Not a perfect solution but maybe a workaround.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8222645_folder-thunderbird.html

Thanks christ1, I have come across this procedure too, I myself use a similar one (maybe a bit simpler): as I locate the email after search, I select "Open email as list" and select a new column called "Location". This displays the folder name but NOT the whole structure. Si it is one search procedure less. Then I go to windows explorer, search for the folder name, etc... rest of the procedure is the same. I was wondering if there is any smarter and faster way (hidden menu? plugin?) to locate the folder since the above mentioned procedure does the job somehow, but is rather clumsy. Anyways, many thanks for bringing this solution up.

There is no add-on for this I'm aware of. You may search AMO for an add-on though.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/

Personally I archive messages in yearly folders. Then it's easy to locate the folder based on the message date. With today's full text search I don't see any benefit in maintaining a complex folder hierarchy, and filing messages into dedicated folders.

OK, thanks a lot for your help.

Right-click a folder, Search Messages, then click 'Search subfolders', then enter the search criteria, Search, select a result in the bottom pane, then 'Open in folder'. The message is opened in the Message Pane and the containing folder is highlighted in the Folder Pane.

It's not a global search, and the Location doesn't show the complete folder path, but it is another option. Note that the Location column can also be displayed in the Search Messages window.

Thanks a lot for your input.

".... Note that the Location column can also be displayed in the Search Messages window..." - yes, that´s what I was doing so far. :-)

Many thanks for another workaround. Really pity it is not possible in Global Search case - that would totally solve my problem.

MY SOLUTION: folderplus 1.6 written by Gilles Orsini. This add on does a number of other stuff too, but IT DOES HAVE a right click option "Goto - *foldername*". It even has a shortcut CTRL+SHIFT+S

So the entire procedure shrank to: 1) Global search 2) clicking on "Open email as list" 3) Right click on email - Goto - *foldername* or select/highlight email and CTRL+SHIFT+S

Thank you guys for your participation and help, I found a perfect solution!

Folderplus worked like a charm. It is still a circuitous route to find the folder a message is stored in, but at least it is a solution. Mozilla really needs to build this capability into Thunderbird. Thanks.