I have to warn you that wdseml files are NOT what you need to backup. They are summaries or digests created purely to expose some of the content of your mailboxes to Windows search.

The real data stores are files such as Inbox, Sent, Trash and so on; these are mbox type files. You'll have trouble opening them. Their main value is that you can use them to replace damaged files.

The best way (IMHO) to backup Thunderbird is to make a copy of your entire profile.

Zenos said

I have to warn you that wdseml files are NOT what you need to backup. They are summaries or digests created purely to expose some of the content of your mailboxes to Windows search. The real data stores are files such as Inbox, Sent, Trash and so on; these are mbox type files. You'll have trouble opening them. Their main value is that you can use them to replace damaged files. The best way (IMHO) to backup Thunderbird is to make a copy of your entire profile.

wondermuse said

Zenos said

I have to warn you that wdseml files are NOT what you need to backup. They are summaries or digests created purely to expose some of the content of your mailboxes to Windows search. The real data stores are files such as Inbox, Sent, Trash and so on; these are mbox type files. You'll have trouble opening them. Their main value is that you can use them to replace damaged files. The best way (IMHO) to backup Thunderbird is to make a copy of your entire profile.

wondermuse said

wondermuse said

Zenos said

I have to warn you that wdseml files are NOT what you need to backup. They are summaries or digests created purely to expose some of the content of your mailboxes to Windows search. The real data stores are files such as Inbox, Sent, Trash and so on; these are mbox type files. You'll have trouble opening them. Their main value is that you can use them to replace damaged files. The best way (IMHO) to backup Thunderbird is to make a copy of your entire profile.

If by "make a copy of your entire profile", you mean copy my "Profiles" folder from the Thunderbird folder, I just tried that. I copied the entire"Profiles" folder to my desktop, but when I tried to open any of the email messages, they would not.

It doesn't change anything. The messages are all still listed as extension type: wdseml and the file type is still listed as Thunderbird document.

Don't get it. Is it even possible to do this; back up Thunderbird?

I am not making this up. Copying the profile is the recommended way to back up Thunderbird.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-thunderbird-stores-user-data#w_backing-up-a-profile

In this context, backup means making a copy of the files you would need to reinstall Thunderbird and restore it in the event of a hardware failure, or moving to another computer. It does not necessarily offer a set of human-readable files. And a backup does not need to include msf files or those wdseml files.

Perhaps you are more interested in archiving your email messages, since you seem to expect to be able to read your saved messages. The ImportExportTools addon may be of value.

Oh geez, I didn't realize I had created all those "quotes" as posts, and I don't know how they could have included the entire post. At the time, I was just trying to 'emphasize' the excerpt in my previous post, ("make a copy of your entire profile") from the response post. Is there a way to delete them?

But yes, I do want to archive the emails. I've set up a routine whereby once a year, I backup/archive my mailboxes to my computer.

Previously, I had been using Windows Live Mail, but as everyone must know, it has been replaced with, what I think, is a most basic substitute.

That is why I am trying Thunderbird, and if it weren't for the fact I have to manually use the 'Ctrl' key to magnify each and every email I open, I would like the Thunderbird mail client pretty well.

Is there a way to use an 'Export' feature? I didn't notice one in "Tools"; I did see an "import" option.

I have to manually use the 'Ctrl' key to magnify each and every email I open

Tools|Options|Display|Formatting→Advanced

More here. Specifically, look for the "minimum font size" setting. Remember it is in pixels, not points.

Is there a way to use an 'Export' feature? I didn't notice one in "Tools"; I did see an "import" option.

Try the add-on I mentioned.

https://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/mboximport-en.html

I'm going to send some images of the font size dialogue boxes to show what's going on. But the bottom line is, whether I set the "Minimum Font Size" to 12 or 30, the emails still open the same; no effect.

From the beginning I was able to set the font size for the Thunderbird user interface quite easily with the add on, "Theme Font and Size Changer"; could even select text and background colors, but when it comes to actual received email messages; I get nowhere.

You might notice, too, that the email containing text plus 'graphics' aligns itself through the center of the message panel with 2 or 3 inches on either side, Ii's crazy, whereas the text email aligns to the left and goes across the entire message panel. I'm not sure all text emails open this way, though.

For the Thunderbird backup problem, not getting it. I'm sending some images to help explain.

I would like to save the emails as .eml so that they open in their original format, not .pdf or something. I would also like them to be saved in their folders, but I don't see that as a possibility.