How can I transform an .mbox-file so that I can read it?

The first method I would try, with a single xxxx.mbox file, is to open this as folder, and find what is inside, which may include another document style file named mbox. If found, then Control-click over over this mbox file, and chose other, and navigate to use TextEdit from the list of applications. If you can read, and discern it has email messages, then you can move on to Importing each xxxx.mbox from within Mail. To try this, click on File, and then Import -- choose Other as the type, and continue to import.

However, were you to find a Messages folder within any xxxxx.mbox folder, then import as type OSX.

More info, please.

Ernie

Greetings veuve73,

A small note of caution, to properly open xxx.mbox files (which are usually folders in reality) you cannot simply double click as you would other folders, if they appear with the Mailbox icon. Instead, you must right click (control-click) on the xxx.mbox file and choose to view the package contents (Show Package Contents, I believe). This will open that xxx.mbox files so you can search for an actual text file named "mbox" or a folder named "Messages".

What you find depends on which version of Mail originally created these files and therefore changes how they can be imported.

Finally, work on copies of these files at all times, as they likely contain the data you want, but you do not need to loose the data a second time. 🙂

-travis n

OK, try this with one of them, since it appears they might only be what would be expected in a mbox file, but misnamed: Duplicate one of these, and drag the copy into a new, normal new folder on your Desktop. Once in this folder, rename to be simply mbox, and nothing more. Next, rename the new folder, xxxx, that you placed it in, to be xxxx.mbox -- target this xxxx.mbox folder with Import, using type Other.

However, you must be prepared for the possibility that these files are corrupted in some manner, and not be usable for import. However, you may be able to now open the renamed mbox file with TextEdit.

Keep me posted.

Ernie

Greetings veuve73,

If you wish, I would be happy to examine one of these files that you restored. You can email it to me as an attachment. Please send the file in its original form before any modifications noted in this thread.

Alternatively, you may mount and place the file in the Public folder of my iDisk. fizikci is my .Mac name and email address.

-travis n

The normal result of Import would be a white folder in the sidebar, that could be expanded to show a blue folder, named mbox. I assume you found no folder beneath the white folder?

How large was the mbox you tried this with?

Ernie

Greetings,

Yes, I would be careful with Applecare, they often follow standard troubleshooting procedures that end up at a re-install, which is not at all needed in this case.

Yes, Mail has been known to be finicky with some servers, but it should clear up in a few hours.

-travis n

Do the files within this folder appear as xxxx.mbox, and do each appear as a folder, or document type Icon?

The number 22 seems to be lots more than would come from one lost account?

Ernie