What to do when an exported mailbox ( mbox ) remains "partial"? Basically the box is not being fully exported.

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What to do when an exported mailbox ( mbox ) remains "partial"? Basically the box is not being fully exported.

I understand that when partial is in the name of the file for an exported Apple mailbox (mbox) that that mean it's still exporting; however, I no longer see the arrow showing that anything is being exported and I see no activity (via the Window > Activity menu in Apple Mail) for the box or anything. So, I opened the box folder to the exported file (with "partial" ) to read the last entry and it doesn't seem like all of the files are there (note it is an Archive box). So, how to I resolve the partial remaining in the file name? And should I simply export the remaining email in the orignal Archive box (say by moving them into a new mbox I create in Apple Mail and then export it)?

Note that I found this more recent, but closed discussion Problem Exporting Full MailBox from Mac M… - Apple Community That addresses why. But there is no resolution. Has anyone found one?

I'm planning to contact Apple to confirm this issue and see if there's a resolution other than the one I proposed earlier, which it to see where it stops and reexport the remains email in another box.

iMac 24″

Posted on Jan 14, 2023 4:26 AM

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Answer 1

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JEL888 Author

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75 points

Jan 16, 2023 3:11 AM in response to JEL888

Spoke with Apple rep yesterday and he agreed that the solution I mentioned above is the best for now.

Solution is:

Open your mbox folder from the first export file to see what was the last email entry.
Figure out about what % of the original mbox (folder from Apple Mail)was exported.
Create the amount of new mboxes (folders in Apple Mail) you need to put the rest of your email into them.
Move the remaining emails from the original mbox (folder in Apple Mail) to the new mbox or boxes you created in step 3.
Export each mbox.

I recommend giving the new mbox (folder) or multiple new mboxes (folders) a name that will relate to the export file from the original mbox.

If anyone finds a better solution, please share. Also, I did request a functionality tweet, say some time of notification pop-up when an exported mbox (folder) doesn't export everything, not simply as it is that the name retains "partial" in the file name. Or that the exportation alerts you and exports to multiple mbox files automatically.

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Answer 2

Jan 16, 2023 4:02 AM in response to JEL888

Notice that for some weird reason Mail.app can export only up to 2.15 GB mailboxes via Apple Mail > Mailbox > Export Mailbox... so old messages are silently ignored! Also remember to choose "Export all subfolders" option, if necessary.

If you have such largish mailboxes, copy (or zip) ~/Library/Mail folder and import it as such. I do it this way when moving mail to a cleanly installed system.

... YMMV but then on the left-hand-side under "On My Mac" > Import, ..., look for and move "Local" and all mailboxes inside it up under "On My Mac". Right-click and delete "Import" folder (it has gmail mailboxes that are online).

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What to do when an exported mailbox ( mbox ) remains "partial"? Basically the box is not being fully exported.

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