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How can I combine two databases, from two computers, to have one combined database of messages?

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  • Last reply by profsimonie

profsimonie
profsimonie
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My old XP computer recently died and I had to build a new Windows 8.1 machine. While I was down I used a laptop as a temporary replacement. Now my new machine is running fine and receiving e-mail, but I now have two databases--one on the new machine and one on the laptop. Both are based on a recent backup, so they are lengthy--except that the new machine's database has a hole in it for the period I was on the laptop and the laptop's database also has gaps. How can I combine two databases into one that includes the messages from both machines?

Thanks in advance,

profsimonie

My old XP computer recently died and I had to build a new Windows 8.1 machine. While I was down I used a laptop as a temporary replacement. Now my new machine is running fine and receiving e-mail, but I now have two databases--one on the new machine and one on the laptop. Both are based on a recent backup, so they are lengthy--except that the new machine's database has a hole in it for the period I was on the laptop and the laptop's database also has gaps. How can I combine two databases into one that includes the messages from both machines? Thanks in advance, profsimonie

All Replies (2)

Matt
Matt
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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each folder in Thunderbird is a file.

So in your profile there will be an inbox (no extension but the file type is MBOX) and inbox.msf file and if there are sub folders of inbox thee will also be an inbox.sdb

This add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/ will import messages from the message file (in my example inbox)

This add-on https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/remove-duplicate-messages-alte/?src=search deletes duplicate messages.

SO your need to locate your profile folder and use the import export tools add-on to make a combined folder by importing MBOX files of mail and then use the remove duplicates add-on to clean up the mess of duplicates.

profsimonie
profsimonie Question owner
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Thanks for your reply. My profile folder did not contain any MBOX files. I found them in another folder on another drive. The Import-Export tools simply transferred each folder to the current one as a sub-folder. Then I had to use ctrl-a to select everything in the folder and move them manually to the current folder (such as inbox). Then I could use the other utility you mentioned to remove the duplicates. This had to be done, one folder at a time, to combine each folder. It worked, but I had about thirty-five folders to deal with. The whole process took most of two days to complete. I wish there was a simple way to blend everything together in one action, but I could not find an add-on that would do this.

Frank Simonie