved locally on my computer.

Problem is: 1. when I configure Copies and Folders and "uncheck" the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, it doesnt save the message anywhere. 2. when I configure it with "check" the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, with the folder name on the IMAP server, it stores it only there 3. when I configure it with check" the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, with the local folder nameit stores it only there

I would have thought that when sending a message, it would would always be placed in the IMAP server "sent" folder by default (since i am... ummmm... "sending" the message)... and then when I check the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, it will save a COPY (ie: a 2nd instance of the message) to whatever other folder I select.

But it doesnt do that.

So how do I configure TB to do that... put a copy of the sent message in the IMAP server "Sent Items" folder, and a COPY of that same message, elsewhere?

thanks!

When I send a message, I want it to go to SENT folder on IMAP server and stay there, so that I can have a copy of that same message sync'ed to my cell phone. But I also want "A Copy" in my local folders. That way, when my server deletes all messages that are X days old (part of normal server maintenance), I will still have the original message saved locally on my computer. Problem is: 1. when I configure Copies and Folders and "uncheck" the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, it doesnt save the message anywhere. 2. when I configure it with "check" the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, with the folder name on the IMAP server, it stores it only there 3. when I configure it with check" the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, with the local folder nameit stores it only there I would have thought that when sending a message, it would would always be placed in the IMAP server "sent" folder by default (since i am... ummmm... "sending" the message)... and then when I check the "when sending a message place a copy in" setting, it will save a COPY (ie: a 2nd instance of the message) to whatever other folder I select. But it doesnt do that. So how do I configure TB to do that... put a copy of the sent message in the IMAP server "Sent Items" folder, and a COPY of that same message, elsewhere? thanks!

All Replies (9)

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This add-on looks as if it would help: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-gb/thunderbird/addon/copy-folder/ You'll see that it should copy the whole of your Sent folder to a Local Folders archive without overwriting what is already there, which I think is the behaviour you want? I didn't see from that whether it works automatically or whether you need to click a command from time to time, but you can investigate.

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amanchesterman said

This add-on looks as if it would help: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-gb/thunderbird/addon/copy-folder/ You'll see that it should copy the whole of your Sent folder to a Local Folders archive without overwriting what is already there, which I think is the behaviour you want? I didn't see from that whether it works automatically or whether you need to click a command from time to time, but you can investigate.

thanks for the suggestion... this plug in is perfect in every regard except for 1 key one... it's totally manual.

if there was a version of this plug in that did this automatically, everytime a new message was sent, or a new message arrived - it would be exactly what I want.

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You could try creating a filter that acts on the Sent folder and copies messages to a subfolder of Local Folders; use a criterion such as From + is + (your email) or Status + is + New.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Filters_(Thunderbird)

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sfhowes said

You could try creating a filter that acts on the Sent folder and copies messages to a subfolder of Local Folders; use a criterion such as From + is + (your email) or Status + is + New. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Filters_(Thunderbird)

Ha!... tried that... i got the incoming messages arriving and going to local folders by means of a filter... but cant get outgoing ones to do the same... the problem is that the only "trigger" taht I see (and correct me if i'm wrong) for filters is "a new message arriving".... i thought that the trigger could still work but when I set it up (just with the parameter from= "me") but it didnt do it....

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I would check 'After Sending' in the Filter Rules (see picture) to trigger the filter. Note that if the account already saves sent messages automatically to the IMAP Sent folder, as with Gmail, Hotmail etc., you can set Local Folders as the target in Copies & Folders, and you will still have messages saved on the server.

I'm not sure the add-on mentioned above allows you to save a message in two different folders, if they aren't already saved automatically to the IMAP server, although it appears to offer a useful option to select the target folder after sending.

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sfhowes said

I would check 'After Sending' in the Filter Rules (see picture) to trigger the filter. Note that if the account already saves sent messages automatically to the IMAP Sent folder, as with Gmail, Hotmail etc., you can set Local Folders as the target in Copies & Folders, and you will still have messages saved on the server. I'm not sure the add-on mentioned above allows you to save a message in two different folders, if they aren't already saved automatically to the IMAP server, although it appears to offer a useful option to select the target folder after sending.

May be onto something here.... my TB doesnt have those options.... checked versions - running V31... sooooo.. downloading V38 right now.

we'll see how that goes!

thanks!

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Well that pretty well did it.... however there is another problem... for messages that were read on the phone, and marked as read... therefore no-longer "new", they wouldnt download. Same for sent messages that were sent from the phone. that is with the filter set to "new". ... but....

Setting the filter to my name for example, would result in multiple "copies" of the same messages being copied, every time. I also tried the 'all messages' setting... worked as advertised.. it copied all messages... every time I started the program.

So i gave up. I will use the on-line system.... trust that messages wont get lost... and then archive (manually) anything older than x-months....

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