The 'Local Folders' account is - as the name suggests - local. What makes you believe it's an IMAP folder?

It is not local, if I update it it changes no matter where I log on. It is counted as space used on my server.

Please post your Troubleshooting Information.

AppMenu button - Help - Troubleshooting Information

Also post a screenshot of your folder pane.

http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

Here is the troubleshooting info:

 Application Basics

   Name: Thunderbird
   Version: 24.3.0
   User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.1; WOW64; rv:24.0) Gecko/20100101 Thunderbird/24.3.0
   Profile Folder: Show Folder

             (Local drive)
   Application Build ID: 20140131124303
   Enabled Plugins: about:plugins
   Build Configuration: about:buildconfig
   Crash Reports: about:crashes
   Memory Use: about:memory

 Mail and News Accounts
   account1:
     INCOMING: account1, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account2:
     INCOMING: account2, , (none) Local Folders, plain, passwordCleartext

   account3:
     INCOMING: account3, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account4:
     INCOMING: account4, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account5:
     INCOMING: account5, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account7:
     INCOMING: account7, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account8:
     INCOMING: account8, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account9:
     INCOMING: account9, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account10:
     INCOMING: account10, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

   account12:
     INCOMING: account12, , (imap) sip1-45.nexcess.net:993, SSL, passwordCleartext
     OUTGOING: sip1-45.nexcess.net:587, alwaysSTARTTLS, passwordCleartext, true

 Extensions
   Cleanest Addon Manager, 7.0, true, cam@sdrocking.com
   CompactHeader, 2.0.8, true, {58D4392A-842E-11DE-B51A-C7B855D89593}
   Copy Folder, 1.5, true, copyfolder@crunch.mod
   eCleaner, 1.4, true, {c72c0c73-4eb0-4fb3-af0f-074e97326cfd}
   Element Hiding Helper for Adblock Plus, 1.2.3, true, elemhidehelper@adblockplus.org
   FlashGot, 1.5.5.98, true, {19503e42-ca3c-4c27-b1e2-9cdb2170ee34}
   Lightning, 2.6.4, true, {e2fda1a4-762b-4020-b5ad-a41df1933103}
   NewScrollbars (aka NoiaScrollbars), 1.2.1, true, NoiaScrollbars@ArisT2_Noia4dev
   Noia Fox options, 3.0.0beta1, true, NoiaFoxoption@davidvincent.tld
   Rise of the Tools, 1.0.1.0, true, riseofthetools@rsjtdrjgfuzkfg.com
   Theme Font & Size Changer, 7.7, true, {f69e22c7-bc50-414a-9269-0f5c344cd94c}

 Important Modified Preferences

   Name: Value

     browser.cache.disk.capacity: 358400
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run: false
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max: false
     browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value: 358400
     extensions.lastAppVersion: 24.3.0
     font.internaluseonly.changed: false
     font.minimum-size.x-western: 24
     font.name.monospace.el: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.tr: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-baltic: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-central-euro: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-cyrillic: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-unicode: Consolas
     font.name.monospace.x-western: Consolas
     font.name.sans-serif.el: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.tr: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-baltic: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-central-euro: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-cyrillic: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-unicode: Calibri
     font.name.sans-serif.x-western: Arial Black
     font.name.serif.el: Cambria
     font.name.serif.tr: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-baltic: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-central-euro: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-cyrillic: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-unicode: Cambria
     font.name.serif.x-western: Cambria
     font.size.fixed.el: 14
     font.size.fixed.tr: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-baltic: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-central-euro: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-cyrillic: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-unicode: 14
     font.size.fixed.x-western: 22
     font.size.variable.el: 17
     font.size.variable.tr: 17
     font.size.variable.x-baltic: 17
     font.size.variable.x-central-euro: 17
     font.size.variable.x-cyrillic: 17
     font.size.variable.x-unicode: 17
     font.size.variable.x-western: 20
     mail.openMessageBehavior.version: 1
     mail.winsearch.firstRunDone: true
     mailnews.database.global.datastore.id: 90cd68a2-8314-43a7-9ca8-a0aac8a74bd
     network.cookie.prefsMigrated: true
     places.database.lastMaintenance: 1395640930
     places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages: 104858
     places.history.expiration.transient_optimal_database_size: 167772160
     plugin.importedState: true
     plugins.update.notifyUser: true
     privacy.donottrackheader.enabled: true

 Graphics

     Adapter Description: Intel(R) HD Graphics 3000
     Vendor ID: 0x8086
     Device ID: 0x0112
     Adapter RAM: Unknown
     Adapter Drivers: igdumd64 igd10umd64 igd10umd64 igdumd32 igd10umd32 igd10umd32
     Driver Version: 9.17.10.3347
     Driver Date: 1-29-2014
     Direct2D Enabled: false
     DirectWrite Enabled: false (6.2.9200.16571)
     ClearType Parameters: Gamma: 2400 Pixel Structure: RGB ClearType Level: 100 Enhanced Contrast: 400
     WebGL Renderer: false
     GPU Accelerated Windows: 0

     AzureCanvasBackend: skia
     AzureFallbackCanvasBackend: cairo
     AzureContentBackend: none

 JavaScript

 Incremental GC: 1

 Accessibility

   Activated: 0
   Prevent Accessibility: 0

 Library Versions

     Expected minimum version
     Version in use

     NSPR
     4.10.2
     4.10.2

     NSS
     3.15.4 Basic ECC
     3.15.4 Basic ECC

     NSS Util
     3.15.4
     3.15.4

     NSS SSL
     3.15.4 Basic ECC
     3.15.4 Basic ECC

     NSS S/MIME
     3.15.4 Basic ECC
     3.15.4 Basic ECC

and I've included the screenshots

Thanks. Based on the information you provided I don't see any evidence that your Local Folders account isn't local.

Can you be a little more specific about your problem, and why you think Local Folders isn't Local?

If it was a local folder would I be able to log into various computers and see all the local folders, containing exactly the same messages? If the local folders are stored on my PC, then why when I travel with my laptop, move messages into any of those folders and when I go back to my pc all the folders are the exactly the same. I can manipulate the folders (move them, delete them, add new) and they are the same no matter where I access them. As far as I know the only way that can happen is via IMAP. If they are local then why does my hosting server calculate all the space as if all the space is being used on the server? If they are local then how does each different PC know what the other local files and content are? I thought I would be saving space on the server by using local folders but I am not. These folders function exactly the same as all the other IMAP folders. So if these are local then I'd like to know how these are magically being kept in sync? I am really confused.

I do see your point, but I have no explanation for what you observe.

Can you open your Account Settings, select 'Local Folders' in the left pane, and create a screenshot of what you see?

http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

Go to the View menu (ALt+V) and select folders and set it to all

That will change the folders on the left to appear in the account they belong in, rather that the unified view. Now local folders appearing in your IMAP accounts are folders of that account.

The account local folders is or should now be obvious.

It was already set to all

This is the screenshot from account settings - local folders

re :This is the screenshot from account settings - local folders

Where it says 'Local Directory' What does this point to.. C:\ Users\Bill\Appdata\Roaming Thunderbird....then what does it say? Please copy and paste into this question.

make hidden files and folders visible: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders

Now check to see if your folders appear in Local Folders,

• 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information'
• click on 'show folder'
• A window opens showing you your Profile folders.
• click on 'Mail' folder
• click on 'Local folders'
• Do you see all your folders listed as files with another file of same name.msf?

Thanks again for the screenshot. Compare the screenshot with the settings for any of your IMAP account.
As you can see, the Local Folders account has no IMAP configuration at all.

Can you post the entire path of the 'Local Directory' setting, which is cut off in the screenshot.

The local folder full location is C:\Users\bill\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\na8id788.default\Mail\Local Folders

I understand everything you guys are doing and I appreciate it but it seems to me you are going to eventually tell me the local folders are local to my home PCs hard drive. The problem I have with that is twofold (and it's the same reasons I started this thread): 1 - these folders are available on both my home PC and my laptop (which I use only when traveling which is infrequent) and they are always in sync. 2 - the space for these local folders is reflected on my host (which if they were local files the server wouldn't even know about them)

So I am still confused. All I want to do is offload folders/messages from my hosting server to save some space (which is what I thought I was doing by using local folder)

Thanks for your continued help

Actually, while I am on again off again, i am more invested in what is going on with IMAP and the space being Used. it is obvious from the last few exchanges here that the local folders are "local"

In Account settings > Server settings. Check that cleanup (:expunge") is turned on then exit and restart Thunderbird.

Then check your space usage on the server, after Thunderbird and the server have had a while to "chat".

My guess as to what is occurring is the IMAP account is not getting expunged, so deleted mail is staying there, hidden as it is deleted but still occupying space.

Can you do a little test?
Just move a single message from any of your IMAP accounts to your 'Local Folders' account on the home PC.

Then check the IMAP account from the laptop. Is the message gone there as well?

Check your 'Local Folders' on the laptop. Do you see the message there?

Please report back, and explain exactly what you did, and what happened.

I think this solved the space problem as now the server space has been released. I'm happy now as my major objective was to reduce my server space. Thanks