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Where to put/access inbox file system

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  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

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Apologies for running a non-standard system. Probably too old for significant changes. I run Thunderbird on an Linux Mint machine. Mint 20.1

Most of my mail exists in a folder peterm@rozella:~/.thunderbird/ytp4tdqw.default/Mail/imap.grapevine.net.au

archive_Inbox_2015.sbd     Inbox_2011       Inbox_2019.sbd        old_inbox2.msf       Sent_2013.msf        Sent_2022
Archives                   Inbox_2011.msf   Inbox_2020            old_inbox.msf        Sent_2014            Sent_2022.msf
Archives_Backups.sbd       Inbox_2013       Inbox_2020-2021.msf   old_junk_rec         Sent_2014.msf        Sent.msf
Archives.msf               Inbox_2013.msf   Inbox_2020.msf        old_junk_rec.msf     Sent_2015            tanzania_mailbox.sbd
Archives.sbd               Inbox_2014       Inbox_2020.sbd        old_sent             Sent_2015.msf        temp
Archives.sbd.unknown       Inbox_2014.msf   Inbox.msf             old_sent.msf         Sent_2016_           temp_deleted_MSF
Archives.sbd.unknown.msf   Inbox_2015       Inbox.temp1           popstate-1.dat       Sent_2016_.msf       temp_deleted_MSF.msf
Archives.sbd.unknown.sbd   Inbox_2015.msf   Junk                  popstate-1.dat.msf   Sent_2017            Templates
Canberra_Sent_2013         Inbox_2015.sbd   junklog.html          popstate.dat         Sent_2017.msf        Templates.msf
Canberra_Sent_2013.msf     Inbox_2016       Junk.msf              renamed_Inbox.sbd    Sent_2018_           temp.msf
Drafts                     Inbox_2016.msf   msgFilterRules.dat    Sent                 Sent_2018_.msf       Trash
Drafts.msf                 Inbox_2016.sbd   old_inbobx_rec        Sent_2010            Sent_2019            Trash.msf
filterlog.html             Inbox_2018       old_inbobx_rec.msf    Sent_2010.msf        Sent_2019.msf        Trash.sbd
Inbox                      Inbox_2018.msf   old_inbobx_rec.sbd    Sent_2011            Sent_2020           'Unsent Messages'
Inbox_2010                 Inbox_2019       old_inbox             Sent_2011.msf        Sent_2020-2021.msf  'Unsent Messages.msf'
Inbox_2010.msf             Inbox_2019.msf   old_inbox2            Sent_2013            Sent_2020.msf       'Unsent Messages.sbd'

This method has been severly critisized but until version 20 of Mint it actually worked. I had yearly inbox directories and sent durectories '\directories and these showed in the side panel and allowed me to fing old topics rather easily.

Adding Inbox_2023 and Inbox_2023.msf doesnt want to work. Probably nearer the truth I dont know how to reconfigure this. For the last few years I have used a very latge 2020 system. This is no longer sustainable.

Really appreciate some good sensetive care blessings Peter

Apologies for running a non-standard system. Probably too old for significant changes. I run Thunderbird on an Linux Mint machine. Mint 20.1 Most of my mail exists in a folder peterm@rozella:~/.thunderbird/ytp4tdqw.default/Mail/imap.grapevine.net.au archive_Inbox_2015.sbd Inbox_2011 Inbox_2019.sbd old_inbox2.msf Sent_2013.msf Sent_2022 Archives Inbox_2011.msf Inbox_2020 old_inbox.msf Sent_2014 Sent_2022.msf Archives_Backups.sbd Inbox_2013 Inbox_2020-2021.msf old_junk_rec Sent_2014.msf Sent.msf Archives.msf Inbox_2013.msf Inbox_2020.msf old_junk_rec.msf Sent_2015 tanzania_mailbox.sbd Archives.sbd Inbox_2014 Inbox_2020.sbd old_sent Sent_2015.msf temp Archives.sbd.unknown Inbox_2014.msf Inbox.msf old_sent.msf Sent_2016_ temp_deleted_MSF Archives.sbd.unknown.msf Inbox_2015 Inbox.temp1 popstate-1.dat Sent_2016_.msf temp_deleted_MSF.msf Archives.sbd.unknown.sbd Inbox_2015.msf Junk popstate-1.dat.msf Sent_2017 Templates Canberra_Sent_2013 Inbox_2015.sbd junklog.html popstate.dat Sent_2017.msf Templates.msf Canberra_Sent_2013.msf Inbox_2016 Junk.msf renamed_Inbox.sbd Sent_2018_ temp.msf Drafts Inbox_2016.msf msgFilterRules.dat Sent Sent_2018_.msf Trash Drafts.msf Inbox_2016.sbd old_inbobx_rec Sent_2010 Sent_2019 Trash.msf filterlog.html Inbox_2018 old_inbobx_rec.msf Sent_2010.msf Sent_2019.msf Trash.sbd Inbox Inbox_2018.msf old_inbobx_rec.sbd Sent_2011 Sent_2020 'Unsent Messages' Inbox_2010 Inbox_2019 old_inbox Sent_2011.msf Sent_2020-2021.msf 'Unsent Messages.msf' Inbox_2010.msf Inbox_2019.msf old_inbox2 Sent_2013 Sent_2020.msf 'Unsent Messages.sbd' ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This method has been severly critisized but until version 20 of Mint it actually worked. I had yearly inbox directories and sent durectories '\directories and these showed in the side panel and allowed me to fing old topics rather easily. Adding Inbox_2023 and Inbox_2023.msf doesnt want to work. Probably nearer the truth I dont know how to reconfigure this. For the last few years I have used a very latge 2020 system. This is no longer sustainable. Really appreciate some good sensetive care blessings Peter

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re ::~/.thunderbird/ytp4tdqw.default/Mail/imap.grapevine.net.au

You must have done something here because imap accounts (imap.grapevine.net.au) are not stored in the 'Mail' folder, they are stored in 'ImapMail'. Only POP and 'Local Folders' are stored in the 'Mail' folder. I would not expect any imap account to be in the 'Mail' folder.

Looking at your set of files, I also see 'popstate.dat' which is specifically a file used for POP mail accounts.

Also 'popstate-1.dat' which means something went wrong with the original and also 'popstate-1.dat.msf' which suggests it thinks popstate-1.dat is an actual folder - seriously wrong. Both of these files should be deleted.

I can only assume that you either deliberately copied a load of files into the wrong place OR More likely - you originally created a POP mail account and at a later time decided to alter the server settings to use imap server setting. This is not a method anyone advises because the accounts do not behave the same. It's a wonder you did not lose a load of emails. You should have created a completely new existing mail account and set it up as imap if that was desired.

Personally, I believe that account is a pop mail account being forced to act in an unusual way. Get that account set up correctly using the server settings it was originally designed to use and which the server grapevine.com.au say to use.

  • In Account Settings
  • Select 'Server Settings' for the name of the account.
  • Top right - 'Server Type:'
  • I'm expecting it to say 'Pop Mail Server'

Which means you need to get the server settings set back to the correct settings and stop trying to use imap server settings for a pop mail account. No one does that because it's wrong and can have the kind of consequences which are not desirable.

You could try to use this link for info but it seems that the server is just not using anything that is up to the current protocol standard. I cannot get anything to display because it's basically insecure. It's not using a minimum of TLS v1.2 https://www.grapevine.com.au/guides/QuickRef.aspx

As far as I can make out, it's pop server is also as insecure as it gets as well.

  • Pop server name: mail.grapevine.com.au
  • Port: 110
  • Connection Security: None
  • Authentication Method: Password transmitted insecurely


re :Adding Inbox_2023 and Inbox_2023.msf doesnt want to work.

You would need to exit Thunderbird first in order to do anything in the profile folders. But, you would not be creating those files because that would suggest your Thunderbird is not working properly. Imap accounts can only display whatever is on the server, so folders must exist on server in order to be subscribed to be seen, they cannot simply be added via profile. Even if a pop account, in Thunderbird, just create a new folder in the normal way.

  • Right click on the pop mail account name folder in Folder Pane and select 'New Folder'
  • Give it a name and click on 'Create folder'

Why would anyone require more than one Inbox. It's illogical and you could end up with massive amounts of emails in just a single file. Ideally, you should be using Archive for all previous years and set up to use Annual and keep folder names a. Only one Inbox for new incoming unsorted mail. Folders with suitable names for sorted and read emails: eg: Bills, Online Orders, Friends, You are making life difficult for yourself.


Do you ever compact your folders to clean up all the old residues of previously deleted emails? Why are keeping all the old junk?