IMAP Folders

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IMAP folders can not contain both e-mails and sub folders. To create a structure you need to specify which type of content the folder is to contain.

You can create sub folders that contain mail messages but not other sub folders, or sub folders that contain more sub folders.

  • A Message Only IMAP folder can contain only messages
  • A Folder Only IMAP folder can contain only folders
  • With IMAP you can access one account from multiple email clients at the same time.
  • You can copy or move messages and/or folders between local and remote folders at will.

    • The following example is illustrated using Mozilla'sThunderbird 2 e-mail application.

    Thunderbird Advanced Account Settings

    First it is necessary to check some settings in Thunderbird's configuration.

    Go to:

    • Tools
    • Account Settings...
    • Under the relevant account select 'Server Settings'
    • In the 'Server Settings' section choose 'Advanced...'

    Set all Check Boxes and fields as per the image on the left.
    Thunderbird basic folder structure.

     

     

    Starting with the basic folder structurewhich is set up onfirst creating an account, the following example shows how to create a new folder structure with sub folders.

    Thunderbird create new folder

    To create a new folder directly under theuser 'Robert' that will contain other folders, right click on 'Robert' and select from the menu 'New folder...'

    This folder will contain sub foldersso select the 'Folders Only' option.The folder is to be called Accounts so enter 'Accounts' as the Name.

    Click OK.

    If using Outlook Express append new file names with a back slash to create a 'Folders Only' folder. e.g. Accounts/

    Thunderbird folders

     

    The folder structure now looks like this with the Accounts folder greyed. It can have sub folders created in it but will not be able to have e-mails in it as it was created for 'Folders Only'.

    Sub folders created under Accounts will be able to contain further sub folders or e-mails depending on how they are created.

    Thunderbird

     

    Hover mouse over image on left.

    New folders can be created under the Accounts folder to contain folders that contain more folders or are just for containing e-mails.

    In the example on the left 'Customer Invoices' and 'Supplier Invoices' will only be able to contain e-mails.

    The sub folder 'Orders' can not contain e-mails directly in itself, but contains further sub folders, '2005', '2006', '2007', that will contain only e-mails.

    This way a logical folder structure can be created enabling better organisation and retrieval of e-mail messages. Combined with Thunderbird's powerful searching ability this becomes a robust filing system.

    No messages can be contained in the Folder Only folders. No Folders can be contained in the Message Only folders.

     

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