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Thunderbird message filters broke on upgrade from 45.8.0

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by AlexandrS

AlexandrS
AlexandrS
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Hello! We have 5 workstations (of 150) with thunderbird, where upgrade from ver. 45.8.0 to any latest (52.5.0 or 60.0 for example) brokes the message filters: An Account selection box is inactive, and there is no chance to sort messages, because impossible to select folder (see screenshots below). Previously created (on 45.8.0) filters work on 3 of 5 PC`s but on 2 other they didn`t. What am I already try to do to solve the problem without any success: 1). Uninstalling TB before install the new one; 2). Clear the registry; 3). Partially remove the message filters files from some mailbox folders;

When I completely remove the user profile, new filters can be created successfully and works fine. But it`s not a solution, because 3 users have 850, 439 and 535 filters, so they kill me or I die while manually restore it one by one :) If I copy old filter files back to new profile they didn`t work. If I copy back the prefs.js they did, but the problem with new filters appears again. Please help.

Hello! We have 5 workstations (of 150) with thunderbird, where upgrade from ver. 45.8.0 to any latest (52.5.0 or 60.0 for example) brokes the message filters: An Account selection box is inactive, and there is no chance to sort messages, because impossible to select folder (see screenshots below). Previously created (on 45.8.0) filters work on 3 of 5 PC`s but on 2 other they didn`t. What am I already try to do to solve the problem without any success: 1). Uninstalling TB before install the new one; 2). Clear the registry; 3). Partially remove the message filters files from some mailbox folders; When I completely remove the user profile, new filters can be created successfully and works fine. But it`s not a solution, because 3 users have 850, 439 and 535 filters, so they kill me or I die while manually restore it one by one :) If I copy old filter files back to new profile they didn`t work. If I copy back the prefs.js they did, but the problem with new filters appears again. Please help.
Attached screenshots

Modified by AlexandrS

All Replies (3)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Start thunderbird in 'Safe Mode'

  • 'Help' > 'Restart with addons disabled'
  • Test to see if Message Filter offers the ability to select 'Filters For: mail account name.

If all works then it is likely one of your addon extension is causing a conflict. Please report back on the results of this.

re:If I copy old filter files back to new profile they didn`t work. Note that Thunderbird would need to closed whilst doing anything in the Profile folders.

You can open 'msgFilterRules.dat' file using a text editor program like 'Notepad'. This would allow you to copy and paste from old 'msgFilterRules'.dat' into new 'msgFilterRules'.dat' saving you time. So you could copy paste a few and test to see if it works. note each filter starts with 'name='.

When you open 'msgFilterRules'.dat' file what is the first line at the top? Is it version="8" ? Is it version="9" ?

Are the Message Filters stored in 'msgFilterRules'.dat' account specific filters. If you use 'custom headers' then this is stored in prefs.js. The line which may be required is: mailnews.customHeaders Copy that line from old 'prefs.js' to new 'prefs.js'.

'msgFilterRules'.dat' file must be within the mail account name folder. If you use a 'Global account for pop mail account eg: 'Local Folders' then 'msgFilterRules'.dat' file needs to be in 'Local Folders' mail account folder, not the pop mail account. Check to see if you are putting the msgFilterRules'.dat' file into the correct location.


Useful info here: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Filters_%28Thunderbird%29

AlexandrS
AlexandrS Question owner
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Thanks for the reply! 1). Safe mode daoes not help 2). Filter rules files was copied with TB killed through taskmgr (no effect) 3). There is no line "mailnews.customHeaders" in old perfs.js. New perfs.js contains it with default value. 4). msgFilterRules.dat contains the filters data and Version header is version="9" 5). Global account for pop mail not used.

Anyway thanks a lot for your help! I`ll try to copy-paste content of msgFilterRules.dat with notepad++ and report result here.

AlexandrS
AlexandrS Question owner
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Well, looks like the one and only way to resolve this problem is to remove old perfs.js, create accounts from scratch and copy-paste content of msgFilterRules.dat. Have no more time to experiment with this. Thanks for help!