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Just downloaded Tbird to store my old Gmail files. But when I do a universal search for a word in the message body, it sometimes finds it, sometimes doesn't.

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  • Last reply by Zenos

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I'm using both universal search (at the top of the page)and also just searching within the File where my gmails are stored. Very frustrating that it's not picking up the word I'm searching for (I get either partial returns, or no returns). Does it take time to catalogue the words? Thanks

I'm using both universal search (at the top of the page)and also just searching within the File where my gmails are stored. Very frustrating that it's not picking up the word I'm searching for (I get either partial returns, or no returns). Does it take time to catalogue the words? Thanks

Chosen solution

Yes, it's a background operation.

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How are you "storing Gmail files"?

If you just use the default settings, Thunderbird creates an IMAP-connected account and your messages remain on the server. If you seriously want to store messages in Thunderbird independently of Gmail, copy or move the required messages to Local Folders.

When you have done that I think that global search will be more effective.

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Thanks so much, but yes, I am already storing old Gmails in Local Folders. And when I put in the search term, it just gives me partial response (that is, I've been testing it, and it misses a few messages with the term, but includes others). Just wondering if it needs to index things first before I search??

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Indexing does take some time. I can't think of any way to hasten it. Be patient.  ;-)

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Thanks. In other words, the indexing goes on in the background?

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Seçilmiş Həll

Yes, it's a background operation.