Backing up from an offline server
I'm backing up a custom IMAP (maildir) server's mails to a local computer running Thunderbird.
I got the first phase done converting maildir to mbox and I'm ready to import those mails. But I've an issue, I want to keep all the folders I made when using this server, and when I switched to my internet provider account, they've all gone.
I found'em back inside my Thunderbird profile folder inside a folder called "ImapMail", but moving them to Local Mail didn't work.
How can I match by backed up emails to those folders? I kind of want to create an 'offline mailbox' where I can backup all those mail the way it was : Inbox, outbox, user folders etc..
Any solution?
All Replies (6)
as far as Thunderbird is concerned an mbox file is a folder.
so if you have an inbox mbox file Thunderbird will display the content as the folder inbox.
Thanks for your reply.
Sure, an mbox is a folder, but I created 'local' (not IMAP) folders on the old account to archive some emails from this server. Now I switched back to my internet provider's mail account (the source of the messages coming from the old server), those folders are gone but still present un Profile folder of Thunderbird.
Can I match mails in the mbox file to fill up those folders? And how to migrate those folders from ImapFolders to LocalFolders?
If you have an Imap mail account. Subscribe to see folders. Then synchronise folders for offline use. This should get a copy of all emails into Thunderbird. Then in 'Offline' mode: highlight some emails right click on emails and choose 'Copy to' and select a folder in 'Local Folders'.
Helpful links:
Hello Toad and thanks for helping.
The IMAP server is offline now, thus I'm not able to suscribe and synchronize anymore.
The only ressources I have are ImapFolder structure in profile data and mbox file for this account with all mails.
I kind of want to match this mbox file to those folders that used to be online IMAP folders in an offline and manual way, since I can't do otherwise.
Thanks.
Ok understood. Hopefully you have actual copies of emails in the ImapMail account folders.
Try this download and install an addon extension called ImportExportTools:
In order to install a downloaded extension, please do the following:
- Click the menu button
and choose Add-ons.
- Drag your downloaded XPI file to the Add-ons Manager tab and drop it.
or
- Click the menu button and choose Add-ons.
- Click the gear icon at the top-right corner to the left of the search box and select Install Add-on From File…
- Locate the XPI file you downloaded and click Open.
- You may need to restart Thunderbird when prompted.
For more detailed instructions and information about installing add-ons, see Installing an Add-on in Thunderbird.
Right click on 'Local Folders' and select: 'ImportExportTool' > 'Import mbox file'.
- Select: 'Import directly one or more mbox files'
OR...if you know they have subfolders and want the structure:
- Select: 'Import one or more mbox files, with it's/their subdirectory'
- click on OK
Locate the required mbox files in your Profile and click on 'Open'.
Actually, the maildir from I generated mbox file hasn't such directory structure. Juste a Received/Sent/Trash... Structure with all mails in it. I tried to import from that mbox file but folders were not filles up, even with IET.
The folder structure is in profile/ImapFolders, and now I want to bridge those folders with actual emails.