Copying message filters between Thunderbird mail accounts

November 25, 2004 3:25 PM

Is there a way of copying message filters for one Thunderbird mail account to another? I have a ton set up, and want to apply them to another account without having to do them all over again manually. I imagine there must be some config file that I can cut and paste to do this?

Dur, nevermind. I figured it out myself.

posted by Big Fat Tycoon to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Since you've posted the question, you might as well post the answer.
posted by grouse at 3:42 PM on November 25, 2004

Do tell, BFT - someone else may find it difficult, and you can save us from T-Bird hell!
posted by dash_slot- at 3:43 PM on November 25, 2004

Response by poster: Okay, here's what I did:

1. Shut down Thunderbird (not sure if this step is really required, but I did it just in case)

2. Go to your Thunderbird profile directory -- for me that's C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Thunderbird\Profiles\default\yuq4ct5d.slt

3. In the "Mail" subdirectory, locate the directory with the same name as the POP server associated with the mail account that has the message filters. i.e. if you have filters on a gmail account (now that it has POP), then look in the pop.gmail.com directory.

4. There's a file called msgFilterRules.dat in there. It's just a text file. Take a look at it, make sure it contains the rules you want to copy. Cut and paste the contents into the msgFilterRules.dat of the appropriate mail account you want to add these filters to. Since I basically wanted all the same rules, I just overwrote the contents, but if you're merging two sets of rules then you have to be a little more careful, I'm guessing.
posted by Big Fat Tycoon at 4:10 PM on November 25, 2004

Ta.
posted by dash_slot- at 4:42 PM on November 25, 2004