TB doesn't save downloaded messages locally. Offline request results is completely new downloading action. Takes forever as it re-downloads all messages again
Each time I want to sync/download emails using the "File->Offline->Download/Sync now" command, TB goes through the entire downloading process for every email for each account. It takes forever, or at least it seems that way. TB does appear to understand that there are some messages already downloaded and it only needs to update with new messages that have arrived since the last download or that have been moved into one of the folders I have setup in the account. In the accounts properties I have selected "Keep messages for this account on this computer" so any new messages should be immediately downloaded when TB opens and/or checks email. In any case, it doesn't seem correct that when I want to sync/download emails so that my Macbook has all messages locally and accessible if I have no internet connection, that TB should be downloading all messages as it they were new (I have quite a few folders and some have over 1000 messages, so you can see my concern). Is there a fix?
Thanks,
MJT
All Replies (13)
Check your synchronization settings for the account, and make sure all folders you want to sync are actually checked.
All of the folders are checked as you suggest. TB is still re-downloading each time.
It's not so much which folders are or are not downloading. All of the folders that are checked are downloaded each time. It's like the previous download didn't happen. It all ways the first time. 50 First Dates, if you know what I mean. Groundhog Day all over again. :)
The initial download of all messages may take a while. Check the Activity Manager to see what's happening.
AppMenu button - Activity Manager
Note that if you use IMAP you likely won't be able to view emails offline, for offilne mail, you may want to try to use POP if your provider supports it.
About 5 folders are updating and many others show as indexed. I also get this message multiple times:
The operation failed because another operation is using the folder. Please wait for that operation to finish and then try again.
The folder is not specified.
I'm running OS X Mavericks. Is this a factor?
Good point. I don't use the offline feature very often, only when I'm not in a Wi-F- zone.
Are you sure you dont have another device accessing that folder (such as a phone).
Regarding the error, see http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2320001
My situation has drastically improved. I think the answer was to let TB run the download of the emails to completion, which took a few hours. The size of my profile directory was near 15GB before the download and is now at 10GB. My guess is that the sync/download operation had not completed in prior sync'ing attempts. I asked TB to sync and the process moved quickly showing me that the old messages were recognized and only the changes were added/moved/deleted. The error message mentioned in a previous post did not appear. I think the mailboxes were being accessed from my iPhone (or some other program) because the sync was taking so long to complete. Once the time shortened the external access did not occur during the download. Make sense?
For future maintenance, is there a way to tell TB to remove everything it's sync'd so that emails only exist on the IMAP server? This to save disk space and to start over with any downloads. Does deleting an account delete the downloads? If so, that's an easy solution. Delete the account and then add it back.
Thanks for the comments and assistance.
MJT
I'm not sure what you're trying to achieve now. You cannot download messages for offline use from an IMAP server selectively, it's all or nothing.
You can try compacting folders, this may reduce the size of your mail folders.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders
You can use the archive feature, so that you don't accumulate messages in one large folder.
http://support.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/kb/archived-messages
You can also move messages off of the server to Local Folders. That won't reduce the overall size of your profile though.
In any case, make sure you always have a full backup of your profile. Storing messages on the server is no replacement for a backup.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Backing_Up_and_Restoring
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Yes, I understand that it's all or nothing based upon the selection of the folders you choose when you click the "Select" button. My question is this: what if I don't want any more offline emails saved (to save diskspace, for instance) either from one or more accounts or from one or more folders. Can I eliminate the previously downloaded emails from my local system and only use the information that is on the IMAP server?
Thanks,
MJT
You'd need to disable synchronization for that account/folder. Then close Thunderbird and delete the corresponding mail file(s) for the IMAP account in the profile folder. Mail files are the ones without a file extension.
As said before, make sure you do have a profile backup.
I sync my profiles folder with SugarSync so I should be OK there.