Sort Folder by size is broken

milgram · 21 Jan 2019, 04:41 AM

When I sort a mail folder by size, it used to show me the conversations in order of size. Now it puts the threads into some sort of random order.

n5bb · 21 Jan 2019, 11:50 PM

Are you using PC browser, iOS or Android FM app, or some other user interface? On iOS app the sort appears correct to me. It sorts by either largest message in conversation or total size in conversation (not sure which yet). Of course, it also applies your pinning and read/unread choices.

Bill

milgram · 22 Jan 2019, 03:11 AM

I am using Firefox 64.0.2 in Fedora Linux, and Firefox on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.

n5bb · 22 Jan 2019, 11:30 AM

After examining the sorting of several folders, I think I see what is bothering you. Here is what I believe is happening with a conversation style display (where individual messages in various folders are shown as one entry in the conversation list):

When you choose to sort by size, the conversations are sorted by the largest message in each conversation. So if 5 messages where in a conversation and the size of each of those messages was between 9 MB and 11 MB, that conversation would be sorted as if it was a single message with size 11 MB.
The size column at the right in the conversation listing shows the combined size of all messages in that conversation. So in the example above, if the sum of the sizes of the 5 messages was 50 MB you would see 50 MB shown as the conversation size.

Bill

milgram · 22 Jan 2019, 08:45 PM

That is possible. Taking a look at a folder, I see that messages that are not part of conversations are sorted as expected.

The column that shows the size of the messages does not descend monotonically. It jumps all over the place with threaded conversations.

I think that the sort by size used sort by the combined size of the conversation, and not by one of the messages in the conversation.

But, wait, there is more confusion (possibly on my side). The messages in the conversation could be in different folders - such as some in Inbox, and some in Sent.

21 Jan 2019, 04:41 AM	#1
milgram Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 138	Sort Folder by size is broken When I sort a mail folder by size, it used to show me the conversations in order of size. Now it puts the threads into some sort of random order.

22 Jan 2019, 11:30 AM	#4
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 8,926	Sort by size sorts on largest message in each conversation, not conversation size After examining the sorting of several folders, I think I see what is bothering you. Here is what I believe is happening with a conversation style display (where individual messages in various folders are shown as one entry in the conversation list): When you choose to sort by size, the conversations are sorted by the largest message in each conversation. So if 5 messages where in a conversation and the size of each of those messages was between 9 MB and 11 MB, that conversation would be sorted as if it was a single message with size 11 MB. The size column at the right in the conversation listing shows the combined size of all messages in that conversation. So in the example above, if the sum of the sizes of the 5 messages was 50 MB you would see 50 MB shown as the conversation size. Bill

21 Jan 2019, 11:50 PM	#2
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 8,926	Are you using PC browser, iOS or Android FM app, or some other user interface? On iOS app the sort appears correct to me. It sorts by either largest message in conversation or total size in conversation (not sure which yet). Of course, it also applies your pinning and read/unread choices. Bill

22 Jan 2019, 03:11 AM	#3
milgram Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 138	I am using Firefox 64.0.2 in Fedora Linux, and Firefox on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.

22 Jan 2019, 08:45 PM	#5
milgram Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 138	That is possible. Taking a look at a folder, I see that messages that are not part of conversations are sorted as expected. The column that shows the size of the messages does not descend monotonically. It jumps all over the place with threaded conversations. I think that the sort by size used sort by the combined size of the conversation, and not by one of the messages in the conversation. But, wait, there is more confusion (possibly on my side). The messages in the conversation could be in different folders - such as some in Inbox, and some in Sent.