Export / (Migrate) Mail Rules to new computer

Question

Export / (Migrate) Mail Rules to new computer

So i will be setting up a new SSD with my MBP on a clean install (no migration assistant etc) everything will be individually set up like before, however I'm trying to find out how to exactly get my many Mail Rules form my current install to the new one.
Instead of redoing each and every single one (I have quite a few) if there is a way to export the list somehow or transfer a preference i would greatly appreciate it.

thank you!

Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 27, 2010 7:48 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 27, 2010 8:07 PM in response to Frank Einstein

This may (or may not) help but I just had a problem with one machine and just took the entire user/library/mail folder and replaced it from another box and the rules where transferred that way. So there must be some file(s) in that directory that contains the rules. Perhaps someone here knows the exact file(s), but what I did certainly worked.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,001 points

Aug 27, 2010 8:07 PM in response to Frank Einstein

Copy these two files from your /Home/Mail/ folder to the corresponding location on the new computer:

MessageRules.plist
MessageRules.plist.backup

If you have a .Mac account then it would be easier to just sync your computer.

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Answer 3

Aug 27, 2010 8:37 PM in response to Kappy

So set up my my email accounts, then place those files into the same spots i dragged them out of on to the new SSD then?

I just wanna make sure it wont corrupt Mail.app or anything.

Thanks, I greatly appreciate it!

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Answer 4

Aug 27, 2010 9:56 PM in response to Frank Einstein

just make sure that whatever you replace, you have saved to another location first, like your desktop. then, if something does not work, just slap it back! cheers,
coocoo

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,001 points

Aug 27, 2010 10:08 PM in response to Frank Einstein

No, it won't corrupt anything. Once your account is configured just copy those files. Or you can simply copy the entire Mail folder to the new computer, but then you need to copy the com.apple.mail.plist file in /Home/Library/Preferences/ as well.

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Answer 6

Aug 30, 2010 7:52 PM in response to Kappy

So, I just re set up the new set up.
and I was not able to locate those files nor the location.

I have IMAP accounts and there is no "/Home/Mail/" folder.

I did a Spotlight search for those two files you listed and nothing showed up.

so are you sure those are the correct files?
what is the path name to access them?

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Answer 7

Kappy

Level 10

362,001 points

Aug 30, 2010 8:13 PM in response to Frank Einstein

Sorry, it's /Home/Library/Mail/.

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Answer 8

Aug 30, 2010 8:54 PM in response to Kappy

Thank you thank you.

sorry I could have probably double checked there but wasnt seeing the files there for some reason.

Looks like its all good and working as should.

Thanks again for your time and knowledge.

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