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How to migrate complete folders and messages structure from POP3 account to IMAP account ?, Had to set up new IMAP access to existing POP3 account, need to copy all folders and messages over
 
#1
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My primary email account has been POP3 since it was set up but I now need to move over to IMAP for access.


My problem is that I have hundreds of folders and sub-folders containing tens of thousands of messages in the POP3 account and I need to copy / move them en masse and complete and preserving the folder structure to the new IMAP account.

I cannot drag and drop or copy & paste between POP3 and IMAP as they are treated as separate accounts.

I have tried backing up from the POP3 account then restoring to the IMAP account but that does not work.

I have tried simply copying the data folders over outside of The Bat! but they aren't recognised by the new IMAP account.



I have searched this forum for an answer to my requirement but I haven't found anything that completely tallies with what I need to do, so does anyone have any suggestions as to how to achieve this without needing to replicate my existing folder structure by individually recreating every folder from scratch in the new IMAP account and then copying over the messages, folder by folder ?
 
 
 
#2
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Quote
Keith Sullivan wrote:
I cannot drag and drop or copy & paste between POP3 and IMAP as they are treated as separate accounts.

I hesitate to respond because I don't actually use IMAP, but since you haven't had any replies yet from more knowledgeable folks..

Were you trying to drag and drop folders? If so, can't you simply select all messages in a folder, then drag and drop them into an identically named new folder in the IMAP account? (with Ctrl held down so it copies rather than moves the messages - or, be sure to have a good backup)?  I've never had any problems doing that between different accounts (but then, those were all of the POP3 variety).
I volunteer as a moderator to help keep the forum tidy. I do not work for Ritlabs SRL.
 
 
 
#3
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I considered replying, but I had no substantive input. All my accounts are IMAP and I move mail between accounts and to/from local folders, so I"m puzzled on why the OP cannot move POP mail to IMAP. I share your view, Daniel, that it should be possible. I did do some investigating on the issue, as I've had good success usng Thunderbird for converting email, but those were POP. There is a for sale product that converts TB! mail, but it still requires folder by folder moves and seems to accomplish not what OP wants. And there are some tools to convert to Outlook format, but the folder issue remains. TB! will export to mbox, but only one folder at a time - at least for IMAP.  My approach would be to immediately start with IMAP and move the POP folders based on importance, moving some each day - or just dedicate several hours  and do it.  If the majority of his mail isn't used regularly, working with both the IMAP and POP together seems the best of a bad situation. And I wish him well.

david
 
 
 
#4
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I appreciate the responses so far. Manually recreating folders and dragging and dropping messages between the two accounts is indeed possible but just too time-consuming to fit into my available timescale.  I've looked at and tested every export / import solution and commercial conversion solution I can find but nothing has been reliable or accurate enough to trust.
 
 
 
#5
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Quote
Keith Sullivan wrote:
I appreciate the responses so far. Manually recreating folders and dragging and dropping messages between the two accounts is indeed possible but just too time-consuming to fit into my available timescale.

But you'll still have to somehow carry over that folder structure to the IMAP server..

The only time-saver that I can think of would be to use macroing software like AutoHotKey (you could get the folder names from the structure in your mail folder). Or, you could just archive all your old messages and start anew with IMAP, and recreate those folders over time as the need for them presents itself.

Like you, I wouldn't trust this to a conversion utility (once bitten twice shy).
I volunteer as a moderator to help keep the forum tidy. I do not work for Ritlabs SRL.
 
 
 
#6
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Keith,
I have exactly the same problem.
Did you find a solution?
Thanks,
Inka
 
 
 
#7
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First, it's work. There is no easy solution. My suggestion is to use Thunderbird, add the 'import/export' addon and use that to convert your mail folders. Then, use Thunderbird to create an IMAP account and move the folders from the imported POP account to the IMAP account. Good luck.
david
 
 
 
#8
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Thanks.
Does the Thunderbird 'import/export' addon import .tbb-files/TheBat!-mailboxes?
Inka
 
 
 
#9
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No, do that first. Where Thunderbird can help is its ability to move folders easily.
 
 
 
#10
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Sorry to say but is it not 'interesting' that Thunderbird is the e-mail program that is suggested to make this transition?

It can be done with The Bat but is manual work setting up both POP3 and IMAP then copying the folders from one to the other. With over 120 folders with 10GB of mailstore and only DSL it did take most of the day.

I used copying of folders not move so to have an extra security line until the folder synced and message counters equal on both. Once done I did RAR archive the POP3 local folders to DVD prior to deleting the account within The Bat the next weekend.
Trust computers/programs to fail at the worst possible time so build in multiple layers of protection.
 
 
 
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