Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
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Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
I find Thunderbird's message search feature to be hopelessly defective. It routinely fails to yield obviously conforming search results -- across every update I have every applied.
Does anyone know if there is a way to get proper functionality out of the search feature, or rebuild some sort of search index. Alternatively, can anyone recommend a third party app which properly indexes and searches Thunderbird email?
Thank you.
Does anyone know if there is a way to get proper functionality out of the search feature, or rebuild some sort of search index. Alternatively, can anyone recommend a third party app which properly indexes and searches Thunderbird email?
Thank you.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Moving to Thunderbird Support.
Which search function are you using? That is, how are you initiating the search?
Which search function are you using? That is, how are you initiating the search?
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Hi. I get the same flawed results using both the quick filter function within an open folder or the command-K search actual search feature.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
That could be the result of out-of-synch indexes.
Close Thunderbird and navigate to the profile folder. Locate the file global-messages-db.sqlite and delete that index file. That global index file will be rebuilt when Thunderbird starts.
To rebuild the index for message files, right click on the name of the folder before the next search and select "Properties" from the context menu, then click on "Repair Folder" to trigger rebuilding of the index file. (You shouldn't have to do that before each search, just the first time you initiate a search of a particular folder to ensure that the index is in synch with the data in the associated message file.
Also, how is the account set up in Thunderbird, as POP or IMAP? Find out using menu path Tools->Account Settings->Server Settings->Server Type at the top right of the dialogue.
Close Thunderbird and navigate to the profile folder. Locate the file global-messages-db.sqlite and delete that index file. That global index file will be rebuilt when Thunderbird starts.
To rebuild the index for message files, right click on the name of the folder before the next search and select "Properties" from the context menu, then click on "Repair Folder" to trigger rebuilding of the index file. (You shouldn't have to do that before each search, just the first time you initiate a search of a particular folder to ensure that the index is in synch with the data in the associated message file.
Also, how is the account set up in Thunderbird, as POP or IMAP? Find out using menu path Tools->Account Settings->Server Settings->Server Type at the top right of the dialogue.
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
DanRaisch, thank you very much for these suggestions. I will try them. One question: Will repairing a folder also repair all of its sub-folders? Can I get away just with trying that on key folder/subfolder sets, rather than deleting and rebuilding the whole index?
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
No, it will not. Thunderbird uses the term "sub-folder" but they are actually separate folders with their messages stored in separate files from the "parent."Will repairing a folder also repair all of its sub-folders?
As for the need to delete and rebuild the whole index, there is only one global index file. The .msf files (indexes of a sort) associated with the individual folders/files are not involved in the Global Search process.
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Got it, thanks much.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
You're welcome.
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
DanRaisch,
I followed the instructions above in deleting the global-messages-db.sqlite file. On relaunching Thunderbird (and leaving it closed for a while, and just waiting for a while) it is doing nothing to rebuild the index. It as recreated this file in the profile folder, but it is not growing.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
I followed the instructions above in deleting the global-messages-db.sqlite file. On relaunching Thunderbird (and leaving it closed for a while, and just waiting for a while) it is doing nothing to rebuild the index. It as recreated this file in the profile folder, but it is not growing.
Any suggestions? Thank you.
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- Joined: April 3rd, 2017, 12:20 pm
Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Do I also need to delete global-messages-db.sqlite journal?
Help, I have no global search ability since taking this action.
Help, I have no global search ability since taking this action.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Yes, you can also delete the file global-messages-db.sqlite journal.
Make sure that the setting that enables Global Search is switched on. Menu path Thunderbird → Preferences.->Advanced->General->Advanced Configuration section.
Make sure that the setting that enables Global Search is switched on. Menu path Thunderbird → Preferences.->Advanced->General->Advanced Configuration section.
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Hi, I deleted file global-messages-db.sqlite journal.
I re-deleted the small file global-messages-db.sqlite
I unchecked and rechecked enable global search. (It had been checked).
I left Thunderbird closed for a while.
I left Thunderbird open for a while (without using it).
The deleted files are replaced but not growing.
The global-messages-db.sqlite file had been over 400 MB; now it is stuck at 1.2 MB.
I'm at a total loss.
I re-deleted the small file global-messages-db.sqlite
I unchecked and rechecked enable global search. (It had been checked).
I left Thunderbird closed for a while.
I left Thunderbird open for a while (without using it).
The deleted files are replaced but not growing.
The global-messages-db.sqlite file had been over 400 MB; now it is stuck at 1.2 MB.
I'm at a total loss.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
The larger size may have indicated that the file was corrupt. There's no reason to assume a smaller size is problematic.
DanRaisch wrote:Also, how is the account set up in Thunderbird, as POP or IMAP? Find out using menu path Tools->Account Settings->Server Settings->Server Type at the top right of the dialogue.
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
Well, I get 0 search results now, so it seems nothing is indexed.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Thunderbird fails to produce obvious search results
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DanRaisch wrote:Also, how is the account set up in Thunderbird, as POP or IMAP? Find out using menu path Tools->Account Settings->Server Settings->Server Type at the top right of the dialogue.