5 ms·

Can it finally export and import filters? This glaring and baffling omission was a deal-breaker 25 years ago.

abdullahkhalids 3y ago
I think copying msgFilerRules.dat has worked for all of Thunderbird's existence. Here is the full way [1]. [1] https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1269514 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1269514
- ShadowBanThis01 3y ago
  Thanks, but that still amounts to "no." If there's no menu item for this basic feature, it's not a function offered by the application. Expecting the user to search the Web for how to do this and then dig around in data files that are buried in platform-dependent application directories is a hokey and not-production-quality "solution." If it's just a data file, there's no excuse for neglecting its import and export (AKA simple copying) for 25 or more years. I mean, how did filter functionality even go out the door without this? They expect people to run around and manually re-enter all of their filters on every computer they own? And to do this perpetually?
  - abdullahkhalids 3y ago
    With all due respect, Thunderbird is a FOSS project, which is largely run on unpaid volunteer efforts. I think it's quite right to denigrate their efforts because they didn't manage to build a particular feature.
    - ShadowBanThis01 3y ago
      I respect all the people who give an incredible amount of time to these projects. I help when I can, and give money to the ones I rely on when I can't contribute any other way. But I heartily disagree that criticizing the product or the development priorities is "denigrating" their efforts. It is simply criticism, hopefully constructive. People were asking to copy filters between machines 20+ years ago. Filters are essential for any E-mail client; I can't imagine what the intended M.O. is for them in Thunderbird at this point. If I weren't exclusively on Macs every day I would absolutely implement this myself; as it stands, I can't justify the time. But I can armchair-quarterback the shit out of it!
PurpleRamen 3y ago
There is an export/import for settings, and it says to also include filters. Basically it seems to just zip your whole profile, so somewhere in that mess will also be your filters.

I think copying msgFilerRules.dat has worked for all of Thunderbird's existence. Here is the full way [1]. [1] https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1269514 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1269514

ShadowBanThis01 3y ago
Thanks, but that still amounts to "no." If there's no menu item for this basic feature, it's not a function offered by the application. Expecting the user to search the Web for how to do this and then dig around in data files that are buried in platform-dependent application directories is a hokey and not-production-quality "solution." If it's just a data file, there's no excuse for neglecting its import and export (AKA simple copying) for 25 or more years. I mean, how did filter functionality even go out the door without this? They expect people to run around and manually re-enter all of their filters on every computer they own? And to do this perpetually?
- abdullahkhalids 3y ago
  With all due respect, Thunderbird is a FOSS project, which is largely run on unpaid volunteer efforts. I think it's quite right to denigrate their efforts because they didn't manage to build a particular feature.
  - ShadowBanThis01 3y ago
    I respect all the people who give an incredible amount of time to these projects. I help when I can, and give money to the ones I rely on when I can't contribute any other way. But I heartily disagree that criticizing the product or the development priorities is "denigrating" their efforts. It is simply criticism, hopefully constructive. People were asking to copy filters between machines 20+ years ago. Filters are essential for any E-mail client; I can't imagine what the intended M.O. is for them in Thunderbird at this point. If I weren't exclusively on Macs every day I would absolutely implement this myself; as it stands, I can't justify the time. But I can armchair-quarterback the shit out of it!

PurpleRamen 3y ago

There is an export/import for settings, and it says to also include filters. Basically it seems to just zip your whole profile, so somewhere in that mess will also be your filters.