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Know All About Thunderbird ImportExportTools Add-On – Import and Export functionality explained

  author
Published By Ashwani Tiwari
Tej Pratap Shukla
Approved By Tej Pratap Shukla
Published On October 17th, 2023
Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

ImportExportTools (now ImportExportTools NG) is an important feature in Thunderbird which increases its functionality. It allows a user to perform several actions such as Importing mailbox folders in Thunderbird, Exporting email messages in multiple file formats from Thunderbird, etc. This application is not available in Thunderbird by default, so you have to download it manually in Add-ons.

ImportExportTools Compatibility History

ImportExportTools – Mozilla Thunderbird 14.0-60.*

ImportExportTools NG (10.0.4) – Mozilla Thunderbird 68.0-78.*

ImportExportTools NG (11.0) – Mozilla Thunderbird 91.0 – 94.0

Follow the step-by-step instructions to know how to install ImportExportTools in Thunderbird. In this blog, you will also learn how to use ImportExportTools in Thunderbird in 3 different ways.

Steps to Add ImportExportTools in Thunderbird using Add-On

Step1- If the menu bar is hidden, press the ALT key to unhide it.

Step2- From the menu click on Tools and then on the Add-ons option.

Click on Tools and then Add-on option

Step3- A new window will open, input “ImportExportTools” in the search bar, and then press the Enter key.

Input ImportExportTools and click on search button

Step4- Select the add-on that is compatible with your Thunderbird and click on Add to Thunderbird button.

Select the Add-ons and click on Add to Thunderbird

Step5- After installation click on the Restart button.

Click on Restart button

This will list all the Import Export options in your Thunderbird.

How to use ImportExportTools in Thunderbird

There are 3 different ways by which you can use ImportExportTools Add-on in Thunderbird:

  1. For complete Email Account
  2. For mailbox folder
  3. For Email messages

Let us start with the First method.

1:- For complete Email Account

Right-click on Email Account and select ImportExportTools NG it will list many options:

  • Export all folders- This option saves all the mailbox folders as a separate MBOX file. For eg., inbox, draft, trash, and even the subfolders are exported at the selected destination.
  • Export all folders (with structures)- This option is similar to “Export all folders” with the exception that all the folders are exported in a proper hierarchy system. SBD folders are used to maintain the folder hierarchy.
  • Search and export- This option provides you to saves a specific mailbox folder as a separate MBOX file by typing in the search option with different criteria.
  • Import mbox file- This option allows you to import an MBOX file into the Thunderbird application.
  • Copy folder path on disk- In this option, you can save the location of the folder on disk.
  • Open directory where is the folder file-This option allows you to find the local destination of your email account.

2:- For mailbox folder

Right-click on mailbox folder and select ImportExportTools NG it will list many options:

  • Export folder-This option saves all the mailbox folder as a separate MBOX file. Eg multiple folders and subfolders are exported at the selected destination.
  • Export folder (zipped)-This option is similar to “Export folders” with the exception that all the folders are exported in a Compressed folder.
  • Export folder with subfolder (with structure)-This option saves all the mailbox folder along with subfolders as separate MBOX files in a proper hierarchy system.
  • Export folder with subfolder (simple)–This option saves all the mailbox folder along with subfolders as separate MBOX files and exported at a selected destination.
  • Export all messages in the folder:- user can export email messages in following file formats-

    • EML format-In this all email messages are converted and saved into EML file format.

    • HTML format-In this all mailbox folders get converted from Thunderbird to HTML file format.

    • HTML format (with attachments)-This option is similar to “HTML format” with the exception that all the attachments are stored in a separate folder.

    • Plain text format- In this, all email messages are exported in .txt format without maintaining the hierarchy system.

    • Plain text format (with attachments)-This option is similar to ”Plain text format” with the exception that all the attachments and Embedded images are stored in a separate folder.

    • as single text file-In this option all the Thunderbird email messages are exported in .txt file format, in a single file folder.

    • as single text file (with attachments)-This option is similar to ”as single text file” but with the difference that all the attachments are stored in a separate folder.

    • Spreadsheet (CSV)- In this option HTML code of every email message is stored in a separate row (in a consecutive manner) in .csv file format.
    • PDF format- This option saves all the Thunderbird emails as PDF files but not in a proper hierarchy system.
    • just index (HTM)-Lindex file contains a summary of Thunderbird email messages such as Subject, From, To, Date and Attachments in .html file format.
    • just index (CSV)-index file contains a summary of Thunderbird email messages such as Subject, From, To, Date and Attachments in .csv file format.
  • Search and export-This option provide you to save a specific mailbox folder as a separate MBOX file by typing in the search option with different criteria.
  • Import messages-This option allows you to import all the messages to Thunderbird.
  • Import all messages from a directory:-
    • just from the directory
    • also from its subdirectories
  • Copy folder path on disk-In this option you can save the location of the folder on disk.
  • Open directory where is the folder file-This option allows you to find the local destination of your mailbox folder.

3:-For Email messages

Select the Email messages on which you want to perform the Export process using ImportExportTools. Then, right-click on selected Email messages and choose to Save selected messages. You will be provided with multiple Export options ( most of these options are already explained above):

  • EML format

  • HTML format

  • HTML format (with attachments)

  • Plain text format

  • Plain text format (with attachment)

  • Spreadsheet (CSV)

  • as Mbox file new-This option provides you to create a new MBOX file by selecting email messages.

  • as Mbox file (append)-In this option, you can add a new email to the MBOX file which is already created by selecting a new email message.

  • PDF format

  • with HTML index:-

    • EML format

    • HTML format

    • HTML format (with attachments)

    • Plain text format

    • Plain text format (with attachment)

  • just index (HTML)

  • just index (CSV)

NOTE: In Thunderbird ImportExportTools PST file format option is not provided. If you are looking to convert Thunderbird Email into PST, you can use MBOX to PST converter.

Conclusion:

In this blog, we have covered everything there is to know about Thunderbird ImportExportTools. Read and know the answers to What exactly ImportExportTools is, How it is installed in Thunderbird and the different ways to use it.

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