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How to prevent inadvertently moving a mail folder (or at least find it afterwards)?

  • 9 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 45 views
  • Last reply by coffent

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Occasionally, but all too frequently, I mean to drag the scroll bar on the list of mail folders and drag a folder instead, dropping it I don't know where.

(1) Is there a way to prevent this from happening? (For example, Xplorer2, for just the reason mentioned, allows one to reserve the right mouse button for dragging files and directories; this works very well.)

(2) I can usually remember enough about some message in the folder to locate it using the message search function. However even though I can read the message the path to the message is not displayed. Is there a way of displaying it?

(3) Is there a way of expanding the whole directory tree so that one has some chance of spotting the errant folder, rather than having to drill down through each subdirectory one at a time?

(4) Is there some other solution?

Thanks!

Occasionally, but all too frequently, I mean to drag the scroll bar on the list of mail folders and drag a folder instead, dropping it I don't know where. (1) Is there a way to prevent this from happening? (For example, Xplorer2, for just the reason mentioned, allows one to reserve the right mouse button for dragging files and directories; this works very well.) (2) I can usually remember enough about some message in the folder to locate it using the message search function. However even though I can read the message the path to the message is not displayed. Is there a way of displaying it? (3) Is there a way of expanding the whole directory tree so that one has some chance of spotting the errant folder, rather than having to drill down through each subdirectory one at a time? (4) Is there some other solution? Thanks!

Chosen solution

I use add-ons that either lock folder positions, or nag me before deleting anything. Between them they seem to cover most of my fat-finger and senior-moment related issues. ;-)

http://ryanlee.org/software/mozilla/thunderbird/confirmfmv/ https://freeshell.de/~kaosmos/index-en.html#cbd

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All Replies (9)

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Chosen Solution

I use add-ons that either lock folder positions, or nag me before deleting anything. Between them they seem to cover most of my fat-finger and senior-moment related issues. ;-)

http://ryanlee.org/software/mozilla/thunderbird/confirmfmv/ https://freeshell.de/~kaosmos/index-en.html#cbd

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Use Global Search to find your message. Click Open email as list. Right-click the required message, select Open message in folder.

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I use the QuickFolders add-on, which gives you an incremental search. Just start typing the name, or part of the name of the required folder. A drop-down list shows you what matches. Even if you need to guess a few times, it's almost always quicker than scrolling through the folder tree.

It doubles up as a quick way to move or copy messages to a folder, using this same fast and efficient name completion technique.

You may have to pay the subscription for the full version of the add-on to get this feature, but I find it worth the modest asking price.

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Zenos - Three great solutions for the price of one question - thanks! I'll put them all to use.

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Zenos -

I tried to install your suggestion of ConfirmFolderMove. However Thunderbird says it's incompatible with version 52(.5.2). Are you still using a pre-52 version or does it actually still work with v52? Thanks.

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It's installed and working here in TB 52.5.2.

Most add-ons have a "download anyway" link on the AMO page. Strict version control was abandoned some while ago.

Version control may come back if necessary changes to Thunderbird result in existing add-ons becoming incompatible. I'm sad to say that if that happens, Thunderbird will lose what makes it so different (and superior) to all the other email clients out there.

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Still not there. I downloaded the file (confirmfoldermove-1.1.2-tb.xpi) and put it in the Profile/extensions directory. However after restarting Thunderbird, the add-on doesn't appear in the list of extensions, either enabled or disabled. How do I get Thunderbird to recognize it?

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You need to install the add-on.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

The quick and easy way (IMHO) is to find your xpi file and drag-and-drop it onto Thunderbird's Tools|Add-ons window.

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Thanks - installed it, and it works!