email - Delete messages from IMAP
2014-03
nachito
I have a large number of emails in my Rackspace inbox (~560,000 messages totaling 10GB). It wasn't maintained because all mail was being forwarded to a Gmail account (forwarded, while keeping the local copy). I would like to delete a lot of these (old cron emails) but I am not able to load my entire account into most email clients using IMAP (don't know if this is related to my network connection, slow computer, or Outlook itself). Additionally, the webmail client restricts me to deleting only 100 messages at a time. Note: new emails matching the remove criteria are being deleted by a incoming mail filter I setup, but I do not have an option to run that rule on existing messages.
What options do I have for cleaning up the existing messages in my mailbox?
Ivan Viktorovic
Maybe you should try to configure your imap that it only downloads the header of your mails and not the whole mail. Then you should be able to delete them without downloading them.
This link may help but i dont know yout exact outlook version ( http://www.officetooltips.com/outlook/tips/how_to_set_outlook_to_download_only_e-mail_headers.html)
If it dosent match just google it for your version.
iagdotme
I've been using Thunderbird for years without issues with 20+ pop3 accounts. I'm moving over to imap which will enable me to keep copies of the emails locally and on the server whilst keeping everthing synchronised.
However I'm looking for the best way to manage multiple imap accounts on Thunderbird.
Currently I have a filter that copies all the emails into a central inbox and into seperate local folders. The reason for this is I go through my inbox daily and delete all emails that don't require any action. I move any emails that require action to my "action" imap account folder. This way I can syncronise all the emails that require action across multiple computers (and mobile devices). This technique is my implemantion of the GTD or Getting things Done philosophy.
I also copy over each email into seperate local folders. The reason I do this is just in case any emails on the imap accounts get deleted, or something drastic happens on the server which means I lose all the emails. My business partner has access to some of these emails and still uses pop3 (with "leave copy on server" checked), but I know sometimes Thunderbird can still delete emails off the server sometimes.
The problem with the above is that thunderbird gives me the dreaded error dialogue saying that the emails cannot be filtered due to another process.
I find the folder list in Thunderbird hard to manage. Here is a screenshot of part of my folder list- as you can see it's a bit of a complicated list and not easy to manage:
What would be the best way of me managing multiple imap accounts whilst allowing me to have copies put in a central folder and emails in local folders?
It would be useful if people think this is necessary, as perhaps there is a betterway?
How do people manage multiple imap accounts in a way that allows them to keep on top of actionable emails?
I'd be interested in how others manage this. I've never used the Thunderbird-based client "Postbox", does this handle multiple imaps better?
random
"My business partner has access to some of these emails and still uses pop3 (with "leave copy on server" checked)"
This will work but is fraught with peril and not recommended. (What if he deletes the email on the server? What if you delete the email on the server? And of many possible problem scenarios).
Instead I'd recommend a proper shared email account system or support system like Assistly, Cerberus Help Desk or put the shared stuff into an internal mailing list or have a filter forward the shared emails to your individual email accounts.
but I know sometimes Thunderbird can still delete emails off the server sometimes."
Thunderbird IMAP will only delete email when you actually delete emails. Thunderbird POP will delete emails after 14 days by default but can turn that off automatic deletion off.