Exporting all messages from Mail

Question

Level 1

45 points

Exporting all messages from Mail

I have an IMAP account in Lion Mail, that I would like all the individual messages exported into a Folder, say on my desktop.

This email is no longer functioning so I simply won't be able to re-import the messages if I were to export the mailbox as it appears it only places a plist file referencing the IMAP information.

Previously I believe I was able to highlight all messages and drag-n-drop them into a folder of my choice.

I can sort of do it, One by one if I drag and drop.

Is there any other method to obtaining this.....selecting all messages and dropping them into a local folder?

Thanks!

Posted on Apr 27, 2012 7:25 PM

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Answer 1

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Apr 27, 2012 7:36 PM in response to Applexometa

Since one of the main advantages of having an IMAP account is having your email on the server and simultaneously on your Mac, I'm having a hard time understanding why you need to export anything.

Why is your email no longer functioning.

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Answer 2

Applexometa Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 27, 2012 7:36 PM in response to Lanny

As stated the mail in no longer functioning aka an Inactive mail account / deleted from the server.

So i would like to save some of these messages locally before removing the email account off the Mac.

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Answer 3

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Apr 27, 2012 7:47 PM in response to Applexometa

Your Inbox, Sent, and any folders are seperate mail boxes, just highlight each one and do an export.

The mailboxes are located in your Users Library folder:

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Answer 4

Applexometa Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 27, 2012 7:48 PM in response to Lanny

Right, but it just creates and mbox file which doesnt show the actual Messages themselves. just the preference and plist files.

Something where I can view the messages outside of Mail and invidually (ie; QuickLook)

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Answer 5

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Apr 27, 2012 7:58 PM in response to Applexometa

A mail file is a mail file. It's meant to be used with an eMail client, i.e., Mail or otherwise. If you want individual files for everyone of your emails, you'll have to make them by either saving them individually, .eml files, or converting them to individual PDFs.

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Answer 6

basilmir

Level 1

80 points

Jan 22, 2013 3:58 AM in response to Lanny

The mbox file also has a file limit of 4.3 gb and my Archive folder is MUCH bigger than that.

It seems i can drag e-mail one by one out to a folder in Finder BUT i have 28000 of them. Has anyone fixed this?

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Answer 7

Dec 18, 2014 11:57 AM in response to Applexometa

I am also hoping there is a fix for this. My school email will be cancelled soon and I want to preserve all my emails so that I can view them in the mail client. Say i create a mbox file as a backup and want to get an email from it in three years, will i be able to import it back into the mail client to access individual files?

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Answer 8

Jul 22, 2015 12:07 AM in response to Applexometa

A great methodology to switch between the email clients automatically! Try free version of Digital Tweaks Apple Mail Export Tool for exporting apple mail.

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