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Can a mail message keep date & time handles in the filename on save to disk.

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

Derek
Derek
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As in the title,

I often save e-mails on certain subjects to a folder on my hard drive. As it is now, a message is stripped of any handles (for example "re:"), and the date and time of the message isn't saved with it as part of the filename. (I recall that it used to be many years ago  ?? ).

I have to edit the saved files manually to append the date and time to prevent one message overwriting another, and to sort them logically.

For example, All messages with the title "How goes it" or "re: How goes it" etc, are saved to disk by ThunderBird with the filename "How goes it". Any other messages with the same title would overwrite this file if I saved it into the same folder.

If the date the message was sent was 2015-09-22, and the time I sent it was 09:35, I would like the filename to be "2015-09-22 - 0935 - How goes it". That way, no message will overwrite another one, and I can save them all painlessly.

Thanks for your consideration.

As in the title, I often save e-mails on certain subjects to a folder on my hard drive. As it is now, a message is stripped of any handles (for example "re:"), and the date and time of the message isn't saved with it as part of the filename. (I recall that it used to be many years ago ?? ). I have to edit the saved files manually to append the date and time to prevent one message overwriting another, and to sort them logically. For example, All messages with the title "How goes it" or "re: How goes it" etc, are saved to disk by ThunderBird with the filename "How goes it". Any other messages with the same title would overwrite this file if I saved it into the same folder. If the date the message was sent was 2015-09-22, and the time I sent it was 09:35, I would like the filename to be "2015-09-22 - 0935 - How goes it". That way, no message will overwrite another one, and I can save them all painlessly. Thanks for your consideration.

All Replies (1)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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I agree with you, I thought they always had more than the subject, as I have saved single emails as .eml before and they always had full info. So I checked the situation.

If I right click on ONE email in list and use 'Save as'. It will only offer the subject, but it does include the 're' for me .eml. but this is not much good if there is more than one 're:laptop info.

If I highlight two or more emails in list and then right click 'Save as', it will ask me to select a folder, then I notice that all of those saved emails have all the expected data in the filename with .eml extension. eg: re: laptop info - mail account - date - time .eml

There is an addon called ImportExporttools: Download this addon to desktop or downloads folder: ImportExporttool

How to install addon: 'Tools' > 'Add-ons' or 'Menu icon' > 'Add-ons'

  • Click on gear wheel icon and select 'Install Add-on From File'.
  • Locate the *.xpi file you downloaded and click on 'Open'.
  • You many need to restart Thunderbird when prompted.

'Tools' > 'ImportExporttools' > 'Options' > 'Filenames' tab allows you to select what needs to be included in the filename and can also add the time to the date.

To use: Right click on email in list and select: 'Save selected messages' > 'Eml format' Choose the folder and click on 'Select folder' check the folder to see stored .eml with correct filename.

This addon works very well.