MozillaMail IMAP Inbox SubFolders

ckjnigel · 20th January 2002, 04:43 PM

I use the latest downloaded Mozilla nightly builds on WinMe. That mail client cannot use the semi-IMAP Netscape server. With other (e.g., Infinite) IMAP servers, I've been able to have Sent, Drafts, Junk, etc. coming directly off the server name. Fastmail demands I create them as sub-folders of Inbox; it is easy to alter where things get placed via Mail & Newsgroup Preferences. All works splendidly, but I thought this subfolder setup strange enough to post a query in the Mozilla mail-news newsgroup. No replies there, so I'm asking here. BTW, IMAP MozMail rocks!

Rgds, Nigel L

bshemmeld · 21st January 2002, 05:02 AM

Where do you download the latest Mozilla nightly builds??? I used it for a little while, but the lack of a system tray notification for new emails was getting on my nerves. Do they have that feature yet?

Jeremy Howard · 21st January 2002, 05:23 AM

The 'subfolder of inbox' issue is the result of the fact that our mail server support public folders as well as user folders, so it has to separate the two somehow. Seach the forum for "Cyrus" for more details.

IMAP clients should let you set a "Root folder path" so that you don't see folders as subfolders of Inbox. MS Outlook Express does this, for instance.

I'm surprised that no one on the NG answered your question. The lack of committed IMAP support from the Mozilla team is rather frustrating at times. They should know about the Cyrus server, and this issue. In particular, please check the Mozilla release notes and search for 'Cyrus' to see a workaround for an existing Mozilla bug in saving to Sent Items and Drafts. (Or search this forum for 'Mozilla').

ckjnigel · 21st January 2002, 06:59 AM

Jeremy, tnx your quick response. I suspect the necessaries are in "Advanced IMAP Server Settings". I had not touched them and these are the settings that I saw upon investigation. IMAP server directory: ckjnigel/ ; (unchecked) Show only subscribed folders ; (checked) Server supports folders that contain sub-folders and messages ; "These preferences specify the namespaces on your IMAP server" : Personal namespace: "INBOX." ; Public (shared): ' " ' ; Other Users: "user." ; (checked) Allow server to override these namespaces I have hunches about changes, but so as to make this public info I'll delay permutating mischief in hopes of more guidance from you.
To bshemmeld: US server is ftp.mozilla.org, in Oz: mozilla.mirror.pacific.net.au and you'l find it (for umpteen op systems) in pub/mozilla/nightly/latest. I download the stub installer (209kb for Win) which, when run, downloads and installs the (today) 9631kb of components. If you don't like, it uninstalls clean as a whistle. Rgds, Nigel L

Jeremy Howard · 21st January 2002, 07:14 AM

Yes I think it's the advanced settings to. But when I enter the namespace "INBOX" or "INBOX.", Moz changes it 'for me' for "INBOX./", which is pretty unhelpful because our delimiter is '.' and not '/' .

It appears that the people working on the IMAP support all use UW IMAP rather than Cyrus or Courier IMAP, because these UW specific assumptions have been omnipresent in Moz for as long as I can remember.

Markus · 21st January 2002, 11:42 AM

I'm using Netscape (6.2), so I don't know whether this also applies to Mozilla, but the following works just fine for me:

The problem is that Netscape automatically adds an ending "/" to the "IMAP server directory" in the "Advanced" form of your server entry. Jeremy already pointed this out. You can avoid that by directly editing the "prefs.js" file in your Netscape profile directory.

First close all running instances of Netscape. Load the "prefs.js" file in your favorite editor and search for the line

user_pref("mail.server.serverX.namespace.personal", "INBOX/");

where "X" is some number depending on how many mail srvers you've configured. Now remove the ending "/" by replacing this line with the following one:

user_pref("mail.server.serverX.namespace.personal", "\"INBOX.\"");

Don't forget to use the correct server number instead of the "X".

Start Netscape again and you'll see that it now shows "INBOX." in the "IMAP server directory field". Make sure that you "Allow the server to override these namespaces" - and you should be all set. Works fine for me, and the folders no longer appear as subfolders of the inbox.

Jeremy Howard · 21st January 2002, 04:07 PM

That doesn't work for me in Mozilla 0.9.7. My config (for a local development server):

Code:

user_pref("mail.server.server1.name", "jhoward@10.70.1.2");
user_pref("mail.server.server1.namespace.other_users", "\"user.\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server1.namespace.personal", "\"INBOX.\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server1.namespace.public", "\"\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server1.realhostname", "10.70.1.2");
user_pref("mail.server.server1.server_sub_directory", "\"INBOX.\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server1.timeout", 29);
user_pref("mail.server.server1.type", "imap");

Is there some way to force the folder list to refresh, or is this just a Moz bug that NS has fixed?

Markus · 22nd January 2002, 10:01 AM

It is important that NO Netscape process is running when editing the "prefs.js" file, otherwise your changes will be overwritten.

I don't recall for sure, but I might have also changed the server_sub_directory parameter (hm, would somehow make sense, sorry I missed that before...

My config looks like

Code:

user_pref("mail.server.server8.namespace.other_users", "\"user.\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server8.namespace.personal", "\"INBOX.\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server8.namespace.public", "\"\"");
user_pref("mail.server.server8.server_sub_directory", "INBOX.");

Notice the difference in the last line.

pobelly · 22nd January 2002, 11:33 AM

Quote:

It is important that NO Netscape process is running when editing the "prefs.js" file, otherwise your changes will be overwritten.

can't you add the lines to a user.js file and have them written to prefs.js at startup? that works in k-meleon...

Jeremy Howard · 22nd January 2002, 02:08 PM

Good one Markus! That worked perfectly.

mvpittman · 23rd January 2002, 09:14 AM

I'm using Netscape 6.21 on Windows XP, and I'd like to resolve the IMAP subfolder issue.

However, I can't seem to find a prefs.js with the proper lines to edit.

Help?

- Marland

pobelly · 23rd January 2002, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mvpittman
However, I can't seem to find a prefs.js with the proper lines to edit.

the prefs.js file should be in the directory with profile information... it may not contain those lines yet, because any pref not set to a value other than default doesn't show up (at least that's true of k-meleon... i'm assuming netscape, too).

if that helps any...

Jeremy Howard · 23rd January 2002, 11:46 AM

You'll find it normally in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\XXXXX\prefs.js (where 'XXXXX' is some funny bunch of characters unique to you).

mvpittman · 23rd January 2002, 12:06 PM

I found it... had to search for "hidden files" silly me.

Okay, so I got it to work, but I have the same problem I had in other clients... I get folders both as subfolders of inbox and at the same level as inbox...

Jeremy Howard · 23rd January 2002, 01:43 PM

Works correctly for me. Mozilla 0.9.7. I'm not installing NS6.21 to check because it will fill my PC up with stuff I don't want!

Anyone get it working OK under NS?

PS: Marland, presumably otherwise you can just click the little '-' next to inbox to close up that bit of the tree and not worry about it?

20th January 2002, 04:43 PM	#1
ckjnigel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 134	MozillaMail IMAP Inbox SubFolders I use the latest downloaded Mozilla nightly builds on WinMe. That mail client cannot use the semi-IMAP Netscape server. With other (e.g., Infinite) IMAP servers, I've been able to have Sent, Drafts, Junk, etc. coming directly off the server name. Fastmail demands I create them as sub-folders of Inbox; it is easy to alter where things get placed via Mail & Newsgroup Preferences. All works splendidly, but I thought this subfolder setup strange enough to post a query in the Mozilla mail-news newsgroup. No replies there, so I'm asking here. BTW, IMAP MozMail rocks! Rgds, Nigel L

22nd January 2002, 10:01 AM	#8
Markus Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 33	It is important that NO Netscape process is running when editing the "prefs.js" file, otherwise your changes will be overwritten. I don't recall for sure, but I might have also changed the server_sub_directory parameter (hm, would somehow make sense, sorry I missed that before... My config looks like Code: user_pref("mail.server.server8.namespace.other_users", "\"user.\""); user_pref("mail.server.server8.namespace.personal", "\"INBOX.\""); user_pref("mail.server.server8.namespace.public", "\"\""); user_pref("mail.server.server8.server_sub_directory", "INBOX."); Notice the difference in the last line. Last edited by Markus : 22nd January 2002 at 10:06 AM.

23rd January 2002, 09:14 AM	#11
mvpittman Essential Contributor Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 428	No prefs.js I'm using Netscape 6.21 on Windows XP, and I'd like to resolve the IMAP subfolder issue. However, I can't seem to find a prefs.js with the proper lines to edit. Help? - Marland

23rd January 2002, 12:06 PM	#14
mvpittman Essential Contributor Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 428	Found it! I found it... had to search for "hidden files" silly me. Okay, so I got it to work, but I have the same problem I had in other clients... I get folders both as subfolders of inbox and at the same level as inbox...

21st January 2002, 05:02 AM	#2
bshemmeld Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 19	Where do you download the latest Mozilla nightly builds??? I used it for a little while, but the lack of a system tray notification for new emails was getting on my nerves. Do they have that feature yet?

21st January 2002, 05:23 AM	#3
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,450	The 'subfolder of inbox' issue is the result of the fact that our mail server support public folders as well as user folders, so it has to separate the two somehow. Seach the forum for "Cyrus" for more details. IMAP clients should let you set a "Root folder path" so that you don't see folders as subfolders of Inbox. MS Outlook Express does this, for instance. I'm surprised that no one on the NG answered your question. The lack of committed IMAP support from the Mozilla team is rather frustrating at times. They should know about the Cyrus server, and this issue. In particular, please check the Mozilla release notes and search for 'Cyrus' to see a workaround for an existing Mozilla bug in saving to Sent Items and Drafts. (Or search this forum for 'Mozilla').

21st January 2002, 06:59 AM	#4
ckjnigel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 134	Jeremy, tnx your quick response. I suspect the necessaries are in "Advanced IMAP Server Settings". I had not touched them and these are the settings that I saw upon investigation. IMAP server directory: ckjnigel/ ; (unchecked) Show only subscribed folders ; (checked) Server supports folders that contain sub-folders and messages ; "These preferences specify the namespaces on your IMAP server" : Personal namespace: "INBOX." ; Public (shared): ' " ' ; Other Users: "user." ; (checked) Allow server to override these namespaces I have hunches about changes, but so as to make this public info I'll delay permutating mischief in hopes of more guidance from you. To bshemmeld: US server is ftp.mozilla.org, in Oz: mozilla.mirror.pacific.net.au and you'l find it (for umpteen op systems) in pub/mozilla/nightly/latest. I download the stub installer (209kb for Win) which, when run, downloads and installs the (today) 9631kb of components. If you don't like, it uninstalls clean as a whistle. Rgds, Nigel L

21st January 2002, 07:14 AM	#5
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,450	Yes I think it's the advanced settings to. But when I enter the namespace "INBOX" or "INBOX.", Moz changes it 'for me' for "INBOX./", which is pretty unhelpful because our delimiter is '.' and not '/' . It appears that the people working on the IMAP support all use UW IMAP rather than Cyrus or Courier IMAP, because these UW specific assumptions have been omnipresent in Moz for as long as I can remember.

21st January 2002, 11:42 AM	#6
Markus Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 33	I'm using Netscape (6.2), so I don't know whether this also applies to Mozilla, but the following works just fine for me: The problem is that Netscape automatically adds an ending "/" to the "IMAP server directory" in the "Advanced" form of your server entry. Jeremy already pointed this out. You can avoid that by directly editing the "prefs.js" file in your Netscape profile directory. First close all running instances of Netscape. Load the "prefs.js" file in your favorite editor and search for the line user_pref("mail.server.serverX.namespace.personal", "INBOX/"); where "X" is some number depending on how many mail srvers you've configured. Now remove the ending "/" by replacing this line with the following one: user_pref("mail.server.serverX.namespace.personal", "\"INBOX.\""); Don't forget to use the correct server number instead of the "X". Start Netscape again and you'll see that it now shows "INBOX." in the "IMAP server directory field". Make sure that you "Allow the server to override these namespaces" - and you should be all set. Works fine for me, and the folders no longer appear as subfolders of the inbox.

22nd January 2002, 02:08 PM	#10
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,450	Good one Markus! That worked perfectly.

23rd January 2002, 11:46 AM	#13
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,450	You'll find it normally in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\XXXXX\prefs.js (where 'XXXXX' is some funny bunch of characters unique to you).

23rd January 2002, 01:43 PM	#15
Jeremy Howard Ultimate Contributor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 11,450	Works correctly for me. Mozilla 0.9.7. I'm not installing NS6.21 to check because it will fill my PC up with stuff I don't want! Anyone get it working OK under NS? PS: Marland, presumably otherwise you can just click the little '-' next to inbox to close up that bit of the tree and not worry about it?