Mozilla Thunderbird & Change File Type

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EDIT:
This thread should have been titled: Error Message copying files - "Are You sure you want to copy this file without it's properties?"

A prime example of what happens when you assume you know wherein the problem lies. After a wild goose chase the answer was discovered only after realizing that Thunderbird had nothing to do with it. Post #17
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I use Thunderbird. I save email as files in various folders for business purposes.

Thunderbird has an annoying property: when you choose "Save As" to save an email, the default file type is "All Files". I have to remember to manually choose "Mail Files" from the drop down list to save the files in the with the correct file type/attribute. Doesn't always happen - too distracted.

So I've got a lot of .eml files on my hard drive with "All Files" Properties. This is not a severe problem, as the files open in Thunderbird when executed.

The issue is that when I move, copy, or backup the files I get a Stop and warning about files having no file properties, and "do I want to proceed"? Annoying and inefficient.

Is there a way to find and change the file properties of multiple files found all over a partition en masse?

Something like this might help
Download - Bulk Rename Utility
You can tell it to replace *.blah with *.yak
or whatever you need.

Use "Everything" filter for the file ending you want and exclude the Thunderbird folders.

Select all found files, right click, and rename the extension.

Regards....Mike Connor

Ah. But there is the rub.
All the files have the correct extension: .eml

it is the "All Files" file type properties that is the problem.

I Get This:

l

the 'all files' file type is no file type it automatically appends the default for that application, or it allows you to manually write it in before saving.
I don't really understand where you issue is arising from that statement.

TVeblen said:

Ah. But there is the rub.
All the files have the correct extension: .eml

it is the "All Files" file type properties that is the problem.

I Get This:

l

"All Files" just uses the default. I can save any file as text etc, and immediately open it in any supporting program. No idea why you can't;



Regards....Mike Connor

When I am copying files or doing a backup of files the backup process stops with the attached message about file properties showing up. I have to answer YES to proceed. It means the backup process must be watched.

If I could change the properties of all the files that were saved without the "Mail Files" properties I could eliminate this annoyance.

Or if I could get the files to copy without stopping to warn me, that would be an acceptable solution also.

TVeblen said:

When I am copying files or doing a backup of files the backup process stops with the attached message about file properties showing up. I have to answer YES to proceed. It means the backup process must be watched.

If I could change the properties of all the files that were saved without the "Mail Files" properties I could eliminate this annoyance.

Or if I could get the files to copy without stopping to warn me, that would be an acceptable solution also.

That is what renaming the extension will do. I just did it, found some *.eml files with everything, renamed them to *.txt and now I can open them with any text editor.

Most text editors will also simply open the .eml files anyway.

I am still not entirely sure what you mean. If you want a backup, just use Mozback. If you want to collate files from somewhere on your discs that have the extension .eml, do so with "Everything" and either back them up directly, or as text etc. You can also do that with any system commands, it is just quicker with "everything" and you have full visual control.




I don't get any errors or pop-ups when I do that. I don't see any problems?

Regards....Mike Connor

are you familiar with the basic windows commands?
you could easily create a batch file that would copy your items to back up without prompting you, it could even be triggered by a task.
COPY, XCOPY, and MOVE Overwrite Functionality Changes in Windows

Yes I am. I cut my teeth in DOS.
A batch file could accomplish the task, but it's not the direction I'm trying to go.

I'm really interested in finding and changing the file properties. Quickly and easily if possible.