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    How do I import my Tunderbird email on a PC to Mail on a Mac?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by thnksfrthmmrs, Oct 9, 2007.

  1. thnksfrthmmrs

    thnksfrthmmrs Notebook Evangelist

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    It's complicated. I use Thunderbird on my Windows PC and if I were to switch to a Macbook, how would I import my emails in Mail? I just don't want to forward all my email to Mail... Also, I do not want to use Thunderbird on my Mac as the default email client BTW.
     
    thnksfrthmmrs, Oct 9, 2007
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  2. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

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    Do you use IMAP for your mail? If so, no importing should be necessary; you would just set up the IMAP account in Mail on OS X and you'd be good to go.
     
    zadillo, Oct 9, 2007
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  3. thnksfrthmmrs

    thnksfrthmmrs Notebook Evangelist

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    I have no idea what IMAP is, but I'm pretty sure I have POP3... It's an email account from my internet provider.
     
    thnksfrthmmrs, Oct 9, 2007
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  4. smiley_lauf

    smiley_lauf Notebook Consultant

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    I guess what you have to ask is this:

    1. What format does Mail.app in OS X use to store mail?. TB uses the mbox format. If you were going to use TB in OS X, there is a howto/KB here

    2. You say you have POP3 setup. Do you have mail saved on the server despite poping regularly (an option in TB, keep copy of mail on server)?. If so, all your inbox mail can be redownloaded into OS X when you setup account in Mail.app (assuming you will use this). I am not sure about your sent messages, though.

    Also check this site out if it will help further.
     
    smiley_lauf, Oct 10, 2007
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  5. Creepers

    Creepers Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the help, I am going to get a black mac and would do so!


    Gerald
     
    Creepers, Oct 10, 2007
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  6. thnksfrthmmrs

    thnksfrthmmrs Notebook Evangelist

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    Ok, one last question. Is there a way I can export the Thunderbird address book for it to be read in Mail? There is an option for exporting in csv, txt, and ldif but which ones will work in Mail?
     
    thnksfrthmmrs, Oct 10, 2007
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  7. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

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    Mail will actually use the Address Book app in OS X. You can import LDIF, Text Files and VCards in Address Book, so LDIF would probably be a good way to export from Thunderbird and import into Address Book.

    -Zadillo
     
    zadillo, Oct 10, 2007
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  8. thnksfrthmmrs

    thnksfrthmmrs Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks! I just want to know why LDIF would be the best choice? Is it the least error prone? Just curious.
     
    thnksfrthmmrs, Oct 10, 2007
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  9. zadillo

    zadillo Notebook Virtuoso

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    No idea really - just of the two options, plain text or LDIF (that thunderbird supports for export and Address Book supports for import), I would suspect LDIF would at least be a little more solid.

    I'd go ahead and export your address book from Thunderbird in both formats; then if one doesn't look right when you import it, try the other.
     
    zadillo, Oct 10, 2007
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