How to make email folder structure on new device visible to filter rules there ?
Message filters not working after transfer to new windows device. (Apologies for long report below). Problem is similar to that reported and still unsolved here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1391209
All old messages automatically accessed under IMAP protocol sit within correct email folder on new device.
Message filters rules successfully located on old device, copied and placed in corresponding windows folder on new device. Email folder structure looks identical on both devices.
New messages sit in inbox on new device, without being filtered. Instead error messages appear, repeatedly.
"The folder 'xxxx' could not be found, so filter(s) associated with this folder will be disabled. Verify that the folder exists, and that filters point to a valid destination folder.
The folder 'yyyy' could not be found, so filter(s) associated with this folder will be disabled. Verify that the folder exists, and that filters point to a valid destination folder.
If same new messages are accessed on old device, they later appear in correct folder on new device, and no longer sit in inbox
How to make email folder structure on new device visible to filter rules there ? This is necessary for filtered email to work successfully on new device, without requiring old device to be operational - it will be taken out of service in near future.
Chosen solution
Thanks @david. Your suggestion enabled me to find a solution, which I have set out below. I hope this may benefit others, who might encounter similar problems when transferring from old Windows 10 devices, to newer Windows 11 devices, for example.
1. Create a new folder within Thunderbird on the new device, and a new filter pointing a message towards it. 2. Close Thunderbird, and open msgFilterRules.dat with notepad. Immediately save a copy as backup if needed. 3. Compare the text of the new rule (conveniently at the start of the file), with previous rules. 3. For example new rule refers to actionValue="imap://me%40gmail.com@imap.gmail.com/INBOX/RecentFolder" 4. Whereas old imported rules refer to actionValue="imap://me%40gmail.com@imap.googlemail.com/INBOX/AncientFolder". 5. Replace all old-style references by new style references. 6. Also replace instances of =no by =yes (to reactivate suspended filters. 7. Save and exit notepad; restart Thunderbird.
My first attempt to edit (with libre office instead of notepad) was unsuccessful . Restarting Thunderbird showed an empty list of rules. Reasons are not known - but this emphasises the importance of making a backup.
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It may be that the physical location of the local folders is different, requiring each such filter be redone.
@david . Thanks, but these are not local folders. These folders are within the structure of the host mail system; for example [email protected] | inbox | xxxx .
More suggestions please. Please note - it would be very laborious to have to edit each filter. I have several hundred filters. Some others reporting similar issues have many more; in one case more than a thousand.
All I can suggest is this:
- highlight a receiving folder that is listed as unavailable in filter processing, rightclick and select properties and view the location,
- then, in windows file explorer, view the msgfilterrules.dat file and compare that with the other to see if there are differences.
My hope is that seeing the two may give ideas on what changes to make. If you're careful, some editing can be done directly on the filter. If you decide to do that, be sure to 1) exit thunderbird first, and 2) make a backup o the msgfilterules.dat file prior to making changes.
Chosen Solution
Thanks @david. Your suggestion enabled me to find a solution, which I have set out below. I hope this may benefit others, who might encounter similar problems when transferring from old Windows 10 devices, to newer Windows 11 devices, for example.
1. Create a new folder within Thunderbird on the new device, and a new filter pointing a message towards it. 2. Close Thunderbird, and open msgFilterRules.dat with notepad. Immediately save a copy as backup if needed. 3. Compare the text of the new rule (conveniently at the start of the file), with previous rules. 3. For example new rule refers to actionValue="imap://me%40gmail.com@imap.gmail.com/INBOX/RecentFolder" 4. Whereas old imported rules refer to actionValue="imap://me%40gmail.com@imap.googlemail.com/INBOX/AncientFolder". 5. Replace all old-style references by new style references. 6. Also replace instances of =no by =yes (to reactivate suspended filters. 7. Save and exit notepad; restart Thunderbird.
My first attempt to edit (with libre office instead of notepad) was unsuccessful . Restarting Thunderbird showed an empty list of rules. Reasons are not known - but this emphasises the importance of making a backup.
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