Import Export Tools NG

ImportExportTools NG adds import and export functions for messages, folders and profiles.

This derivative add-on is the update of ImportExportTools, the original work of Paolo “Kaosmos”. The add-on is being updated for Thunderbird 68 (and 60) so that users can continue to enjoy the functionality of this great add-on.

Click here to view this add-on’s version history.

Original add-on’s homepage: https://addons.thunderbird.net/addon/importexporttools/

Import Export Tools NG Add-On Features

v4.1.0 Enhancements/Additions:

• Help/User guide : Fully localized
• Suffix option for filenames
• Custom date option for filenames allowing strftime() like full date and time formatting
• Use custom file naming for both attachments and embedded attachments
• Custom date option for index filenames
• Option to use 'Received Date' for filename and index
• User configurable Hotkeys (Keyboard shortcuts)
• PDF output now uses the global print options
• Improved HTML index file layout

Menus:

• Tools (most import and export functions including profiles)
• Folders (most import and export functions)
• Search dialog (export search results)
• Selected messages (export or copy to clipboard)

Export:

• Individual folder(s), optionally including subfolders (mbox format)
• All folder messages in the following formats:
  • EML, HTML, PDF, CSV or plaintext
  • Export as individual files or a single file
  • Optionally include attachments
  • Export indexes as plain text or CSV
  • Extensive file naming convention options
  • Export messages from search dialog

Import:

• Mbox files (including structure)
• EML & EMLX files
• Individual or all directory files

Profiles:

• Export complete profile or just the mail files
• Import profile
• Auto profile backup with schedule on shutdown

SMS: Will be deprecated!

Import Export Tools NG Add-On Installation

Normal install (requires Internet access) from Thunderbird Add-on site:

• Download and install ATN version via the Add-ons Manager.
• From the Thunderbird Menu Bar, select Tools then Add-ons to open the Add-ons Manager. Choose the Extensions tab, search for “TBD”, select + Add to Thunderbird and follow the prompts to install and then restart.

Install (with or without Internet access) XPI directly:

• Download and install GitHub XPI version via the Add-ons Manager.
• From the Thunderbird Menu Bar, select Tools then Add-ons to open the Add-ons Manager. Choose the Extensions tab, click the gear icon and choose Install Add-on From File…
• Choose XPI file, install and restart.

Brief Usage Instructions

The extension adds a new menu item in the Tools menu. (You may have to enable the Menu Bar from Preferences to make it display.) The new submenu displays a number of additional actions which you can peform to import or export various types of information into and out of Thunderbird.

The original add-on (link above) has a number of notes about individual commands, though no structured user guide or handbook yet. (Sorry.)

Importing from Apple Mail mbox format

Apple Mail's export is in a different format than expected by this plugin. An experimental script to restructure an Apple Mail export, applembox2sbd.py, is available in the scripts folder of this repository.

First, use the Export function within Apple Mail to export selected folders to a directory.

To use this script, install Python 3 on your system, make a backup of your mail export (as the script transforms the export in place), and use it as follows from the Terminal within the scripts directory:

chmod +x applembox2sbd.py
./applembox2sbd.py -v /path/to/applemailexport/

In Thunderbird, right-click/Control-click on the destination you want to import to, and within the ImportExportTools NG context menu select Import mbox file. Here you will use Import one or more mbox files, with its/their subdirectory, the second radio button in the popup.

In the file dialog, select the files to import from the freshly transformed directory at the path used in the script above.

Note there is a --dry-run flag which can be used to test the script without modifying the files exported from Apple Mail.

XPI Add-on Package Build instructions

Visual Studio Code: Build Default Task

Basic Command Line Build: (requires 7zip CLI version) 7z a ./xpi/import-export-tools-ng-4.0.0-tb.xpi ./src/*

Issues & Questions

Post any issues or questions for Import Export Tools under Issues

Changelog

ImportExportTools NG changes are logged here.

Credits

Original Author: Paolo “Kaosmos”
Developing Author: Christopher Leidigh

Extension Icon: Pixel perfect from www.flaticon.com & cleidigh is licensed by CC 3.0 BY