How do I synchronize Thunderbird settings, addons,... similar to Firefox sync?
To get one thing straight first - this is not about IMAP and the possibility to download emails from multiple computers.
I am looking for something similar to Firefox Sync - An ability to synchronize settings, addons, account details, addon-settings.
At this time I can synchronize emails and their flags, but most stuff other than that is lost in the mist and setting up a new thunderbird with 4+ email accounts is not really fun.
I have read the the Firefox-sync protocol is open. Is there any addon out there that extends Firefoxes sync ability to Thunderbird?
All Replies (3)
I saw the title and wondered what you wanted. Then I saw you were talking about "setting up a new thunderbird".
The simple way to make a new installation of Thunderbird look like an existing installation is to copy the old installation's profile.
Thereafter, I would synchronize mail content by using IMAP, calendar content in Lightning by using synch to Google Calendar and likewise, Address Book Contacts via Google Contacts.
The glaring omission from this list is filters; you can export and import filters using an appropriate add-on, or you can just copy the relevant msgFilterRules.dat files from one profile to another.
I'd like to suggest TEBE: http://softwarebychuck.com/tebe/ but as you will see it is no longer being supported.
Hello Zenos,
thank you for your suggestions. I used a fresh install as an example, why it would be useful. The problem with copying is, that only at the time of the copy the two installations are in sync.
Adding a new addon, calendar, email-account later, results in the task of either manually repeating this step on each install or manually copying the profile for each install.
The advantage of Firefox sync is, that once it is setup it will install all addons I use, copy the firefox settings, the addon settings and after some 10 minutes and a restart the new firefox looks and feels like an old one. Once I change the installs - e.g. install a new addon or remove one - all my firefoxes are aware of that.
For Thunderbird it seems that to this day I am forced to manually do this, where I belief a similar functionality would add a lot to thunderbird usability - I believed that someone has already implemented this functionality - as the "bigger" brother already has it.
Thunderbird will never have a sync like Firefox, or at least a really doubt it.
Thunderbird is a community project under the Mozilla banner, Firefox is Mozillas premier product.