Marking messages after copying from IMAP folder to local folder
Dear Sirs!
We are a small company with 10-15 persons using one corporate e-mail. We are using IMAP4 protocol so everybody has an access to IMAP folder. To properly work with messages we are using filters to automatically copy messages from IMAP in local folders once they are received. Then everybody decides by themselves what to do: reply, archive or delete etc. Unfortunately it is not possible to control everybody not to remove "read" flag from messages in IMAP folders. So it is not convenient to see are messages in local folders new or old and already processed. My question is: is there any way to mark messages as "unread" in local folders after they have been copied from IMAP? So the whole work should be: - If there is a new message in IMAP then:
1. Copy it in local folder
2. Mark it as unread.
3. Display a notification about new mail.
I understand restrictions about marking as unread after copying, but possibly there is any other way of marking and notifying - possibly using any addon (compatible with current Thunderbird 45).
Thanks in advance.
Chosen solution
I have a few idea for you to consider.
Option1: You can set filter to:
- mark as unread
- copy to Local Folder
then all emails regardless of whether previously read will be remarked as unread and will be Copied to Local Folders as unread.
As user reads emails in Local Folders, they will become marked as read leaving the one on the server still marked as unread.
So then you might need - depends on work practise - the user to manually select that email in the imap folder to get that also marked as read and/or set a tag to show it has been dealth with.
Option2: You can set filter to:
- Add Star
- copy to Local Folders folder
This will copy over whatever state is set on server, both read and unread. It will set a star against that email in the imap folder and also for that email in the Local Folder. As users deal with the email they can manually uncheck the star, so they know what has been done.
Option3: Stop the auto marking of messages as read.
- Tools > Options> Display > Advanced tab
- Uncheck 'automatically mark messages as read'
- click on OK
You can set filter to:
- copy to Local Folders folder
Then emails in any imap folder can be read without changing the status. Then when they are copied over to Local Folders, they will still be marked as unread. This would then need the user to manually change the state to 'read'.
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (6)
I don't understand your problem, sorry. I have just copied a 'read' email from my IMAP inbox into another folder on the same IMAP account; I've also copied it to a folder in my Local Folders account (i.e. not on IMAP). In both cases I can mark the copied email as 'unread'. Can't you do that?
amanchesterman said
I don't understand your problem, sorry. I have just copied a 'read' email from my IMAP inbox into another folder on the same IMAP account; I've also copied it to a folder in my Local Folders account (i.e. not on IMAP). In both cases I can mark the copied email as 'unread'. Can't you do that?
I can do it manually. How to do it automatically with every new message in IMAP? If you can do it with filters - please provide correct settings for it. Now I can copy new messages with filters but I cannot change the mark - it remains the same as it was in source IMAP folder.
Modified by Fixxxer
OK, I understand the problem now. I don't think it can be done as you want. Thunderbird only applies filters automatically when new mail is received, and then only to mail in the inbox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/organize-your-messages-using-filters I haven't seen an add-on that can work automatically on local folders. The only solution I can think of is to use folders rather than the read/unread status to manage the workflow. It might look like this: - mail arrives in inbox - mail moved automatically to local folder called 'new mail waiting to be processed' - mail processed (replied to, etc.) - mail moved manually to other local folders called 'replied to', 'needs more information' etc.
Yup, I've seen restriction regarding "read/unread" already. And your proposition was already discussed. But the problem is how to inform the user the new message has arrived in "unprocessed" folder. Because as I said such message may be read already - and moreover Thunderbird doesn't allow to enable notification for local folders. Also please note any mark for "unprocessed" folder could be accepted - not only read/unread flag. Maybe this can overcome that restriction?
Chosen Solution
I have a few idea for you to consider.
Option1: You can set filter to:
- mark as unread
- copy to Local Folder
then all emails regardless of whether previously read will be remarked as unread and will be Copied to Local Folders as unread.
As user reads emails in Local Folders, they will become marked as read leaving the one on the server still marked as unread.
So then you might need - depends on work practise - the user to manually select that email in the imap folder to get that also marked as read and/or set a tag to show it has been dealth with.
Option2: You can set filter to:
- Add Star
- copy to Local Folders folder
This will copy over whatever state is set on server, both read and unread. It will set a star against that email in the imap folder and also for that email in the Local Folder. As users deal with the email they can manually uncheck the star, so they know what has been done.
Option3: Stop the auto marking of messages as read.
- Tools > Options> Display > Advanced tab
- Uncheck 'automatically mark messages as read'
- click on OK
You can set filter to:
- copy to Local Folders folder
Then emails in any imap folder can be read without changing the status. Then when they are copied over to Local Folders, they will still be marked as unread. This would then need the user to manually change the state to 'read'.
Option 1 looks nice, but have to test it. Will finally respond later.