Change Account from POP to IMAP
Pete Holsberg
it to IMAP.
That's easy to do with Gmail but is there any (hidden) configuration
file that tells TB which protocol to use and that can be changed?
I'm aware of the fact that Imap and Mail (POP) are different Windows
folders in the Profile hierarchy. Is there something I can do there?
Thanks.
Mike Easter
> I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to change
> it to IMAP.
I would say and think that differently. I would say and act to 'create
a new email account which is - turns out to be - an IMAP' specifically a
gmail one.
Tbird 2 gives you options to create an email account or to create a
gmail account (in the new account wizard). My approach would be to
create an email account, not a gmail one. In tbird2, creating a gmail
account assumes pop; whereas creating an email account provides an
option to create an imap or a pop account.
It is considerably easier to control the account creation process in
tbird2 than tbird3.
> That's easy to do with Gmail but is there any (hidden) configuration
> file that tells TB which protocol to use and that can be changed?
If you start with email, it will be easy.
> I'm aware of the fact that Imap and Mail (POP) are different Windows
> folders in the Profile hierarchy. Is there something I can do there?
If you don't think of changing, but instead of creating a new account, I
think it will all be straightforward.
--
Mike Easter
Pete Holsberg
> Pete Holsberg wrote:
> > I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to change
> > it to IMAP.
>
> I would say and think that differently. I would say and act to 'create
> a new email account which is - turns out to be - an IMAP' specifically a
> gmail one.
>
Well, that shows how different we think, Michael!
The email account I have is many years old and "well-developed" in that
it has dozens and dozens of folders and subfolders in Thunderbird, and a
like number of labels in the Gmail counterpart.
Since it's easy to change the Gmail part, I'm looking for an easy way to
change the TB part.
But I appreciate your input. :-)
--
Pete Holsberg
Columbus, NJ
Advice for the day: If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache,
do what it says on the aspirin bottle: "Take two aspirin" and "Keep away
from children."
--Author Unknown
Wilf
> Mike Easter has written on 2/8/2010 1:16 PM:
>> Pete Holsberg wrote:
>>> I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to change
>>> it to IMAP.
>>
>> I would say and think that differently. I would say and act to 'create
>> a new email account which is - turns out to be - an IMAP' specifically a
>> gmail one.
>>
>
> Well, that shows how different we think, Michael!
>
> The email account I have is many years old and "well-developed" in that
> it has dozens and dozens of folders and subfolders in Thunderbird, and a
> like number of labels in the Gmail counterpart.
>
> Since it's easy to change the Gmail part, I'm looking for an easy way to
> change the TB part.
>
> But I appreciate your input. :-)
Well, if you were to change the account to IMAP, it wouldn't matter what
folders you had originally within TB, for TB would automatically take on
the folder (label) structure of the underlying Gmail account.
--
Wilf
Mike Easter
> Mike Easter
>> > I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to
>> change > it to IMAP.
>>
>> I would say and think that differently. I would say and act to
>> 'create a new email account which is - turns out to be - an IMAP'
>> specifically a gmail one.
>>
>
> Well, that shows how different we think, Michael!
>
> The email account I have is many years old and "well-developed" in that
> it has dozens and dozens of folders and subfolders in Thunderbird, and a
> like number of labels in the Gmail counterpart.
The folders and subfolders in tbird consist of databases which carry
foldernames which you have created and database characteristics which
stem from the name of the account which they came into. Those are not
the same as imap folders.
The folders in gmail *will* correspond to the new imap account.
Perhaps you misunderstand me and think I'm saying that the gmail address
is going to change. That is not so.
But the tbird pop inbox folder will not be the same inbox as you will
have with your new imap account - and/but your new imap account will be
able to 'adopt' all of those gmail folders.
> Since it's easy to change the Gmail part, I'm looking for an easy way to
> change the TB part.
>
> But I appreciate your input. :-)
You will 'change' the tbird part by creating a new imap account in
tbird. And IMO you would do it most easily in tbird 2 by creating a new
email account, not a new gmail account.
--
Mike Easter
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
You can't switch the existing account from POP to IMAP, you have to
create a new account configured for IMAP after which you can transfer
messages from one account to the other by drag-n-drop. I've done this a
lot on my own server to test it and it works here.
--
Jay Garcia - Netscape/Flock Champion
www.ufaq.org
Netscape - Flock - Firefox - Thunderbird - Seamonkey Support
Pete Holsberg
> On 08.02.2010 11:28, Pete Holsberg wrote:
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
> > I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to change
> > it to IMAP.
> >
> > That's easy to do with Gmail but is there any (hidden) configuration
> > file that tells TB which protocol to use and that can be changed?
> >
> > I'm aware of the fact that Imap and Mail (POP) are different Windows
> > folders in the Profile hierarchy. Is there something I can do there?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> You can't switch the existing account from POP to IMAP, you have to
> create a new account configured for IMAP after which you can transfer
> messages from one account to the other by drag-n-drop. I've done this a
> lot on my own server to test it and it works here.
> Server Settings, it reports that the server is either IMAP or POP3.
TB obviously gets this information when one creates an account, but
where does it store it?
Pete Holsberg
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
> > I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to change
> > it to IMAP.
> >
> > That's easy to do with Gmail but is there any (hidden) configuration
> > file that tells TB which protocol to use and that can be changed?
> >
> > I'm aware of the fact that Imap and Mail (POP) are different Windows
> > folders in the Profile hierarchy. Is there something I can do there?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> You can't switch the existing account from POP to IMAP, you have to
> create a new account configured for IMAP after which you can transfer
> messages from one account to the other by drag-n-drop. I've done this a
> lot on my own server to test it and it works here.
I see that prefs.js has the information about whether an account is
POP3, IMAP or NNTP. Maybe I'll play with that a bit.
Mike Easter
> I see that prefs.js has the information about whether an account is
> POP3, IMAP or NNTP. Maybe I'll play with that a bit.
You can't get proper IMAP folders by creating them yourself except as
you relate to - cooperate with - the configuration which is going on
between the IMAP client and the IMAP server, which client created a
(new) imap account.
A non-imap folder is not an imap folder. I can't even imagine
handcrafting the result you should obtain by properly creating a new
IMAP account.
Perhaps you should read some about what IMAP is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAP Through the use of flags defined in
the IMAP4 protocol, clients can keep track of message state; for
example, whether or not the message has been read, replied to, or
deleted. These flags are stored on the server, so different clients
accessing the same mailbox at different times can detect state changes
made by other clients. POP provides no mechanism for clients to store
such state information on the server
--
Mike Easter
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
The info is stored in prefs.js .. Haven't tried it but you may be able
to change the configuration there .. BUT .. make a B/U of prefs.js first!!!!
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
I haven't tried it but if the account can be changed in the prefs.js
file then when restarting TB, the IMAP folders may be there and then
subscribed to. The positive indication that it worked is you will see
"subscribe" in the list of folders where it's not there in a POP account
setting. I may fiddle with it, I have enough throw-away accounts to
spare and I run my own server as well.
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
Solution:
Close TB, locate prefs.js and make a backup. Edit the file, look for
your account and the line "type,pop3" .. change pop3 to imap. Save,
restart TB. Your account is now IMAP .. I tested this on a POP3 account
and it worked flawlessly.
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
Since IMAP is configured on the "server", yes you can change from POP3
to IMAP by editing the prefs.js file. See my latest reply to Pete about
this. I tested it and it worked 100%.
Pete Holsberg
Doncha like to live dangerously?? ;-)
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
Yessir!! Having my own server makes trial/error a bit more relaxing.
BTW: If you read my other reply where I tried it .. it worked just fine.
Pete Holsberg
> On 09.02.2010 14:49, Pete Holsberg wrote:
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
> > Jay Garcia has written on 2/9/2010 3:25 PM:
> >>
> >> to change the configuration there .. BUT .. make a B/U of prefs.js
> >> first!!!!
> >>
> >
> > Doncha like to live dangerously?? ;-)
> >
> >
>
> Yessir!! Having my own server makes trial/error a bit more relaxing.
>
> BTW: If you read my other reply where I tried it .. it worked just fine.
I thought you said you hadn't tried it.
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
> Jay Garcia has written on 2/9/2010 4:02 PM:
>> On 09.02.2010 14:49, Pete Holsberg wrote:
>>
>> --- Original Message ---
>>
>> > Jay Garcia has written on 2/9/2010 3:25 PM:
>> >>
>> >> The info is stored in prefs.js .. Haven't tried it but you may be able
>> >> to change the configuration there .. BUT .. make a B/U of prefs.js
>> >> first!!!!
>> >> > > Doncha like to live dangerously?? ;-)
>> > >
>> Yessir!! Having my own server makes trial/error a bit more relaxing.
>>
>> BTW: If you read my other reply where I tried it .. it worked just fine.
>
> I thought you said you hadn't tried it.
I did .. but I tried it and worked AFTER I posted that. Did you see my
reply where I said I tried it?
goodwin
Pete started another thread regarding this to which I replied before I
read this one...
On 02/09/2010 12:36 PM Jay Garcia scribbled:
> On 09.02.2010 13:20, Mike Easter wrote:
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
>> Pete Holsberg wrote:
>>
>>> I see that prefs.js has the information about whether an account is
>>> POP3, IMAP or NNTP. Maybe I'll play with that a bit.
>> You can't get proper IMAP folders by creating them yourself except as
>> you relate to - cooperate with - the configuration which is going on
>> between the IMAP client and the IMAP server, which client created a
>> (new) imap account.
>>
>> A non-imap folder is not an imap folder. I can't even imagine
>> handcrafting the result you should obtain by properly creating a new
>> IMAP account.
>>
>> Perhaps you should read some about what IMAP is.
>>
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAP Through the use of flags defined in
>> the IMAP4 protocol, clients can keep track of message state; for
>> example, whether or not the message has been read, replied to, or
>> deleted. These flags are stored on the server, so different clients
>> accessing the same mailbox at different times can detect state changes
>> made by other clients. POP provides no mechanism for clients to store
>> such state information on the server
aren't we safe assuming he is using the /same/ client to access both
accounts?
>>
>>
>
> Since IMAP is configured on the "server", yes you can change from POP3
> to IMAP by editing the prefs.js file. See my latest reply to Pete about
> this. I tested it and it worked 100%.
>
>
Jay, your info looks good to know.
Looks like Pete is trying to find his (sic) subfolders, other folders,
which aren't listed in prefs.js (I have several myself). I think what
he wants is listed within his profile in the pop server folder, 2 files
each for me - linux calls them mailbox file and a related .msf file.
Pete Holsberg
> On 08.02.2010 11:28, Pete Holsberg wrote:
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
> > I have a Gmail account in TB2 that I set up with POP. I'd like to change
> > it to IMAP.
> >
> > That's easy to do with Gmail but is there any (hidden) configuration
> > file that tells TB which protocol to use and that can be changed?
> >
> > I'm aware of the fact that Imap and Mail (POP) are different Windows
> > folders in the Profile hierarchy. Is there something I can do there?
> >
> > Thanks.
>
> Solution:
>
> Close TB, locate prefs.js and make a backup. Edit the file, look for
> your account and the line "type,pop3" .. change pop3 to imap. Save,
> restart TB. Your account is now IMAP .. I tested this on a POP3 account
> and it worked flawlessly.
Super! Did any of the accounts you did this with have multiple
user-created folders and subfolders? Any of them have names starting
with one or more spaces?
Jay Garcia
--- Original Message ---
No, just a simple one-person account, single folders.