Message aging: Difference between revisions

From MozillaZine Knowledge Base
Jump to navigationJump to search
(fleshing out the article)
Line 6: Line 6:


Message aging settings must be made separately for each mail or newsgroup account; RSS accounts use only folder-specific settings, described below.  For mail accounts using the [[Global Inbox]], you will set your preferences only for the account that shows in the folder pane (normally [[Local Folders]]).
Message aging settings must be made separately for each mail or newsgroup account; RSS accounts use only folder-specific settings, described below.  For mail accounts using the [[Global Inbox]], you will set your preferences only for the account that shows in the folder pane (normally [[Local Folders]]).
To activate messaging aging and set your preferences for a single account, go to:
To activate message aging and set your preferences for a single account, go to:


* "[[Menu differences in Windows, Linux, and Mac|Tools]] -> Account Settings -> [account name]" and then "Disk Space" (for Local Folders and POP mail accounts) or "Offline & Disk Space" (for IMAP mail and newsgroup accounts).
* "[[Menu differences in Windows, Linux, and Mac|Tools -> Account Settings]] -> [account name]" and then "Disk Space" (for Local Folders and POP mail accounts) or "Offline & Disk Space" (for IMAP mail and newsgroup accounts).


==Folder-specific settings==
==Folder-specific settings==

Revision as of 01:21, 25 October 2005

Beginning with version 1.5, Thunderbird has a new message aging feature that can be used to automatically delete messages from folders based upon the age of messages or the number of messages in a given folder. It can be used with with e-mail, newsgroup, and RSS accounts. Be warned: messages deleted via this feature will be deleted permanently, not sent to the Trash folder. It is strongly recommended that you experiment with the message aging settings using non-critical messages (such as in an RSS account) before using the message aging feature with messages that you would not want to risk losing.

The automatic deletion of messages will take place when you open a folder. If you change your settings (as described below) with a folder already open, the changes will not be reflected in the currently open folder until you select another folder and then go back to the first folder.

Account-specific settings

Message aging settings must be made separately for each mail or newsgroup account; RSS accounts use only folder-specific settings, described below. For mail accounts using the Global Inbox, you will set your preferences only for the account that shows in the folder pane (normally Local Folders). To activate message aging and set your preferences for a single account, go to:

  • "Tools -> Account Settings -> [account name]" and then "Disk Space" (for Local Folders and POP mail accounts) or "Offline & Disk Space" (for IMAP mail and newsgroup accounts).

Folder-specific settings

You can also make folder-specific settings for message aging. For example, if the account is set to the default "Don't delete any messages", you could choose to have a single folder set to delete messages older than 90 days old. You can access folder-specific settings in either of these ways:

  • "Edit -> Folder Properties... -> Retention Policy" (for folder-specific settings).
  • Right-click on the folder and then select "Properties... -> Retention Policy".

External links

  • Bug 11055: to view the genesis of the feature in Bugzilla (please don't add comments).