Migrate from mbox to maildir

[jonandermb]

To save space and ease the workload of my network backup program, I'm thinking migrating from mbox to maildir.

I backup multiple machines using thunderbird via the local network, and they all use mbox. The problem is that even one single mail added to an existing mbox file (a folder in the UI), makes the file to change and the backup app would have to store the new mbox version, since it's a different file.

Now imagine a 1 Gb folder that you add a new 2 Mb mail to: The backup app would have to pull the full file once again, translating to more used space.

I was thinking about migrating to maildir format which, If i understood correctly, stores each mail as a separate file.

I have however two questions:

1: How safe/stable is this other storage method?

2: How can I migrate from one format to the other?

[DanRaisch]

Please see these threads for information on the subject -- http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... &t=3028528 and http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... &t=3034422

[tanstaafl]

Things have improved. The Thunderbird 60 beta at https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/channel/ has support for converting from mbox to maildir. I used maildir for about 6 months with a IMAP account and found it worked fine. Later on I used the beta and it converted a different account from mbox to maildir okay.

Your biggest risk is when moving a message from an account with one storage type to a account with another storage type. The safest scenario is a IMAP account using maildir that you don't move any messages from or to other accounts.

[jonandermb]

Things have improved. The Thunderbird 60 beta at https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/channel/ has support for converting from mbox to maildir. I used maildir for about 6 months with a IMAP account and found it worked fine. Later on I used the beta and it converted a different account from mbox to maildir okay.

Your biggest risk is when moving a message from an account with one storage type to a account with another storage type. The safest scenario is a IMAP account using maildir that you don't move any messages from or to other accounts.

Is it worth waiting for v60?

[tanstaafl]

I can't say, that depends on your personal preferences. I assume the release of TB 60 is at least 2 weeks from now.

[jonandermb]

I can't say, that depends on your personal preferences. I assume the release of TB 60 is at least 2 weeks from now.

I can wait 2 weeks. Thanks!

[jonandermb]

I can't wait, and I'm testing on one machine. Installed beta 60, but can't figure out how to convert between formats... any clue?

[WaltS48]

I can't wait, and I'm testing on one machine. Installed beta 60, but can't figure out how to convert between formats... any clue?

Read the Release Notes?

https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/thund ... leasenotes

Item #3

Thunderbird now allows the conversion of folders from mbox to maildir format and vice versa. This is an experimental feature that needs to be enabled by setting the preference mail.store_conversion_enabled.

Then go to the Account Settings, Server Settings, Message Store Type and select the maildir format.

[jonandermb]

Thanks for pointing it out!!! Will try!