Documentation request: import mbox backup from different account

[AFlowOfCode]

Hello, this extension looks excellent and I'm sure it's what I need, but I haven't been able to find documentation on exactly how import works in a particular situation. I don't want to proceed blindly and end up making a mess.

Context

I use Thunderbird as my main email client for Email Address 1 (EA#1). I would like to import an mbox backup file from Email Address 2 (EA#2) for easy viewing, separate from anything related to EA#1. This file is not another "profile", it's just email. The main thing I am worried about is EA#1 & EA#2 messages somehow getting mixed up or combined because of the import.

I do not plan to connect EA#2 to the mail server, so Thunderbird's "New Account > Existing Email" doesn't seem designed for this, as it asks for credentials, etc.

Problem

Unfortunately I can't find any documentation on the import process in this situation. There's nothing here in the repo (eg in the wiki or readme), the add-on description, or anywhere in the add-on itself (such as the help page, option descriptions, etc). Just a link to the issues here for support requests.

These are the questions I can't find conclusive information about:

1. What happens if I just import EA#2's mbox file into a Thunderbird installation that is 100% based on my existing EA#1 usage? Will Thunderbird automatically create a new profile for EA#2 in which to put all the mbox contents? If not, what exactly will it do?
2. If I import the mbox file for EA#2 and things get mixed up, is it possible to "undo" the import and retain only EA#1's structure & content?
3. What is the process I need to follow in order to end up with separate mailboxes for EA#1 and EA#2?

It is absolutely essential that there is no chance of any mixup happening. I can't be confident about that since there seems to be no instructions or references about this. At the same time, I imagine I'm far from the only one who has been in this situation, so I assume there must be some description somewhere.

If this has been explained elsewhere, please direct me to the documentation and feel free to close this. Otherwise I would like to request that an explanation/tutorial for how to navigate this situation be addressed in a location that is easily accessible and findable, such as the wiki on this repo, or in the help file of the add-on. If I knew for sure how this would work, I could even write the documentation myself.

Please excuse my ignorance on anything that may seem obvious regarding how Thunderbird handles mail & sorting. I appreciate the help!

[cleidigh]

@AFlowOfCode So my understanding is that you have a single "Thunderbird account" EA#1 which is active with an IMAP or POP server. Then you have one or more mbox files containing messages from a previous EA#2 which you wish to view in Thunderbird without any comingling with EA#1.

If I have everything correct, the process is trivial and there is no risk or issues with contamination.

Upon your creation of EA#1, Thunderbird also creates a pseudo account called Local Folders. You should see it at the bottom of your folder tree. This is for local (on your pc) message storage, independent of any email accounts.

The most simple thing to do is the following :

• Right click on Local Folders and you get the context menu
• Choose New Folder and Name it appropriately for your second account, eg MySecondAcc
• Now pretending you have an mbox file, EA2-1, right click on MySecondAcc
• Click ImportExportTools NG/Import mbox files/Individual mbox file
• Choose your mbox file EA2-1 (use your real name) in the filepicker
• A subfolder will be created with your mbox filename under which you will see your messages
• These are completely separate and have no interactions with your EA#1 account
• Repeat above if you have other mbox files

Let me know if you have issues orquestions

@cleidigh

[AFlowOfCode]

Thank you very much, glad to know it's a simple process & the import was indeed trivial and successful. I'm closing this but let me know if you want me to make a wiki entry for this process & I will do so.

[cleidigh]

@AFlowOfCode That would be great. Being disabled I have a tough time keeping up with the code, documentation is even more difficult. @cleidigh

[AFlowOfCode]

Ok, I see the wiki is in the repo so I'll write it up and make a PR against v14.1.3 which seems to be the current dev branch.

[cleidigh]

@AFlowOfCode That would be great. @cleidigh

[AFlowOfCode]

Hmm well I've never tried to open a PR for a wiki before & I'm not clear on how to do so or if it's possible. It doesn't seem very straightforward, since it's apparently a separate repo or submodule of sorts that didn't get matched up when I forked.

In any case, here's the section I wrote for the existing page you have. Maybe you can just paste it in.

### Import an mbox export/backup & keep it separate from any other currently configured accounts

This is a simple process with no risk of mixing up the mailbox contents with any other accounts you may have set up in Thunderbird.

1. Find "Local Folders" at the bottom of your folder tree.
    * Note: this folder is automatically created when an email account is configured in Thunderbird. It is for local (to your computer) message storage and is independent of any other configured accounts.

2. Right click on "Local Folders", select "New Folder", and name it appropriately for your planned import.

3. Right click on the folder you just created and click "ImportExportTools NG > Import mbox files > Individual mbox files".

4. Choose the mbox file you wish to import.

5. A subfolder with the same name as the mbox filename will be created under your new folder. This will contain all of your import's messages, safely separated from all other accounts you may have.

Feel free to edit however you see fit. Thanks again.