I've been using Thunderbird Portable for a while, but now a client has asked to get it on the action 
(I may have extolled the virtues of the portable life, never thinking that I'd have to set things up for him, d'oh!)
THE PROBLEM
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He has MANY mail accounts.
1) Is it necessary to set all these up manually when transferring from his desktop Thunderbird to portable Thunderbird?
If so, is there an easier/faster way. Some of these passwords are hidden. I envisage lots of time-wasting finding them.
As I say, it's been ages since I've done this, so a reminder would be great!
2) also, is there an easy way to switch outgoing servers when travelling overseas, like an easy-to-use button or drop-down, without digging into Thunderbird's settings?
Appreciate it.
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Can't speak for #2, but #1 I can answer. You can transfer all his Thunderbird settings and accounts to TBP just by copying his local profile into TBP's profile directory. Here are instructions on how to do it:
https://portableapps.com/support/thunderbird_portable#local_profile
From now on, make sure you read the entire page for an app (these instructions are linked directly from the TBP page) before you ask questions in the support forums.
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< Fatzilla Eatingeverythingwhale 1.5.0.6 >
the browser that eats absolutely everything
Bruce, thanks
I read them (check the browser logs! :p) BUT for some reason in the past I remember having to re-do (and/or re-integrate) mail account settings for Thunderbird Portable, so I thought I'd ask here (and we all know instructions are often outdated or incomplete, right? Right? :P)
So I hit the forums to get the latest.
Appreciate the help
What browser logs?
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< ExplosivePrincess 1.5 Atomic Bomb Edition >
warning: keep explosiveprincess away from children
I found this thread because I'm trying to find a way to transfer account settings (I also have many) to Thunderbird portable. But I don't want to transfer emails. I intend to use the portable to check for NEW mail when I'm on the move. I will edit each account once it is imported so that it picks up only headers and doesn't delete the original on the server. Then, once I'm back, I will just clean out the servers with my main installation of Thunderbird. That makes sense, right?
I imagine simply copying all the files in the profile folder EXCEPT the Mail folder. But I'm worried doing something artificial like this will cause problems. Is there any other way to do what I'm trying to do?
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Ok, I'm editing this message because I've just tried what I suggested above (transferring profile files except Mail folder). The result was that it SEEMED successful at first but I ran into problems:
'Root folders' existed for all accounts (the icon in the folder list that when clicks brings up a summary page for that account including "read messages", "write new message", "view settings for this account"...). However the subfolders 'inbox', 'trash', 'sent items' etc. were not there. When I went to tools>account settings, the settings for all my accounts were present and correct and I was able to check 'fetch headers only' and 'leave messages on server'. Unfortunately despite all of this, I was simply not able to download any emails. If I click 'get mail', nothing happens.
I assume this is because there is more in the 'Mail' folder than just emails. At the very least, the names of each folder must be there. Probably there is other essential structural data there too.
Can anyone help me?
(p.s. I can't transfer everything and then delete the emails from within Thunderbird - there is tons of mail, tons of attachments and the USB disk is not large enough).
Try this extension
http://accountex.mozdev.org/index.html
Clair
That's exactly what I was looking for. Future versions will allow export/import of multiple accounts at the same time (at the moment, you just cycle through them; annoying but not the end of the world. It would be nice if it did SMTP account too thought (I've submitted this to the author)
Thank you for your help!
Paul
this thread, https://portableapps.com/node/2450 The extension mentioned here, SMTPselect works like a charm, and should suit your purpose.
BTW, for the extension to work, you need to set each SMTP server to default in the TB settings
many thanks!