Can you export/import mail rules?

If you want to copy all the rules from system A to system B and do not care about any rules that might already be on B then you can copy the mail rules plist file from A to B.

Got to your ~/Library/Mail folder (on Lion your home library folder is hidden. To get to it from Finder open the Go menu and hold down the option key. The Library folder will appear, select it.)

Now look for the Mail folder, open that and then open the folder contained here. Look for the MailData folder open that. in there are the MessageRules.plist and MessageRules.plist.backup files copy both to the other system.

If you're looking to combine the actions on system B with the actions on system A I'm not sure if there is an easy way to do that.

I've copied both of those plist files into my new system, and the Rules do not show up.

I came across an article that mentioned ALSO moving a file called:

~/Library/Mail/ActOnRules.plist

But this file is nowhere on my (source) system. Kind of stumped.

Source: MacBookPro running 10.6.8

Target: MacBookAir running ML

elmnt wrote:

I've copied both of those plist files into my new system, and the Rules do not show up.

I came across an article that mentioned ALSO moving a file called:

~/Library/Mail/ActOnRules.plist

But this file is nowhere on my (source) system. Kind of stumped.

Source: MacBookPro running 10.6.8

Target: MacBookAir running ML

I realize this is an old thread, but I see that no one replied. You've probably moved on, but for the sake of others who land here:

MailActOn is a 3rd-party plug-in that adds features to Mail.app. In your Google search, it seems you inadvertently stumbled upon a thread about (or that included) MailActOn. Unless you (or someone else) actually installed MailActOn on your computer, you won't see the file "ActOnRules.plist." :-)

Thanks Syncopator to update this subject, it helped me. Now I know I can delete ActOnRules.plist (there only because I tried MacACtOn several years ago).

But my issue of importing rules (as well as smart Mailboxes BTW) is not resolved.

I tried copying over MessageRules.plist and MessageRules.plist.backup but it doesn't have any effect.

There is also SyncedRules.plist, where the rules seem to be stored now... but this file is overwrtitten by Mail at every launch. Could there be some cache to be flushed maybe?

Note that my issue is not because I am moving my Mail folder, but a couple of weeks ago I lost all my rules and Smart mailboxes all of a sudden. I didn't realize right away but a day or two later...

I am trying to recover them from a backup made under Moutain Lion, and now I am under Mavericks.

Unfortunately, I do not have the Mail folder backed in Time Machine as I specifically excluded it since all my emails are with IMAP, I have a backup on the servers. I just didn't realize doing so that I failed to backup my personal settings such as rules etc...

I seem to have found my solution...

- In System Preferences > iCloud, I temporarily unchecked "Documents and Data" (I was warned that local copies would be deleted but went ahead).

- With Mail.app not running, I copied over SyncedRules.plist, as well as SyncedSmartMailboxes.plist, from my Moutain Lion backup.

- I also disconnected from the Internet as I wanted to make sure there would be no overwrtitting from a cloud backup (but probably unecessary)

- Then I started Mail and verified that my rules and Smart Mailboxes were there... yes!

- I actualy re-started Mail a few times to check all stayed there... yes!

- Then with Mail.app running, I re-enable "Documents and Data" in System Preferences > iCloud

- Then I re-started Mail a few times to check all stayed there... yes!

- Then with Mail.app running, I re-enabled my Internet connection and "Get Mail", while watching Smart Folders and Rules. All stayed put... yes!

- Then I re-started Mail a few times to check all stayed there... yes!

Well... so far so good!

I now think my rules and Smart Mailboxes disappeared exactly when I enabled "Documents and Data" in System Preferences > iCloud a few weeks ago. Probably some cloud copies from my new Macbook Air (where I did not set any rules or smart Mailboxes while enabling iCloud synching) were considered the latest set and systematically overwriting the "old" rules and Smart Mailboxes on this Mac.

Just to make sure, I added one rule and one Smart mailbox to clearly defined this set and the most current by date.

I hope it holds when I start using Mail on my Macbook Air again...

I just also found this related thread that seems to have interesting hints near the end by some smart people (didn't read it in detail as my problem seems solved for now):

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4139498?start=45&tstart=0

I just though putting the link here to redirect people having a similar problem of lost rules and Smart mailboxes due to synching.

Does this apply also on High Sierra?

I cannot see any plist starting with MessageRules.

Thanks