See https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1380134

If you are running v 102, you can import the .sqlite database files for your respective address books instead of copy-pasting them from one profile folder to the other. Alternatively, you can export the required address books from the source PC and import them into the target PC. Far much safer and easier than guessing and copying sqlite files.

Thank you, but I don't have the computer knowledge to figure out what you are saying I could do if I'm running v 102. (I also don't know if I'm running v 102; how do I find that info?)

Let me describe what I have been doing. I have been copying into Dropbox all the abook and history sqlite files, regardless of extension, in case I need the older .v2 and .v3 versions of history and/or the -shm and -wal versions. Then when I get to where the other computer is, I copy those out of Dropbox and into my Tbird profile. Clunky, but it has worked. But as Tbird keeps adding .v's to the sqlite files, I wonder if I have to keep adding those to Dropbox.

Now that I have sorted the files by type, I see that I have a lot of sqlites, but most obviously have nothing to do with contacts. cookies.sqlite, for example. I'm only interested in the ones that allow me to access all my contacts.

Thanks.

re :I have been copying into Dropbox all the abook and history sqlite files, regardless of extension, in case I need the older .v2 and .v3 versions of history and/or the -shm and -wal versions..... I now have abook.sqlilte, abook.sqlite-shm, abook.sqlite-wal, abook.v.2.sqlite, and abook.v3.sqlite. Plus history.sqlite, history.sqlite-shm, history.sqlite-wal, history.v.2.sqlite and history.v.3.sqlite.

If it has a .v2 .v3 then these are backups of what was used prior to current version. They are created by Thunderbird when there is an update to another version and there has been a change in files format. They are not the ones in current use, but may be required in case of data loss/file corruption. The -shm and -wal versions are only used when Thunderbird is running - no need to copy them - infact you should not be able to see them if you have exited Thunderbird.

You should always make sure both computers are running identical versions of Thunderbird prior to copy pasting between computers because there may be alterations to address book format which can effect whether an address book can be read or not.

How to find out what version of Thunderbird you are currently using: That info is located in any of these locations.

• Menu icon > Help > About Thunderbird

Or

• Menu icon > Help > More Troubleshooting Information

You should never copy any profile file or folder whilst Thunderbird is running and if you can see -shm and -wal versions then you have not been exiting Thunderbird.

In future please make sure Thunderbird is not running on either computer whilst you copy paste any file between any profile on any computer. I cannot stress how important it is to exit Thunderbird first. Copying files that are in effect in use can lead to data corruption and may not be up to date.

The two default address books are 'abook.sqlite' (Personal Address Book) and 'history.sqlite' (Collected Addresses). These two address book files - 'abook.sqlite' and 'history.sqlite' can always be copy pasted between any profile name folder because the 'prefs.js' file will always have them as an entry. But they must overwrite the files of same name in the folder they are being copied into - or you must delete the 'abook.sqlite' and 'history.sqlite' files first before pasting in the copied 'abook.sqlite' and 'history.sqlite' files. This applies to both new and old profile name folders.

Any other eg: abook-1.sqlite' will an address book you created or imported. These files can only be copy pasted if they already exist on another profile. But, which address book name they represent will be defined by what is contained in the 'prefs.js' file.

In your case, it sounds like at some point, you copy pasted an entire profile to another computer and are now just maintaining updates of address book between the two computers. This means the 'prefs.js' files on both computers should have the correct entries to facilitate copy pasting.

The exporting method is great for creating additional backups. In Address Book select an address book name (not 'All Address Books' as that is really like a virtual search not a true address book) click on the three dot icon and select 'Export' Choose where to export them eg: a backup drive Choose a format eg: LDIF or .csv These types of format can be opened using a text editor or MS Excel or OpenOffice Calc The .csv format can be imported into various email clients etc. click on 'Save'

When importing into Thunderbird. In Addess Book, click on 'Import' You will find that not only can you import the .csv files and other types, but there is also an option to import an sqlite database file. This is Import that Stans was talking about.

Please note that when you import a *.sqlite file it is adding a new address book and not necessarilly overwriting the current address book.