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No longer able to add message folders.

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by BigMart

wmblaney
wmblaney
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Lately when I right-click on [email protected], and click on New Folder, name it and add it, the folder does not appear. I have been prefixing my folder names with an asterisk and a space (* ); that may be an issue but up to a little while ago that was not a problem. I have also been prefixing with hash (# ) and double dash (-- ) followed by space. I accidentally created a folder that transformed into light color italics, which I understand is a Gmail category or label and I can see these in Gmail. Some of my newly-created folders appear under such a label. I see this in "again/off again" Thunderbird folders and Gmail labels. I understand I may be able to see and work with folders using Windows Explorer at OS(C) >Users > [computername] > AppData > Roaming > Thunderbird > Profiles > pd1vdrvi.default > ImpapMail > imap.googlemail.com. In Windows Explorer I see folders prefixed with "-- " but not those beginning with "* ". So I am in a muddle and want to repair this. Any suggestions? Windows 10 and Thunderbird 52.6.0.

Lately when I right-click on [email protected], and click on New Folder, name it and add it, the folder does not appear. I have been prefixing my folder names with an asterisk and a space (* ); that may be an issue but up to a little while ago that was not a problem. I have also been prefixing with hash (# ) and double dash (-- ) followed by space. I accidentally created a folder that transformed into light color italics, which I understand is a Gmail category or label and I can see these in Gmail. Some of my newly-created folders appear under such a label. I see this in "again/off again" Thunderbird folders and Gmail labels. I understand I may be able to see and work with folders using Windows Explorer at OS(C) >Users > [computername] > AppData > Roaming > Thunderbird > Profiles > pd1vdrvi.default > ImpapMail > imap.googlemail.com. In Windows Explorer I see folders prefixed with "-- " but not those beginning with "* ". So I am in a muddle and want to repair this. Any suggestions? Windows 10 and Thunderbird 52.6.0.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (3)

Zenos
Zenos
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The asterisk is a really bad idea. Folder names in Thunderbird are used as filenames in your operating system, so must comply with the rules for filenames. For instance, in Windows, don't use any of these reserved characters: 

< (less than)
> (greater than)
: (colon)
" (double quote)
/ (forward slash)
\ (backslash)
| (vertical bar or pipe)
? (question mark)
* (asterisk)

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365247(v=vs.85).aspx

Modified by Zenos

wmblaney
wmblaney Question owner
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It's helpful to know TB folder names should not include Windows-reserved characters. TB should warn the user attempting to enter one. Until recently TB never complained and there were no issues prefixing a folder name with an asterisk. It's almost as if I reached some limit.

My next step will be to clean up folder names that include Windows-reserved characters. I wonder if this will replicate back to my Gmail labels. Maybe this will allow me to

  • find hidden folders,
  • add new folders,
  • see newly-added folders.

This brings up a need to be able to search for folders, when there are many and some are nested.

Modified by wmblaney

BigMart
BigMart
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I am trying to create a new folder (I have done this previously). I right click Inbox and go to 'Create New Folder'. I do this through the pop up box. However, nothing appears on the screen. I repeat this again, but it tells me there is already a folder of the same name!

I have tried this also on Local Folders, but to no avail.

Any help please.

I am using TB v.52.6 on Win7