WLM Storage Folder structure vs. Windows Explorer

[PopKiss]

There appears to be a disjoint between the WLM Storage Folders hierarchy and
Windows Explorer. This is causing me some confusion - not least for backup
purposes. It would seem that WLM folder names bear no relation to what is
seen in Explorer and that the apparent nesting structure in WLM is not
reflected in Explorer. Can anyone confirm this?

Also it would appear inadvisable to MOVE a folder within WLM. Rather, the
correct action should be CREATE a new folder then COPY the messages from old
to new folder, (DELETING the old folder afterwards). The MOVE folder
function actually leaves inaccessible folders behind, (when viewed through
Explorer). Am I correct in this assertion?

(Having got used to the simple and robust interface of Local Folders within
Outlook Express, I have become very wary of WLM Storage Folders, to the
extent that I am considering other e-mail clients for Windows 7. Shame.)

[Michael Santovec]

Microsoft's take on it is that you should never do anything at the
operating system level or even be aware of it's existence. For
backup/restore you should use export/import.

The Explorer folders names will match as long as you Never MOVE or
RENAME a folder. When you move a folder in WLM it does not get moved in
the file system. Same when you rename. WLM just tracks the changes
internally and does the mapping as needed.

Instead of MOVE/RENAME, create a new folder where desired with the
desired name, move the messages from the old folder to the new one and
then delete the old folder.

--

Mike - http://TechHelp.Santovec.us

"PopKiss" <Pop...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:97A7D95D-34F8-4E47...@microsoft.com...

[...winston]

1. Where are you looking in Windows Explorer ?

If not moved using the option to do so in WLM..

In Vista/Win7
C:\Users\<windows logon name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail
In XP
C:\Documents and Settings\Merlin\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Mail

Click on Storage folders to expand...

As an example...on this machine..
I have five folders in WLM under Storage folders(Drafts, Sent, Deleted items, Recovered items, Save[with multiple
subfolders])...viewing in Windows Explorer the same..

2. Move a folder in WLM ?
- from(and to) where ?
a. do not move a system created folder in an email account(Inbox, Drafts, Sent items etc)
b. one can move a user created folder or messages within an pop3 account to another location in the same account(not possible in a
Hotmail http account)..no nested folders permitted
c. if the intent is to place messages from an email account's system generated account folders into a user created folder in the
Storage folders(one should drag messages or use the copy or move function).
d. if the intent is move a user created folder to the Storage folders...not possible, drag, move, copy messages.

Fyi
- after moving..its best to force a manual compaction by setting the counter(options/advanced/maintenance tab) to 1, close/apply,
file/workoffline, file exit. Only delete any uncleaned up folders in Windows Explorer after absolution certainty the folder is not
needed.
- Storage folders in WLM is good place to archive...especially for pop3 email accounts..removing a pop3 account will delete the
messages and its folders in WLM and Windows Explorer.. Storage folders are not impacted.

--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

"PopKiss" <Pop...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:97A7D95D-34F8-4E47...@microsoft.com...

[PopKiss]

Michael, thanks for confirming my understanding of WLM Storage Folders. I
agree completely that Explorer should not be used to tinker with WLM folder
management structures. My reason for doing so was to attempt a repair of an
import from Outlook Express which did not go smoothly. (Sub-folders ended up
in some spurious places.)

It also appears that WLM renames user-created folders if more than 12
characters in length. Again, this should not be a problem as long as
Explorer is not used to "tinker". (The disconnect between the two interfaces
does make me feel uncomfortable, though.)

"Michael Santovec" wrote:

> .
>

[PopKiss]

To clarify for the record, I am attempting to reorganise user-created folders
in Storage Folders. In particular, MOVE a subfolder to another folder -or-
RENAME an existing sub-folder. Both operations are possible in WLM by
highlighting the sub-folder in question then selecting
FILE>FOLDER>MOVE/RENAME.

As Michael has indicated in his earlier Post, neither operation is desirable
since the changes are not reflected in Windows Explorer. (In other words, the
folder structure that WLM displays does not represent the physical reality in
Windows Explorer.)

Thanks for the advice/insight provided - very helpful.

"...winston" wrote:

> .
>

[SBES]

I use Vista Home Premium. I wish to download important emails off WLM on to
cd. Is this forum implying that Windows Explorer is the operation used to
complete such a task?
--
SBES

[Gary VanderMolen [MVP]]

No, don't use Windows Explorer for moving mail files.
Use the export function: File, Export, Mail...
Note: You can't export directly to external media, so export to an empty
folder on your hard drive first.

--
Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
Microsoft MVP program: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

"SBES" <SB...@MSOffice.com> wrote in message news:57F8880F-70FF-4D7D...@microsoft.com...