Viewing *all* unread messages in a unified single folder no matter what account or subfolder they're in?
I have two accounts (one POP, one IMAP), and several filters to move incoming messages to specific topics. I'd like to find a way to view ALL the unread messages in a single folder (or view) no matter what account or sub-folder they are in. This way, one can easily cycle through all of them reading/deleting as needed easily without having to bounce around the navigation tree. This is doable in Outlook. An archived Thunderbird thread I see mentioned "Slightly more advanced...you can use a Saved Search to create your own permanent "Unified Folder" which aggregates messages from selected folders." but I don't see how to accomplish that.
Doable? TIA.
- Andrew
Chosen solution
Make sure any email in any folder is selected. If you do not do this then the Find option is greyed out :)
- Menu icon(3 lines) > 'Find' > select 'Search Messages'
- Search for messages in: make sure you select one of your mail account names.
- Select 'Search subfolders'
- Select 'Match all of the following'
As you may have manually changed read message status back to 'unread', do the following to include them.
- Select: 'Status' and 'isn't' and 'Read'
But If you strickly only want new emails:
- Select: 'Status' and 'is' and 'New'
- click on 'Search'
- Then at the bottom...click on 'Save as Search Folder'
- Give search folder a name eg: SvdSearchUnread
- Suggest as you want to combine more than one account you 'create as a subfolder of: 'Local Folders'
- click on 'Choose'
You should find all the folders of one of your accounts already listed and checkbox selected.
- Use the scrollbar to locate the other mail account. Select the mail account name and any folders you require.
- when selected, click on 'OK'
- Finally, click on 'Create'
- Exit the 'Saved Search' window.
In Folder Pane look under 'Local Folders' for the name of the saved search folder and select the folder to see emails. Suggest you enable the 'account' column header if required.
If this saved search folder is now lurking way down your list folders and can be pain to find. Suggestion: make it a 'Favourite folder'.
- Right click on saved search folder and select 'Favourite folder'
then change the view
- Menu icon > Folders > select 'Favourite'
This will then only show 'Local Folders' and the saved search folder. (Assuming you do not have other fodlers marked as favourite, but either way it would look less cluttered)
- click on saved search folder to see contents.
You can swap back to general view:
- Menu icon > Folders > select 'All'
If you need to update the saved search folder maybe because you have created another folder or deleted a folder etc....
- Right click on saved search folder and select 'Properties'
All Replies (3)
Chosen Solution
Make sure any email in any folder is selected. If you do not do this then the Find option is greyed out :)
- Menu icon(3 lines) > 'Find' > select 'Search Messages'
- Search for messages in: make sure you select one of your mail account names.
- Select 'Search subfolders'
- Select 'Match all of the following'
As you may have manually changed read message status back to 'unread', do the following to include them.
- Select: 'Status' and 'isn't' and 'Read'
But If you strickly only want new emails:
- Select: 'Status' and 'is' and 'New'
- click on 'Search'
- Then at the bottom...click on 'Save as Search Folder'
- Give search folder a name eg: SvdSearchUnread
- Suggest as you want to combine more than one account you 'create as a subfolder of: 'Local Folders'
- click on 'Choose'
You should find all the folders of one of your accounts already listed and checkbox selected.
- Use the scrollbar to locate the other mail account. Select the mail account name and any folders you require.
- when selected, click on 'OK'
- Finally, click on 'Create'
- Exit the 'Saved Search' window.
In Folder Pane look under 'Local Folders' for the name of the saved search folder and select the folder to see emails. Suggest you enable the 'account' column header if required.
If this saved search folder is now lurking way down your list folders and can be pain to find. Suggestion: make it a 'Favourite folder'.
- Right click on saved search folder and select 'Favourite folder'
then change the view
- Menu icon > Folders > select 'Favourite'
This will then only show 'Local Folders' and the saved search folder. (Assuming you do not have other fodlers marked as favourite, but either way it would look less cluttered)
- click on saved search folder to see contents.
You can swap back to general view:
- Menu icon > Folders > select 'All'
If you need to update the saved search folder maybe because you have created another folder or deleted a folder etc....
- Right click on saved search folder and select 'Properties'
Thanks Todd - I never would have figured that out myself!
Just what I was searching for...many thanks for the solution Toad...really love the way you comprehensively document the steps mate.