How can I stop TB from automatically deleting all but the last n messages, if they are unread?
In some folders I have a retention policy that deletes all but the last n messages. Sometimes it happens that I get more than n messages at once, so some of them will be deleted before I could read them. Is there a way to restrict the deletion order to read messages only?
All Replies (4)
Here are some options. If the retention policy on Folder says as an example: 'Delete all but the most recent eg: 50 messages', but you are sometimes getting eg: 55 incoming messages so losing 5 messages, then you can either:
- increase the threshold to eg: 100.
- Perhaps change to 'Delete messages more than eg: 14 days old'
- or set up a Message filter to 'Star' incoming messages and in Retention Policy choose 'Aways keep starred messages', then when you read them remove the star.
Retention Policy is a good method of deleting, but as it deletes from Thunderbird and the Server, it would be a good idea to make sure the Retention Policy removes older emails otherwise you are risking losing recent emails. So I would say your current parameters are too restrictive for your purposes.
In addition to using the Star incoming mails method, another idea would be to use the Retention Policy on folders that do not receive new mail. So, you get mail, read it and move to suitable folder called eg: Done.
'Done' folder has the Retention Policy set. If there are emails that you really do not want to get rid of - mark them as 'Starred'.
I know about the starred work around and increasing the number of allowed messages, but I want the whole process to be automatic. Changing the deletion rule to age would either needlessly fill the folder or run into problems if and when I do not check my emails.
Here some more info on my current setup: This is for new post messages from various forums. My incoming mail is filtered to put such messages in their proper folder. Those folders are set up to delete all but the last 10 messages. So If more than 10 messages come in the oldest are deleted. Interestingly enough if I'm already in that folder the messages are not deleted.
Isn't starred a property like unread? why can't unread messages or messages with any other property be ignored like starred messages?
The simple fact is what you ask can not be done by the software as it stands. Your more than welcome to file an enhancement bug for that. Keep in mind that stared is defined in the mail protocols, unread is not. It is a human coping mechanism that in managed by \seen in IMAP.
Perhaps you need to file an enhancement bug for the functionality you want to see. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/