If the files you copied were mbox files - large files with no extension, named after folders - they should be copied into Mail/Local Folders in the profile, while TB is closed. They can't be copied into an ImapMail subfolder, and if you need to copy mail from a Local Folders subfolder to an IMAP folder through the TB interface, copy small numbers of messages at a time.

ok ummm this is weird only half of the files show up after putting them in Mail/local folders... I do have half but the others ??? Help!!!

and I pointed to local folders in account settings???

I also pointed regular account to imap mail in account settings? is this correct?

Actually only 1/4 th of the files show in thunderbird after putting them in the locals file.

ok ummm this is weird only half of the files show up after putting them in Mail/local folders... I do have half but the others ??? Help!!! and I pointed to local folders in account settings??? I also pointed regular account to imap mail in account settings? is this correct?

There's no need to point to anything in Account Settings. If what you copied into Mail/Local Folders are mbox files, they should appear under Local Folders in the Folder Pane when TB restarts. Every mbox file named e.g. folder is accompanied by a folder.msf file. Ignore the msf file when copying to Local Folders - they are rebuilt automatically on restart.

ok can't not use a directory in account settings.. you can't delete a directory or I can't

no change only 1/4 th of the files show up in local Folders..

how do I totally start over ... this isn't working

can I delete profiles completely and start over?

so upset

all my customers info in there... my back up program too old back ups won't open...

Maybe file size issues??? a setting somewhere ??? no allowing local folders to exceed some size?

Create a new profile from Help/More Troubleshooting, about:profiles, add the accounts, and transfer mbox files from the old profile to Mail/Local Folders in the new one.

The size of Local Folders is limited only by the free space on your computer, but when you restart TB after copying into Mail/Local Folders, it might take some time for the index to rebuild if the folder is very large, e.g. many GB.

they are .sbd files and they have msf with them

thank you so much by they way I am a bit frantic but very grateful very grateful thank you again will keep at it. toni

same result same files show the rest do not .. on new profile... only change was dropping those files in local folders

I think you should post a screenshot of the files that you are copying, to confirm that they are the correct mbox files. i.e. a picture of the Finder directory. An mbox file is a text file that can be viewed in a text editor.