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Thunderbird Tasks List

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by steve435

steve435
steve435
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I have suddenly, for no apparent reason, lost all but three of the tasks in my Tasks List on Thunderbird. The tasks that have disappeared contain loads of notes, lists, etc. which I desperately need back. Is there any way that my original Tasks List was held on a server somewhere, from where it could be restored to me?

I have suddenly, for no apparent reason, lost all but three of the tasks in my Tasks List on Thunderbird. The tasks that have disappeared contain loads of notes, lists, etc. which I desperately need back. Is there any way that my original Tasks List was held on a server somewhere, from where it could be restored to me?

Chosen solution

Hi, many thanks for your help in trying to resolve the problem. However, I've subsequently solved it for myself.

Searching elsewhere online, I found out the name of the file I needed to restore. Using Time Machine in MacOS, I went to the back up made just before the problem occurred. The file I needed was Macintosh HD/Users/my name/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/xxxxxxxx.default/calendar-data/local.sqlite. Simply restoring this file brought my Tasks List back as it had previously been.

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Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 25 Contributor
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What happens when you try these options:

In the Today Pane: right-click in the Task area and select "Filter Tasks." select "All,"

In Tasks list - Events and Tasks > Tasks Left pane will now have 'Show' above the calendar list. Click on 'Show' to see the list of options. - Select 'All'

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 25 Contributor
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If the first comment did not work, then please try the following:

  • Menu app icon > Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • Under 'Application Basics' - Profile Folder - Click on 'Open folder'

A new window opens showing the contents of your 'profile name' folder.

  • Exit Thunderbird if running....this is important
  • Click on 'calendar-data' folder to see contents.
  • Copy local.sqlite file and put copy onto desktop.
  • In calendar-data folder - Rename 'local.sqlite' to 'local.sqlite.bak' -

Download install addon - Firefox sqlite DB manager add-on into Firefox browser.

  • Start the addon - you should see a new icon on the toolbar near the menu app icon - hover over icon and it will say SQLite Manager - click on it.

Use addon to open the desktop copy of the local.sqlite DB

  • drag the desktop copy of 'local.sqlite' into the opened addon.

run two SQL queries - you type this in the yellow area

Searched for items with null id:

  • SELECT * from cal_events WHERE id IS NULL LIMIT 100

If you find any... So then use the following to deleted it:

  • DELETE FROM cal_events WHERE id IS NULL
  • Save the database file, 'Save' located at the bottom - save is usually saved in the 'Downloads' folder.
  • Access the 'Downloads' folder to locate downloaded saved version of 'local.sqlite'.
  • put the saved 'local.sqlite' back into the 'calendar-data' folder

restart Thunderbird and report on results.

steve435
steve435 Question owner
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Chosen Solution

Hi, many thanks for your help in trying to resolve the problem. However, I've subsequently solved it for myself.

Searching elsewhere online, I found out the name of the file I needed to restore. Using Time Machine in MacOS, I went to the back up made just before the problem occurred. The file I needed was Macintosh HD/Users/my name/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/xxxxxxxx.default/calendar-data/local.sqlite. Simply restoring this file brought my Tasks List back as it had previously been.