How do I delete unused default mail folders?

I apologize if this is a repeated inquiry... I searched, but couldn't locate it anywhere else.

I have several pop/smtp accounts set up for my Mozilla mail. I have them all set via user.js to put drafts, templates, sent messages, etc... in the appropriate subfolders of Local Folders. Hence, the Drafts, Templates and Sent subfolders for each pop/smtp account are unused. Unlike user created subfolders, right clicking on these folders does not make a Delete option available. Is there someway I can manually remove these unused folders? They take up space in the left pane.

Ideally, I would like to have only the Inbox & Trash folders displayed for each individual pop/smtp account.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Michael

 

Sent, and even Drafts are worth keeping.
I don't intend to play with my prefs.js file, but there are lines there referring to the different folders. I don't encourage deleting the line in the file, but it could be done that way, with your program closed.
But, the accounts do not need to be expanded, i.e. clicking the + to the left of the name. The only one which is expanded is the default or top account.
I have a total of 12 accounts set up, and nothing would help if I kept them expanded.

 

More detailed explanation...

Here's a more detailed example... say I have three pop3/smtp accounts setup; AccountOne, AccountTwo & AccountThree. This would give the following as somewhat an illustration of the left pane:

AccountOne
Inbox
Drafts
Templates
Sent
Trash
AccountTwo
Inbox
Drafts
Templates
Sent
Trash
AccountThree
Inbox
Drafts
Templates
Sent
Trash
Local Folders <--- default
Inbox
Drafts
Templates
Sent
Trash

I can understand not wanting to carelessly edit "prefs.js" as that can cause some serious troubles, especially if you don't know what you're doing. However, with caution (make backups!), there is some awesome customization that can be done, and more preferrably using a "user.js" Settings established in "user.js" override the same settings in "prefs.js "

Anyhow, back to the above example/layout, I already have it setup in my "user.js" so that AccountOne, AccountTwo and AccountThree use the Drafts, Templates and Sent folders of the Local Folders account. I, myself personally, have and see no particular need for having these folders for each of my pop3/smtp accounts. Others may, I don't. I do want to keep the Inbox and Trash for each account though. What I want to setup for my left pane is as follows:


AccountOne
Inbox
Trash
AccountTwo
Inbox
Trash
AccountThree
Inbox
Trash
Local Folders
Inbox
Drafts
Templates
Sent
Trash

Granted, it doesn't effect anything from an 'operational' standpoint... by eliminating the unused folders, it just alleviates the view of unnecessary clutter.

The lines in "user.js" referring to the Drafts, Templates and Sent folders for each account can't be omitted (in my case) as they direct each account to use the same/corresponding folder(s) of the Local Folders account. This is working correctly. Still, if I use Windows Explorer and just delete the files/folders for the unused Drafts, Templates and Sent of AccountOne, AccountTwo and AccountThree, they are re-generated when Mozilla is restarted.

I was guessing that maybe this, the re-creation of missing (although unused) mail folders was a function of an .rdf file or something, and hoping maybe I could edit it such that it wouldn't automatically regenerate the unused folders. I dunno... may not be possible.

Any experts out there???

 

I understand what are trying to do. It seems that you want to keep the account list expanded. It is not nessary, and you will defeat the usefulness of the mail account, by not having Junk folders, for Spam, and Sent mail. I mentioned the + next to the account name, but you will have a minus. Click on that the long list disappears. You are showing 16 folders( including the Local folders). I show 19 with 12 accounts, plus local folders and news.
I never have use for the Templates, but unless you wish to have all Sent mail in one place, regardless the account, and the same the Drafts.
I don't like to mess with anything while I am with Netscape, but have you tried to "hide" the unwanted files, in windows explorer?

 

The question, not the rationale

Not that I don't appreciate your input, I certainly do and am grateful that you contribute your time. Your responses however relate more to why I want to delete the unused folders instead of how to delete them if possible at all.

I'd prefer not use the '+' & '-' to open & close each individual account folder if I don't have to. Less required operator/user action is always a good thing. When the account folders are closed and new mail arrives, it only indicates that mail has arrived (the arrow), not how many. However, with the account folder expanded, with the appropriate column selected for display, when new mail arrives, the message count is displayed to the right of the Inbox folder. Hence, the reason I prefer to keep the account folders expanded.

The unused Drafts, Templates and Sent folders for the individual accounts are unused (ever), so why not rid them from display? That's not really my question though. Some may want to keep them for whatever reasons. I personally prefer not to if I have a choice. So my only real question, is it possible and how do I delete thee unused folders?

Thanks

 

Hi Michael

I am not a programmer, so I can only guess which jar file (Java Archive) would contain the Mail folders. Whether or not you would be able to delete the Drafts, Templates, and Sent folders is doubtful. I have to wonder if this part of the Mail Program is hard coded. You can even download the source code if you are really into programming: http://www.mozilla.org/source.html

However, if you know how to hack a jar file, then you could take a look at the messenger.jar file, which is my best guess, and located in:
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Netscape\chrome

I would backup the entire Profiles folder first.
Rename the messenger.jar file: messenger.jar.zip
Then unzip the file with WinZip, or whatever program you use for this purpose. Once you have amended a file, save it, and repack the archive making certain to rename it to its original name, messenger.jar, or whichever file you edit...

More resources:
http://www.mozilla.org/docs/
http://books.mozdev.org/chapters/index.html
http://www.mozdev.org/mailing-lists.html
http://devedge.netscape.com/viewsource/

Ramona

 

Thank you Ramona!

I will give your suggestion(s) a try...

I dunno, I don't want it to become an overly complex project, it isn't worth the time.

It used to be that you could delete those folders using the context menus and they would stay gone. I think that probably caused the occasional non-techie some problems though. They've probably, like you say, pretty much hard coded them in to existing, or being automatically re-genereated.

Again, I'll check out the .jar file and see what troubles I can get myself in to. lol...

Thanks greatly!

Michael