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want to be able to be able to delete sent messages without deleting copies of sent messages.

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  • Last reply by overweaver

I have a folder in my local folders to keep my saved sent emails. When I delete my emails from sent, the copies are also deleted. Is there a way to delete the sent emails yet keep the copies? Want to keep them in the local folders area. Thanks!

I have a folder in my local folders to keep my saved sent emails. When I delete my emails from sent, the copies are also deleted. Is there a way to delete the sent emails yet keep the copies? Want to keep them in the local folders area. Thanks!

All Replies (20)

What copies are you talking about?

My sent messages . When I send an email, my sent message goes into my sent folder. I have set it up so that I have a folder for copies of sent messages in my "local folders" I wanted to hang onto them but delete the sent messages in my actual sent folder. But when I delete them from sent, they also disappear out of the other folder too. How can I prevent this?

I think we're puzzled because by design whatever is in Local Folders is intended to be independent of any external servers. There is no legitimate reason for the type of interaction you report.

I have seen reports of users moving folders from an active account into Local Folders, and somehow the moved folder remained attached to the active server. Since I am not sure what would or should happen when a folder is moved between accounts, I avoid doing it.

How did you create your "Sent" folder under Local Folders?

Yes, that's what I don't understand either. I would think that the local folders would not be affected. i've even renamed it several times. Under Tools/ account settings there is a place to set up where you want your copies to go, if you want copies.

overweaver said

I've even renamed it several times.

What "it" did you rename?

And I'll ask again: how did you create the copy folder under Local Folders?

Your description suggests that whatever folder you are saving your copies to is still synchronized with a server. So we need to be clear on where it is, what is is called and how it was created.

I renamed the folder in local folders that holds the sent copies. I called it copies. I have changed the name but it always associates itself with the actual SENT emails. The reason I want to do this is because I wanted to keep them without taking up all my server space. The other day I was using 400/500 MB of my space on provider server. All from sent emails. I thought local folders would not be synchronized with the server but it still seems to be. I have an area in Thunderbird that is below all the regular inbox, drafts, sent, etc. that is called local folders. In there I have folders where I move emails to different folder categories. It was created by going to Tools, then account settings. In there is what is called copies and folders. if you click on that, you find an area that lets you designate where you want your sent email copies to go. IT says, place a copy in....and then you choose where you want the copies to go. Or, if you don't want copies, that also is an option.

re : It was created by going to Tools, then account settings. In there is what is called copies and folders. if you click on that, you find an area that lets you designate where you want your sent email copies to go.

just to clarify.... This does not say how you created the 'Sent' now renamed 'copies' folder. It merely says how you selected where to put copies of sent emails.

'Local Folders' does not automatically contain a 'Sent' folder unless you have a pop mail account set up as a Global Inbox using Local Folders and you send an email.

As that folder would not have existed in Local Folders, we are wondering how you could have accesed Account Settings, copies and folders and choose that 'Sent' now renamed 'Copies' folder to save copies.

This means you not stated how you created the 'Sent' now renamed 'Copies' folder in Local folders.

Q: Did you right click on 'Local folders' mail account and select 'New folder' and called it 'Sent', then later renamed it to 'Copies' ? Then in Account Settings, copies and folders choose that 'Copies' folder.

If no then please clarify this point as it is important.

Yes, that's what I did. I right clicked on local folders and went to new folder, and created the copies folder. Then I asked it to put my sent copies in there.

re :Yes, that's what I did. I right clicked on local folders and went to new folder, and created the copies folder. That was the correct method.

re :Then I asked it to put my sent copies in there. Have you done this:

  • Right click on mail account in folder Pane and select 'Settings'
  • select 'Copies & Folders'
  • Select 'Place a copy in'
  • select 'Other' and from drop down select 'Copies' on Local Folders.
  • click on 'OK'

Send email and a copy should appear in Copies folder.

I have an imap gmail account. gmail automatically puts a copy in the imap gmail 'Sent Mail' folder. So I modified settings to send a copy into a new folder in Local Folders as a test. When I delete the copy in the imap 'Sent Mail' folder, the copy in 'Local Folders' mail account remains.

What server are you using ? gmail ? Confirm the exact 'Copies & Folders' settings, are they the same as mine?

No, I use our internet provider server. It is an IMAP account it says. I did exactly what you say you did above, but my copies disappear if I delete the emails out of SENT. I am stumped! My sent folder and my local folders copies folder, have a shaded blue square in front of them. So it looks like they are synced together.

re :My sent folder and my local folders copies folder, have a shaded blue square in front of them.

That is normal. Any folder that is designated as storage for sent mail will use that icon. If you stopped using that 'Copies' in Local folders then it would change back to a normal folder icon.

re :No, I use our internet provider server. I was expecting that, but who is your ISP? What do you have after the @ in your email address? BT, virgin media, etc ?

As you are using IMAP what settings do you use here: Right click on mail account in folder Pane and select 'Settings' select 'Synchronisation & Storage'

Is this selected: 'Keep messages for this account on this computer'  ? Click on 'Advanced' button Are all your imap folders in this list - in particular the 'Sent' folder? Is this selected 'synchronise all messages locally regardless of age'  ?

Please make sure you are using this view: 'Menu icon' > 'Folders' > 'All' Please post jpg image of folder pane which shows the Local Folders.

Right click on mail account in folder Pane and select 'Settings' select 'Local Folders' on the right it will say: 'Local directory:' Copy paste the contents of that local directory so we can be sure it is pointing to the correct place.

eg: Mine says: C:\Users\User Account\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\Mail\Local Folders

Is this selected: 'Keep messages for this account on this computer'  ?

Yes.

Click on 'Advanced' button Are all your imap folders in this list - in particular the 'Sent' folder? Is this selected 'synchronise all messages locally regardless of age'  ?

Yes

Please make sure you are using this view: 'Menu icon' > 'Folders' > 'All' Please post jpg image of folder pane which shows the Local Folders.

I don't understand the view.

I did something and now all my folders are in local folders except for inbox. Now I can delete SENT emails and it seems like the COPIES emails don't get deleted.

Please make sure you are using this view: 'Menu icon' > 'Folders' > 'All' It is possible to change the view of what you see in the Folder Pane. So for the purposes of checking where everything is located, I need to see the default view showing all folders.


The 'Menu icon' is located on the 'Mail Toolbar'. The icon has three horizontal lines. By default it is located on the far right, but I have dragged mine to far left as it is more logical for people reading left to right. 'Folders' is located in the drop down menu that appears. 'Folders' offers a few options to change the view of the Folder Pane. Select the 'All' option. See image.

If you are using the 'Mail Bar' toolbar which has 'File', 'Edit', 'view' etc, then you will also find the same thing under 'View' > 'Folders' > 'All'

re : I did something and now all my folders are in local folders except for inbox. I did something is not always a totally helpful reponse  :)

Did you change the 'Menu icon' > 'Folders' > 'All' When you have got that view, post an image of Folder Pane.

Right click on mail account in folder Pane and select 'Settings' select 'Local Folders' on the right it will say: 'Local directory:' Copy paste the contents of that local directory so we can be sure it is pointing to the correct place.

eg: Mine says: C:\Users\User Account\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\Mail\Local Folders


Mine says: Thunderbird\Profiles\4midohsp.default\Mail\Local Folders

It saves my sent emails in copies. But not in sent. So they don't delete now until I tell them to. That seem ok to me!

did something is not always a totally helpful reponse  :)

haha.. I believe I moved the sent folder down to local folders.

Did you change the 'Menu icon' > 'Folders' > 'All'

That is what I have.

When you have got that view, post an image of Folder Pane.

Not sure how to get an image of folder pane from my computer to post.

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