I'm new to thunderbird and am wondering how I go about synching my thunderbird with my portable thunderbird and vise versa. What are the steps when I want to take my USB to another computer and then back again to my home computer? Thanks for any help you can give.
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I'd like to know this myself.
I have TB on three different PCs, plus TBP on a thumb drive. I couldn't figure out how to sync them so I came up with a work-around.
I use the TB on my desktop as the "master" installation. It is configured to leave messages on the server "until I delete them". Only it can delete mail from the server because all the "satellite" copies are configured to "Leave messages on server" indefinitely.
When I first set up a satellite copy of TB (on my thumb drive or laptops), I copy all the data files from the "master" desktop. Since none of the satellite copies of TB can delete from the E-mail server, the master copy will always receive every E-mail. The only way a satellite copy can miss an E-mail is if the master copy deleted it before one of the satellites downloaded it. If I think it's crucial that one one the satellite copies be "synced" and again have each and every E-mail on the master copy, I can always copy its data files again.
It's not as cumbersome as it sounds and it insures that the master copy never misses an E-mail. Each individual E-mail remains on the server until I empty the trash bin on the master copy of TB, so each satellite copy will remain in sync with the master so long as I check for E-mail with each one before emptying the trash bin. I empty the trash about once a month so all I need do is run each satellite copy at least once a month and everybody's happy.
Personally I have 1 TB on my PC and TBP on 2 portable drives (external and flash stick) On my master TB and TBPs, I have all accounts set to leave email on server, that way when I use any of them, all email will download onto them from the last one already on the applications. That is unless I've deleted any email from my ATT/yahoo email account through ATT, which won't show up in any application.
The only thing you miss out on is having a copy "sent mail", but you can always "cc" (you can set this up to do this automatically) a copy of the email to yourself and have a filter to place copies of emails to yourself in your sent folder. The good thing about the method of having all your copies of TB is that you may have missed seeing messages the first time, so it's a good reminder of their presence when they come in "new" again (for POP).
If you do this method and you don't want to go through the "unread" emails again, I suggest selecting "unread" on the message sorter (also known as "view" which I think you need an add on for since it was dumped after TB 1.5), the other add on that is nice to have is the "select-all" tool bar button and the "Mark" toolbar button is needed as well. That way you can quickly select the unread messages and mark as "read". I position the "select all" button" in between the "delete" and the "mark" toolbar buttons for easy use.
Yes it's true you won't have the sent messages, so if I need a copy then I will also cc: myself. The problem with filtering these messages is I've noticed more and more spam coming with my addy as sender. So I opt not to use that, but then again, I don't have that many sent email I need to save.
I've had the ALL tool bar button for awhile, but wasn't aware of the Mark tool bar button. Thanks! I'll have to check into that.
I have a master copy of TB running on my laptop and TB Portable on my thumb drive. I use SyncToy, which is a freeware microsoft program (google a download-- I got it from microsoft.com but don't have the exact URL). All you have to do is set up a sync in SyncToy to sync the "profile" folders in your local copy of TB and the portable version. I believe the profile folder is always in "Defaults\Profile". Sync the entire folder. That way, you get all messages, settings, accounts, etc. You don't have to mess with mozilla profiles, you don't have to leave messages on the server-- it's all local.
Just another option to try-- it works very well for me.
Nice catch, arizona480. I'd failed to consider the satellites were missing "sent" messages. The "CC" is a simple and effective fix.
"Syncing", btw, is the wrong term, at least for my needs. What I'd prefer is something that will "merge" the messages in the different installations. I should have said "merge", not "sync".
Syncing, IMHO, is a flawed solution because the copying of one file over another always _assumes_ the source file is complete. But unless you're unfailingly scrupulous about syncing your master TB with TBP before every use of the satellite copy/copies, and about syncing each satellite with the master after sending from that satellite but before sending from the master, it's entirely possible that _neither_ installation will be complete. If that happens, subsequently copying either over the other _will_ destroy data.
Merging is what's needed.
I chose to use the USB drive as my master, so that when I go home, or I travel, I am current everywhere. For insurance against thumbdrive failure, I copy the profile folder in its entirety to the TB apps on my desktop and laptop about every other week - more often if I suspect a problem