[LUNI] Email Iritations

[Trev Peterson]

Hi, I'm a little confused on what is happening here.  If I understand
correctly the problems are:

1. Your home Thunderbird installation is not "in-sync" with your work
and blackberry installations.
2. You can not access your old sent messages

It sounds like both of these are configuration issues NOT problems with
IMAP clients.

On Wed, 2007-06-20 at 23:24 -0500, Demetri Mouratis wrote:

> Or so I had thought.  I realized I have a third email client, a 
> company-issued Windows laptop at home, formerly running Outlook.  I need 
> this guy for a Windows-only VPN client for remote access.  I thought, no 
> problem, I'll just install Thunderbird under Windows, everything will be 
> cool, and I'll be done with Outlook forever.  Or so I had thought.

That should be the case with the possible exception of synchronizing
address book (there is a Thunderbird extension for that but I have not
completed testing it).

> 
> Problem: mailbox synchonization.
> 
> My work email client has greatly improved, Thunderbird is slick and no 
> more Outlook Web Access (yeah!).  However, My home email client has now 
> gotten out of sync with work.

Your configuration is likely incorrect or you have not updated with the
server.  In IMAP messages are stored on the server and a copy is stored
locally if you configure it to do this.  Once you click "Get Mail" you
should be synced up with the server for all folders you are subscribed
to.  I have several clients using this currently without problems.

> I was able to install Thunderbird but my 
> mailbox looks like it did two days ago and doesn't reflect the recent 
> messages at work.  My BlackBerry is still cool as far is it goes but I 
> have never used it for archiving all my old messages instead using it for 
> sending quick emails on the go or reading while afk.

If your Blackberry and work see the same new messages but your home
doesn't then your home config is incorrect or it has not synced with the
server.

> I can't search snet 
> items at work.  My home email has sent items only up until Decembe 2006 
> where the import from Outlook->Thunderbird barfed.

Well if the import did not finish you should solve that problem before
going on.  If your home has all the same email as your work then just
sync the folders.

> I've now realized this 
> isssue is inherent in IMAP and how it treats mailboxes versus the 
> (server-side?) handling of Outlook/Exchange.  Score: Demetri 1, Microsoft 
> 2.

NO, I'm pretty sure this is NOT the case.  I have clients that can
search all their sent mail from all email clients.  You do however need
to configure Thunderbird to put your sent mail in a Sent folder on the
IMAP server (which is NOT the default configuration).  This has to be
done on all clients and all clients must subscribe to the Sent folder on
the IMAP server.

> Thanks for listening and any pointers.

I hope what I said makes sense.  If you need specifics then contact me
off-list and I will try to help.
-- 
Trev Peterson
Advanced Reality
Email: trev at advanced-reality.com
Phone: +1 847 406 9018