How do I import an .eml file into Mail

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How do I import an .eml file into Mail

I have a .eml file, which was orginally an email message in Mail, which I saved onto my desktop, "saved as" a raw message source out of Mail a while ago. Now I want to import it back into my Mail program but it won't accept it. Does anyone know how I can get the file back into Mail?

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Macbook Pro 2.2GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 2GB 120GB SuperDrive

Posted on Jul 20, 2008 3:53 PM

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Answer 1

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Mulder

Level 6

8,990 points

Jul 20, 2008 7:07 PM in response to mcfc68

If it's saved as Raw Source, it's not a .eml file anymore. Unless Apple changed them again in 10.5.x, Mail saves messages as .emlx files.

So, you can download this tool, emlx to mbox Converter to convert individual messages or whole groups to mbox files and import those into Mail (you need to choose Other when the dialog window asks "Import data from").

If the Mail file format really did change in 10.5.x to .eml, here's a similar tool to convert multiple eml files to mbox format: eml2mbox. This is a Ruby script, not an application.

Mulder

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Answer 2

mcfc68 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jul 21, 2008 12:33 AM in response to Mulder

The message was originally saved out of Mail using the "Save As" command and then selecting Raw Source. When I then press "Get Info" on the file it has a ".eml" designation after it's name.

This begs the question: I often save individual email messages out of Mail to archive them in a state that is cross-platform or share them with colleagues who perhaps are not Mac users. Is Raw source the way to go, particularly in light of the fact that I may want to import them back into Mail at a later date.

The reason I have been using Raw Source instead of Rich Text Format or Plain Text, is that when I double click on the file it automatically opens in Mail allowing me the functionality of the Mail program. Any suggestions?

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Answer 3

Mulder

Level 6

8,990 points

Jul 21, 2008 6:54 AM in response to mcfc68

Raw Source is the way to go if you want to be able to open or import them back into most email programs in the future.

Mulder

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Answer 4

mcfc68 Author

Level 1

15 points

Jul 22, 2008 11:35 PM in response to mcfc68

Thanks Mulder, although I wish Mail had a little more functionality to it and you could just drag and drop a raw source back into Mail. It seems an awfully complicated method for putting it back.

By the way, the file I am talking about (Raw Source .eml) can also be achieved by simply dragging the message out of Mail and dropping it onto the desktop.

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