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Moving messages from server to local "archive" folder produces blank messages and deletes them from the server

  • 1 reply
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

Lloyd Bumm
Lloyd Bumm
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Since the days Eudora I have archived my email locally by year, typically after it is 2 years old. This involved moving ~15,000 messages. The first time I tried this with Thunderbird I lost all of them. So I tried doing this my month and smaller chunks. Sometimes it works, sometimes it fails. It ALWAYS succeeds in deleting the messages from the server. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THE SAME ISSUE WHEN TRANSFERRING AS FEW AS 2-4 MESSAGES.

Here is what happens. I select the messages. Either drag or drop them to the local folder. The messages download. The entries populate in the local folder, but the messages are blank. TB has some operation occurring on the local folder as it shown by the cursor when click on the folder AND/OR if you open 'properties' and try to 'repair folder' or 'compact' TB gives the message 'The operation failed because another operation is using the folder. Please wait for the operation to finish and then try again.'. I have allowed whatever is going on to complete over night--for small numbers of files this makes no sense. It does not complete over night, so I assume what every is stuck. On restart of TB those moved messages no longer show who any message details in the folder, expect the reply and read status flags, the receipt order, and the date change to the date of the operation (today's date)--the contents of the messages are still blank. 'folder repair' does not recover them.

Under the hypothesis that my 'server folder' was corrupt, before attempting the move, I have run 'repair folder', and synced TB with the folder on the server. But the result is still the same. It works sometimes and fails other times. That was not the solution.

I have read comments here from others who are having the same problem (e.g., https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1070843). I was unable to add my troubleshooting observations to that thread because of the wacky rules for registering in this site.

I have been experiencing this problem since I started using TB back in 2009/2010. And it is NOT restricted to transferring large numbers of messages. I frequently transfer files from the server to a local folder simply to organize them. I find that if I select multiple messages, I mean small number here 2-6, that sometimes it fails--I'd say 25-50% of the time.

I use email for work. Most messages are not important, bit some or VERY IMPORTANT and I cannot afford to loose them It the email client cannot do basic function reliably, I will need to move on. I am sure this is true for everyone.

If it comes down to copying the messages one at a time. Then comparing the local and server copies before deleting them--someone will need to write a computer program to do that. But wait, isn't this the way it works in the first place?

I really like TB and would like to continue using it. Please fix this issue so I can continue to use this otherwise very good and functional program!

Since the days Eudora I have archived my email locally by year, typically after it is 2 years old. This involved moving ~15,000 messages. The first time I tried this with Thunderbird I lost all of them. So I tried doing this my month and smaller chunks. Sometimes it works, sometimes it fails. It ALWAYS succeeds in deleting the messages from the server. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED THE SAME ISSUE WHEN TRANSFERRING AS FEW AS 2-4 MESSAGES. Here is what happens. I select the messages. Either drag or drop them to the local folder. The messages download. The entries populate in the local folder, but the messages are blank. TB has some operation occurring on the local folder as it shown by the cursor when click on the folder AND/OR if you open 'properties' and try to 'repair folder' or 'compact' TB gives the message 'The operation failed because another operation is using the folder. Please wait for the operation to finish and then try again.'. I have allowed whatever is going on to complete over night--for small numbers of files this makes no sense. It does not complete over night, so I assume what every is stuck. On restart of TB those moved messages no longer show who any message details in the folder, expect the reply and read status flags, the receipt order, and the date change to the date of the operation (today's date)--the contents of the messages are still blank. 'folder repair' does not recover them. Under the hypothesis that my 'server folder' was corrupt, before attempting the move, I have run 'repair folder', and synced TB with the folder on the server. But the result is still the same. It works sometimes and fails other times. That was not the solution. I have read comments here from others who are having the same problem (e.g., https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1070843). I was unable to add my troubleshooting observations to that thread because of the wacky rules for registering in this site. I have been experiencing this problem since I started using TB back in 2009/2010. And it is NOT restricted to transferring large numbers of messages. I frequently transfer files from the server to a local folder simply to organize them. I find that if I select multiple messages, I mean small number here 2-6, that sometimes it fails--I'd say 25-50% of the time. I use email for work. Most messages are not important, bit some or VERY IMPORTANT and I cannot afford to loose them It the email client cannot do basic function reliably, I will need to move on. I am sure this is true for everyone. If it comes down to copying the messages one at a time. Then comparing the local and server copies before deleting them--someone will need to write a computer program to do that. But wait, isn't this the way it works in the first place? I really like TB and would like to continue using it. Please fix this issue so I can continue to use this otherwise very good and functional program!

All Replies (1)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 25 Contributor
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I presume you are talking about an IMAP mail account. This gives you a remote view of the server folders and their contents. You subscribe to see folders.

Headers are downloaded and when you select to view an email it is retrieved from the server and stored in a temporary cache. It is not stored in thunderbird.

You need to synchronise your subscribed folders to get a copy of the folder and it's emails in your thunderbird profile folder.

Then go into offline mode to stop any further synchronising whilst you are operating on that folder. Right click on selected email and use 'Copy to' suitable fodler in Local folders. When you are certain that the copy can be clearly seen in Local Folders account, you can delete the copy off the server. Go back into online mode to synchronise with server folders again.