Thunderbird Mail

What are the .MSF folders that go along with each Main folder in Thunderbird?

 

Hi Pat,

From Mozilla.org's Thunderbird FAQs:

Each mail folder (Inbox, Sent, etc.) is stored as two files "” one with no extension (e.g. INBOX), which is the mail file itself (in "mbox" format), and one with an .msf extension (e.g. INBOX.msf), which is the index (Mail Summary File) to the mail file.​

 

Thanks.

So if I wanted to copy, say the Sent folder from a CD where I had copied it to the Mail/Sent folder on my hard drive would I have to copy both files?

I don't want to make a confusing issue out of this so if what I am asking IS confusing don't feel a need to respond. I do tend to confuse folks.

Thanks again.

 

You don't copy the .msf files. Only the files with no extention. .msf or header files will be, automatically, created, when TB is open. By the way the same format has existed since Netscape6/7 came out. Please, refer to this article in Ramona's Netscape Solutions

 

Personally, I find it easier just to copy the whole mail folder. I back up my email every night, by copying the mail folder to an external HD.

 

Same here. I, actually, copy the entire profile. I do backups every other day, and my dingbat HD can't find hidden files, even if unhidden, so I have to copy/paste my folders in a visible location of my HD.
I guess I misunderstood Vegaspat's question. I was not thinking backup. That's why I gave Ramona's link.

 

Actually, for the sake of redundancy, I copy both the Mail folder and the entire profile to different folders on the external drive. I know it's overkill, but I've lost too many sent mails because I didn't have a current backup. Inbound mail isn't a problem, because I leave it on the server for at least a week.

I misunderstood her question the first time I read it, as well ... I thought she was asking WHERE the .msf folders could be found.

I really don't know if Pat was talking about backup, or not. I only mentioned it by way of illustration. As she says, "I do tend to confuse folks."

 

Thanks. I now understand just what I wanted to know.

 

I agree, but since I am using three active profiles (for TB2.0.0.12, TB3.0a1pre and Eudora8.0b3), it is much easier to copy the entire profile folder, which contains the three profiles. My Maxtor external drive copies the folders which I had located out in the open on the C drive. I try to do this every night, and, I wish the internal drive software would not be so shy. Apparently, the software does not mess with the system files, or anything which is normally hidden.