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How to import a WINMail backup

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Running up-to-date TB 115.6.0 (32-bit)

I have an older backup of WINMail ... a load of folders each with a number of eml files. I wish to import email only, not contacts etc.

I went to TB import tool ... but it does not have option for WINMail Did a bit of Googling .... it seems there are several approaches

1. One source says to install an addon - I went to look at ImportExportTools but it says it only works to TB ver 60

2. Another source says to roll back TB to old version of TB and then install import add / on

   seems risky to remove current ver 115   60 is a long way back.

3. Another says to convert WINMail to Mbox then use standard import tool

4. Another - said simply create a blank folder and drag and drop eml files into it - tried and that does not work

What is simplest method that works  ? .

Running up-to-date TB 115.6.0 (32-bit) I have an older backup of WINMail ... a load of folders each with a number of '''eml '''files. I wish to import email only, not contacts etc. I went to TB import tool ... but it does not have option for WINMail Did a bit of Googling .... it seems there are several approaches 1. One source says to install an addon - I went to look at ImportExportTools but it says it only works to TB ver 60 2. Another source says to roll back TB to old version of TB and then install import add / on seems risky to remove current ver 115 60 is a long way back. 3. Another says to convert WINMail to Mbox then use standard import tool 4. Another - said simply create a blank folder and drag and drop eml files into it - tried and that does not work What is simplest method that works ? .

Modified by rick_hughes

Chosen solution

I went to look at ImportExportTools but it says it only works to TB ver 60

See ImportExportTools NG: https://addons.thunderbird.net/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools-ng/

simply create a blank folder and drag and drop eml files into it - tried and that does not work

That should work with an empty folder underneath the Local Folders account. It won't work if you attempt to drag an eml message to an IMAP folder.

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Chosen Solution

I went to look at ImportExportTools but it says it only works to TB ver 60

See ImportExportTools NG: https://addons.thunderbird.net/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools-ng/

simply create a blank folder and drag and drop eml files into it - tried and that does not work

That should work with an empty folder underneath the Local Folders account. It won't work if you attempt to drag an eml message to an IMAP folder.

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OK .. by default it had put 'new folder' under Inbox and would not allow copy. I moved that to local folders and it does allow copy.

But only at eml file level ..... As there are a significant number of sub-folders. Is there a way to import at a folder level .... or the complete 'WinMail backup

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Is there a way to import at a folder level .... or the complete 'WinMail backup

I don't know other than manually creating the folders in Thunderbird and drag and drop eml files to the desired folder.

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OK ... Hrs of fun for me then  :-)

In several folders I also have .nws files presumably these are saved posts from Newsgroup. Do you know if/how I can import these into TB ?

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.nws is not a file type Thunderbird uses. So I'd guess this is something from WinMail.

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Update - posted in error

Modified by rick_hughes

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rick_hughes said

Update I have found out that there is a tool that works with current TB and imports eml files. The Addon is ImportExportTools_NG and it worked very well .... just pointed at top level WinMail folder and it pulled in all folder & subfolders and associated eml files ..... 9006 emails in only a couple of minutes Saved me a lot of work manually copying over eml files and creating all folders and sub-folders. http://addons.thunderbird.net/thunder.../986686 May be of use for someone else.

You do realize that was in the first response to you from Christ1 don't you? You were told to use it and then ensued some discussion about you not using it correctly.

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I have removed - posted in error