How to read .dbx files?

Post by E.
Hi
How to convert .dbx (Outlook Express) mail/newsgroup
files to a format for Thunderbird without Windows?
I browsed the Google and I found a few posts about it
but I was not able to use them.
I am still a newbie at Linux Mint.
Could you let me know any easy solution, please?

I take it that you have tried Thunderbirds Import filter?

Under Tools.

2015-11-18 10:15:23 UTC

I take it that you have tried Thunderbirds Import filter?
Under Tools.

I did but without success.
After clicking on Tools, then Import, I was not able to indicate
a .dbx file that I wanted to Import.

After choosing "all data" and Next, I got a window with text
" import ... from: ". I was not able to drag a .dbx file to the
window. Besides, nothing happened when I clicked on Forward.

After choosing "mail news" and Next, I got a window with text
"Select program or format of file ..." but I was not able to drag
a .dbx file to the window. Besides, Next was not active.

(I have Polish version of the system and Thunderbird client
so the above is my translation.)

Regards
E.

Paul

2015-11-18 06:28:33 UTC

Someone suggests "undbx" as a way to convert Outlook Express files,
without being able to do a "live" transfer with Outlook Express
already running.

http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/outlook-express.html

http://skylineservers.dl.sourceforge.net/project/undbx/undbx-0.21.tar.gz

gzip -c -d undbx-0.21.tar.gz | tar xvf -
cd undbx-0.21
./configure
make
./undbx --help

*******

And if you really have a sense of humor, you'll like this.
They run the WinXP_Mode download from Microsoft, under VirtualBox.
When run that way, it isn't activated, but works for 30 days.
Perhaps you can transfer the DBX files into there, and use the
COM link between Outlook Express and Thunderbird while running
virtualized WinXP. I'm assuming the .dbx files are originally
from WinXP.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/12183/how-to-run-xp-mode-in-virtualbox-on-windows-7/

If you have a WinXP installer CD, you can also just install
WinXP under VirtualBox.

And the Cadillac of solutions, is to get *free* VM images
from this site. "IE6 on WinXP" is still available, and
there could be Outlook Express in there. Same deal, when
run it lasts for 30 days, before you need to rearm it
or something. You ought to be able to do the conversion
to a Thunderbird profile in less than 30 days.

https://dev.windows.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/windows/

Sounds like fun.

HTH,
Paul

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 16:24:41 UTC

Post by E.
How to convert .dbx (Outlook Express) mail/newsgroup
files to a format for Thunderbird without Windows?

.dbx is a proprietary MS format; it consists of concatenated .eml files
compressed by MS's proprietary compression scheme.

Tb stores are concatenated .mbox files. .mbox is a family of mutually
incompatible file formats of which Tb's is a modified version of the
mboxrd variant.

Neither scheme is optimal for consistency across platforms and clients.
Many people have considered using some other agent and storage
function for 'the long run' of crossing between such as various webmails
or MS or linux agents over years of email storage.

For your specific issue, I would choose one of Paul's answers and use
undbx. undbx will 'render' the .dbx into individual .eml files and then
you can successfully use an importexport tool to import the .eml/s.

undbx used to be housed at google code. Now it is at sourceforge.
Paul's link for the .gz archive redirects to

The Import/Export tool is developed by a well-known Tb add-on developer
Kaosmos.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/importexporttools/
Adds some tools to import and export folders and messages

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Importing_and_exporting_your_mail#Mbox_files
four main versions of the mbox format.

http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com/2011/07/outlook-express.html
Thunderbird can only import mail from Outlook Express if the two
programs are on the same computer.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/undbx/files/?source=navbar Looking for
the latest version? Download undbx-0.21.tar.gz (154.4 kB)

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 16:55:56 UTC

Post by Mike Easter
undbx used to be housed at google code. Now it is at sourceforge.
Paul's link for the .gz archive redirects to
http://sourceforge.net/projects/undbx/files/?source=navbar Looking
for the latest version? Download undbx-0.21.tar.gz (154.4 kB)

Actually my sourceforge.net page link for the tar.gz ultimately
redirects to Paul's skylineservers.dl.sourceforge.net or some other
sourceforge mirror.

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 16:33:58 UTC

Post by E.
How to convert .dbx (Outlook Express) mail/newsgroup
files to a format for Thunderbird without Windows?

You didn't say if the .dbx/OE was on a live XP system or not.

If the XP is still alive, another (and easier) strategy is to install Tb
on the XP and import XP OE's stores into XP Tb directly.

The XP Tb profile is completely compatible with linux.

--
Mike Easter

2015-11-18 16:44:08 UTC

Post by E.
How to convert .dbx (Outlook Express) mail/newsgroup
files to a format for Thunderbird without Windows?

You didn't say if the .dbx/OE was on a live XP system or not.

It is still on live XP. At least for the time being.

Post by Mike Easter
If the XP is still alive, another (and easier) strategy is to install Tb
on the XP and import XP OE's stores into XP Tb directly.
The XP Tb profile is completely compatible with linux.

I think it could solve my problem but, as I said, I am a newbie
at Linux Mint, as well as, at Tb. So I would need an instruction
step by step how to do it. If you know where such instruction is
in the Internet, please give me the address. Otherwise I'll have
to look for any in the net.

Thanks and regards
E.

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 17:25:25 UTC

Post by E.
I would need an instruction
step by step how to do it.

With the XP machine, dl Tb https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/

That page provides a download differently depending on the OS, so if you
are seeing a linux .bz2 download, use this page which has various
languages and OSes, including Polski/Polish

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/all/

Install the Tb to the XP. When Tb starts for the first time it offers
to import and you can choose OE; else use the Tools/Import described
earlier.

http://support.real-time.com/tbird/oe_import.html Thunderbird -
Importing Outlook Express Emails and Addressbooks

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_from_Outlook_Express two simple ways
to migrate from Outlook Express to Thunderbird:

Those import methods actually work when the two clients are installed on
the same OS.

Then the XP will have a Tb profile containing the OE stores chosen.

The profile folder is described in detail here, including how to find it
in both XP and the linux/mint
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird

This article tells how to move or migrate your profile
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_your_profile_folder

That article includes and emphasizes the profile manager which is a
windows tool, but this article talks about moving from windows to linux

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Moving_from_Windows_to_Linux#Moving_your_profile_data
This article is written for users who are moving from Windows to
Linux and want to continue to use Mozilla applications. It can be used
with any Linux distribution or window manager, but is somewhat
Ubuntu-centric due to that distribution's popularity. ... Moving your
profile data

Ub-centricity is OK for a Mint user.

--
Mike Easter

2015-11-18 18:28:37 UTC

Post by E.
I would need an instruction
step by step how to do it.

With the XP machine, dl Tb https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/
[...]

Thank you very much. I'll try to do everything according to the links you
gave.

As for Paul's idea to use Virtual Machine, I already thought about it.
I have even installed the Wine but I have not configured it yet.
I think it'll be my next task.
Paul, thank you very much for your suggestions.

Regards
E.

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 20:08:34 UTC

Post by E.
As for Paul's idea to use Virtual Machine, I already thought about it.
I have even installed the Wine but I have not configured it yet.

Wine won't do very well trying to run OE.

I sense that you might be running Mint as a dual boot on an XP machine,
since you still have XP running and you are also running Mint. The dual
boot with XP is a common transition approach for those new to linux.

If that is the case, then the resources for running XP as a virtual
machine would be that of an XP-era resourced machine trying to run two
operating systems, the Mint and the XP VM. That is less 'efficient'
than running one OS 'at a time' which old XP already has OE installed
and would only need to either install Tb as well or alternatively use XP
to run Tb portable, which hasn't been mentioned yet.

There are several 'interesting' and worthwhile linux projects mentioned
in this thread, undbx, VMs, and Wine.

To me, the 'problem' or primary target is to have a Tb profile in Mint
with access to the old/previous OE mail (not newsgroups, which are
different) and perhaps/likely the XP .wab as well; Windows addressbook
contacts into Tb contacts/ addressbook/ which is a .mab file.

Tb in its default mode handles news message reading differently than OE
does.

OE downloads the news messages into a store, similar to popmail. Tb
does not; Tb accesses a news message to be read with its cache and does
not store the news message.

Tb keeps its .mab addressbook contacts in its profile whereas Windows XP
OE uses the Windows .wab which is not stored in the same OE stores location.

The fact that your initial question was about handling .dbx files
apparently 'individually' or independently suggests that you may have
created some kind of backup of the OE .dbx files. There is a problem
with dealing with such a backup if it is 'incomplete' such as missing
the essential folders.dbx file. An excellent resource for OE backup
understanding can be found at Tom Koch's insideoe site.

http://www.insideoe.com/backup/ Do-It-Yourself Backups -- "it is
strongly recommended that you read about the basic structure of OE files
and registry settings and the OE Address Book."

When the Tb startup import wizard goes into operation on a system
running OE & a new Tb install (or Tools/Import), all of those problems
mentioned above are 'aimed at' a simple import solution by the Tb
developers. However, for various reasons discussed in the import
article referenced earlier, that import doesn't always work perfectly.
When it does, it is all very easy.

--
Mike Easter

Marek Novotny

2015-11-18 20:27:07 UTC

Post by E.
As for Paul's idea to use Virtual Machine, I already thought about it.
I have even installed the Wine but I have not configured it yet.

Wine won't do very well trying to run OE.
I sense that you might be running Mint as a dual boot on an XP machine,
since you still have XP running and you are also running Mint. The dual
boot with XP is a common transition approach for those new to linux.
If that is the case, then the resources for running XP as a virtual
machine would be that of an XP-era resourced machine trying to run two
operating systems, the Mint and the XP VM. That is less 'efficient'
than running one OS 'at a time' which old XP already has OE installed
and would only need to either install Tb as well or alternatively use XP
to run Tb portable, which hasn't been mentioned yet.
There are several 'interesting' and worthwhile linux projects mentioned
in this thread, undbx, VMs, and Wine.
To me, the 'problem' or primary target is to have a Tb profile in Mint
with access to the old/previous OE mail (not newsgroups, which are
different) and perhaps/likely the XP .wab as well; Windows addressbook
contacts into Tb contacts/ addressbook/ which is a .mab file.
Tb in its default mode handles news message reading differently than OE
does.
OE downloads the news messages into a store, similar to popmail. Tb
does not; Tb accesses a news message to be read with its cache and does
not store the news message.
Tb keeps its .mab addressbook contacts in its profile whereas Windows XP
OE uses the Windows .wab which is not stored in the same OE stores location.
The fact that your initial question was about handling .dbx files
apparently 'individually' or independently suggests that you may have
created some kind of backup of the OE .dbx files. There is a problem
with dealing with such a backup if it is 'incomplete' such as missing
the essential folders.dbx file. An excellent resource for OE backup
understanding can be found at Tom Koch's insideoe site.
http://www.insideoe.com/backup/ Do-It-Yourself Backups -- "it is
strongly recommended that you read about the basic structure of OE files
and registry settings and the OE Address Book."
When the Tb startup import wizard goes into operation on a system
running OE & a new Tb install (or Tools/Import), all of those problems
mentioned above are 'aimed at' a simple import solution by the Tb
developers. However, for various reasons discussed in the import
article referenced earlier, that import doesn't always work perfectly.
When it does, it is all very easy.

Sorry I have not read the thread so if this has been said my apologies.

What I have pretty much always done in the past if switching my own
email from one app to other or to a different provider is this.

Start by getting rid of all non-essential email. Ship notifications,
ticket receipts for movies you already saw, et al. just clean house and
throw away most of the email which is likely no longer needed. Get it
down to the bare minimum.

Next, in whatever app it is sign that app into some other email server
like gmail or whatever. Push the email up to gmail or whatever so that
it is now on their server.

Go to your new email app on whatever OS it is on and connect that app to
gamil or whatever, and download all of it to a local folder in the app,
like thunderbird.

Delete the email on gmail or whatever.

Send Marek lots of cash...

--
Marek Novotny
https://github.com/marek-novotny

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 21:11:29 UTC

Post by Marek Novotny
Start by getting rid of all non-essential email. Ship notifications,
ticket receipts for movies you already saw, et al. just clean house and
throw away most of the email which is likely no longer needed. Get it
down to the bare minimum.

Yes. Like getting ready for backup.

Post by Marek Novotny
Next, in whatever app it is sign that app into some other email server
like gmail or whatever. Push the email up to gmail or whatever so that
it is now on their server.

Depending on the initial condition of XP's OE's stores, that might
require a pop3 > imap transition strategy. There are webpages giving
instructions for that. After creation of the new IMAP account in OE,
the old pop3 folders (.dbx files) appear as local folders which can be
moved into the IMAP account folders.

Post by Marek Novotny
Go to your new email app on whatever OS it is on and connect that app to
gamil or whatever, and download all of it to a local folder in the app,
like thunderbird.
Delete the email on gmail or whatever.

Gmail has a fairly robust IMAP implementation and a large 15G free mailbox.

--
Mike Easter

2015-11-18 22:12:16 UTC

Post by E.
As for Paul's idea to use Virtual Machine, I already thought about it.
I have even installed the Wine but I have not configured it yet.

I have Win XP Pro on a very old desktop. The Linux Mint is on my laptop
that is not a new one but much younger than the desktop.
I used to use the Vista business on the laptop but I was not satisfied.
At the moment, if I would like to use any Windows on tha laptop, I could
buy the Windows 10 only. Somehow I am not convinced that it is what
I want. That is why I installed the Mint on the laptop.
I thought about installing Virtual Machine under Mint because there were
Windows programs that were not available for Linux. However I am not
going to run Outlook Express on the laptop using Wine.

By the way. I have a router connected to the desktop to be able to connect
to the Internet. The laptop connects to the Internet using Wi-Fi.
It would be very convenient if some files on the desktop could be accessed
from laptop and vice versa. I do not know how to do it. It was very easy
whilst Windows systems were on both computers.

Regards
E.

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 23:41:57 UTC

Post by E.
I have Win XP Pro on a very old desktop.

My oldest XP still alive is bios dated 2006, 2G ram. 2200 MHz AMD cpu.

Post by E.
The Linux Mint is on my laptop that is not a new one but much younger
than the desktop. I used to use the Vista business on the laptop but
I was not satisfied.

I also have an old slow Vista laptop which runs much much better with
various linux. It is also 2G ram and slow cpu.

Post by E.
At the moment, if I would like to use any Windows on tha laptop, I
could buy the Windows 10 only. Somehow I am not convinced that it is
what I want. That is why I installed the Mint on the laptop.

That is a fine idea.

Post by E.
I thought about installing Virtual Machine under Mint because there
were Windows programs that were not available for Linux. However I am
not going to run Outlook Express on the laptop using Wine.

I understand.

Post by E.
By the way. I have a router connected to the desktop to be able to
connect to the Internet. The laptop connects to the Internet using
Wi-Fi.

What you said above could be accomplished more than one way. On my
system, the 'central' system is a router with wifi and 4 ethernet ports.
The wifi my LT connects and gets its IP is the same LAN as the
ethernets. Unless you explain otherwise, I will assume that your LT's
wifi IP comes from the same router as your DT's ethernet. So, they are
on the same network as opposed to your LT getting its IP from some other
network.

Post by E.
It would be very convenient if some files on the desktop could be
accessed from laptop and vice versa. I do not know how to do it. It
was very easy whilst Windows systems were on both computers.

Ah, so; then they are on the same network. Typically Windows networks
as a workgroup named something like workgroup. When you look in windows
explorer you see My Network Place/ Entire network/ Microsoft Windows
Network/ Workgroup/ and then the individual computers.

You can accomplish what you want with your Mint. Could you be more
specific and name your Mint's DE desktop environment (Cinnamon,KDE,
MATE, XFCE) and version. I assume it is 17.1 or 17.2, but knowing
the/your DE would help to navigate your networking.

--
Mike Easter

2015-11-19 02:00:53 UTC

Post by E.
I have Win XP Pro on a very old desktop.

My oldest XP still alive is bios dated 2006, 2G ram. 2200 MHz AMD cpu.

Mine is dated 02/23/2004, 2 GB ram, 2800 MHz Pentium 4 cpu.

Post by E.
The Linux Mint is on my laptop that is not a new one but much younger
than the desktop. I used to use the Vista business on the laptop but
I was not satisfied.

I also have an old slow Vista laptop which runs much much better with
various linux. It is also 2G ram and slow cpu.

My Vista does not run anymore.

Post by Mike Easter
Ah, so; then they are on the same network.

Yep, at home. When I go out with my laptop, I can connect it to the Internet
via BT using my smartfon .

Post by Mike Easter
You can accomplish what you want with your Mint. Could you be more
specific and name your Mint's DE desktop environment (Cinnamon,KDE, MATE,
XFCE) and version. I assume it is 17.1 or 17.2, but knowing the/your DE
would help to navigate your networking.

My laptop's Mint is: Mint 17.2 'Rafaela' Cinnamon 32-bit.

Thanks and regards
E.

Mike Easter

2015-11-19 02:52:32 UTC

"Mike Easter"

Post by Mike Easter
You can accomplish what you want with your Mint. Could you be more
specific and name your Mint's DE desktop environment
(Cinnamon,KDE, MATE, XFCE) and version. I assume it is 17.1 or
17.2, but knowing the/your DE would help to navigate your
networking.

My laptop's Mint is: Mint 17.2 'Rafaela' Cinnamon 32-bit.

I've booted up a live Mint 17.1 Cinnamon 64. In its default mode it can
access my Windows workgroup.

Its Start button is named Menu. The L panel of the Cinnamon menu has 8
icons; the 5th one from the top is a folder icon, when the cursor is
hovered over it announces Files - access and organize files - and when
clicked it brings up the Nemo window manager, like Windows explorer.

The L pane of Nemo shows 3 groups, My Computer, Devices, and Network
which are controlled by triangles which can show the items in each
group. When network is selected it shows the names of other computers
on my LAN and an item named Windows Network. When Windows Network is
opened by doubleclick or R click context menu Open, there's Workgroup
which when opened Nemo's title bar says Windows shares on workgroup.

Or, more succinctly: Menu/ Network/ Windows Network/ Workgroup/ (name of
such as your DT's XP computer with shares) - then access your Desktop's
XP files.

--
Mike Easter

2015-11-19 15:23:20 UTC

"Mike Easter"

I've booted up a live Mint 17.1 Cinnamon 64. In its default mode it can
access my Windows workgroup.
[...]

It also works in my network. :-)
Thank you very, very much.

Regards
E.

Johnny

2015-11-18 17:40:49 UTC

On Wed, 18 Nov 2015 04:52:51 +0100

First of all, I don't use Thunderbird.

From what I have read, you have to install Thunderbird on the Windows
computer with Outlook Express, and import the files into Thunderbird,
backup your profile to a CD, or I guess you could use a USB flash
drive, and then use Thunderbird on the Linux computer to import the
Profile..

Here are some links that might help.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/271677/how-to-import-outlook-express-mails-into-thunderbird-mail-client

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_from_Outlook_Express

http://kb.mozillazine.org/MozBackup

I don't think this link applies, but there is some useful information,
and it recommends using an older version of Thunderbird, 17.09, and
tells you how to backup your profile and move it to another computer.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_.pst_files

Mike Easter

2015-11-18 17:49:16 UTC

Post by Johnny
I don't think this link applies, but there is some useful information,
and it recommends using an older version of Thunderbird, 17.09, and
tells you how to backup your profile and move it to another computer.
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Import_.pst_files

That link doesn't apply, as it is all about OL not OE; where OL is
Outlook the MAPI client for MS Office messaging and a very distinctly
different client from OE Outlook Express the non-mapi mail and news
client which doesn't do .pst files.

OL to Tb is a different problem than OE to Tb.

--
Mike Easter

greybeard

2015-11-18 22:03:59 UTC

Recent convert to linux and I had the same problem.
Tried several versions and methods of TB import all
of which failed dismally.
In the end I used this;

http://download.cnet.com/DbxConv/3000-2369_4-75185067.html

Download onto MS machine ( mine is XP ), install, read instructions
carefully. I made a backup copy of the OE database beforehand, and used
the backup copy as the source for conversion. I did it folder by folder
and where there were subfolders those came across as well.
You can convert to eml or mbox format.

It's old, clunky, command line stuff but it worked a treat.

cheers.

2015-11-19 13:25:17 UTC

Post by E.
How to convert .dbx (Outlook Express) mail/newsgroup
files to a format for Thunderbird without Windows?
I browsed the Google and I found a few posts about it
but I was not able to use them.
I am still a newbie at Linux Mint.
Could you let me know any easy solution, please?

Recent convert to linux and I had the same problem.
Tried several versions and methods of TB import all
of which failed dismally.
In the end I used this;
http://download.cnet.com/DbxConv/3000-2369_4-75185067.html
Download onto MS machine ( mine is XP ), install, read instructions
carefully. I made a backup copy of the OE database beforehand, and used
the backup copy as the source for conversion. I did it folder by folder
and where there were subfolders those came across as well.
You can convert to eml or mbox format.

Thank you very much.
I downloaded the dbxconv-66532670.exe from the above page and after
unpacking the dbxconv.zip I got the DbxConv.exe that I ran in cmd window
with -mbx option. I got the .mbx file. After copying it to the Mint on the
laptop, I was able to read the .mdx file by double clicking on its name.
What I need now is to be able to read files (news and mails) contained
in the .mbx in form of separate files, like in OE. I don't know how to do
it.

I tried this method because I thought that as I needed to read some .dbx
files only, not the whole OE, it would be easier to do it this way.

Regards
E.

Paul

2015-11-19 15:33:14 UTC

Post by E.

Recent convert to linux and I had the same problem.
Tried several versions and methods of TB import all
of which failed dismally.
In the end I used this;
http://download.cnet.com/DbxConv/3000-2369_4-75185067.html
Download onto MS machine ( mine is XP ), install, read instructions
carefully. I made a backup copy of the OE database beforehand, and used
the backup copy as the source for conversion. I did it folder by folder
and where there were subfolders those came across as well.
You can convert to eml or mbox format.

Thank you very much.
I downloaded the dbxconv-66532670.exe from the above page and after
unpacking the dbxconv.zip I got the DbxConv.exe that I ran in cmd window
with -mbx option. I got the .mbx file. After copying it to the Mint on the
laptop, I was able to read the .mdx file by double clicking on its name.
What I need now is to be able to read files (news and mails) contained
in the .mbx in form of separate files, like in OE. I don't know how to do
it.
I tried this method because I thought that as I needed to read some .dbx
files only, not the whole OE, it would be easier to do it this way.
Regards
E.

1) If you have WinXP still in running form, you should be using it.

2) Install Thunderbird on WinXP. If you do Import from Thunderbird,
it should import the mail boxes from Outlook Express.

https://www.howtoforge.com/importing_outlook_express_into_thunderbird_evolution

3) Now, move the profile folder, containing all the Thunderbird
files, from WinXP C: to Linux. Do a file search for profiles.ini
as a hint.

C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Application Data\Thunderbird
profiles.ini
Profiles
12ab34cd.default <--- format of profile folder

4) You can copy the profile folder into the existing profile
(overwrite). Or, you can use the Thunderbird Profile Manager to select
one of multiple profiles to run from.

Now, you should be able to see all the email.

This method is supposed to use some sort of COM linkage,
between Thunderbird and Outlook Express (in step (2)). Thunderbird is
supposed to ask for the messages, one at a time, from
Outlook Express.

Virtual machines would only be needed, if the original
OS was unavailable. As you still have a running
copy of WinXP, it's worthwhile doing the
conversion over there, and bringing the finished
product over to Linux.

I've moved my Thunderbird profile a number of times,
from OS to OS, when I'm temporarily stuck in an
OS while working on something. Works a treat.

HTH,
Paul

2015-11-19 18:43:49 UTC

Post by E.

Recent convert to linux and I had the same problem.
Tried several versions and methods of TB import all
of which failed dismally.
In the end I used this;
http://download.cnet.com/DbxConv/3000-2369_4-75185067.html
Download onto MS machine ( mine is XP ), install, read instructions
carefully. I made a backup copy of the OE database beforehand, and used
the backup copy as the source for conversion. I did it folder by folder
and where there were subfolders those came across as well.
You can convert to eml or mbox format.

I have just solved the problem. :-)
Let's say that the name of the .dbx file was abc.dbx. So the name of the
file after conversion was abc.mbx.
In the TB I created an empty local folder called abc. I clicked on it.
Then in the File System I opened the folder:
mailbox://home/my_user_name/.thunderbird/v1c7xt71.default/Mail/
Local Folders/abc
I found where the local folders are located by cliking with right mouse
button on the abc and choosing Properties.
To be able to open the above folder I ordered to list hidden files too.
I draged the abc.mbx file to the above folder.
I am able to read each file from the abc.

Now I can convert and put into TB all OE *.dbx files that I want to have
in TB.

I thank you all once again for your help.
I'll keep your news (as .dbx -> .mbx file) because they contain a lot of
important information.

Regards
E.

greybeard

2015-11-19 22:34:12 UTC

Post by E.

Recent convert to linux and I had the same problem.
Tried several versions and methods of TB import all
of which failed dismally.
In the end I used this;
http://download.cnet.com/DbxConv/3000-2369_4-75185067.html
Download onto MS machine ( mine is XP ), install, read instructions
carefully. I made a backup copy of the OE database beforehand, and used
the backup copy as the source for conversion. I did it folder by folder
and where there were subfolders those came across as well.
You can convert to eml or mbox format.

I have just solved the problem. :-)
Let's say that the name of the .dbx file was abc.dbx. So the name of the
file after conversion was abc.mbx.
In the TB I created an empty local folder called abc. I clicked on it.
mailbox://home/my_user_name/.thunderbird/v1c7xt71.default/Mail/
Local Folders/abc
I found where the local folders are located by cliking with right mouse
button on the abc and choosing Properties.
To be able to open the above folder I ordered to list hidden files too.
I draged the abc.mbx file to the above folder.
I am able to read each file from the abc.
Now I can convert and put into TB all OE *.dbx files that I want to have
in TB.
I thank you all once again for your help.
I'll keep your news (as .dbx -> .mbx file) because they contain a lot of
important information.
Regards
E.

Glad you've got it done. Basically the same as I did it.
I did a convert to .eml files which gave me each mail message
as a readable file (in notepad for example). Like you I created
folders in TB and copied all the .eml files into the folders. Job done.

cheers

Mike Easter

2015-11-19 00:04:25 UTC

Post by E.
I am still a newbie at Linux Mint.

Also, I have an opinion about how to use newsgroups like this one when
you are just getting to know linux.

IMO, it is 'good' to use Mint instead of XP's OE to converse on
newsgroups about linux related issues. The reasons for that are
several. It gets you some experience with adjusting to a similar but
different interface; linux mint + (in this case) Thunderbird vs XP + OE.

Also, you might be given some advice or instruction which is easier to
'see' or follow or carry out while you are in your linux environment
than when you are in your Win environment.

OE handles its configuration for accessing newsgroups somewhat
differently than Tb.

For your server news.neostrada.pl, I assume that your connection
security is none and that you connect over port 119 and that the server
requires authentication. In OE, the user/pass is configured in the
overall configuration, but in Tb the user/pass is not provided until you
connect to the server in the configuration of 'always request
authentication' which causes the password manager to alert for the user
and pass and offer to save them.

An example of an advantage of using Mint to access this newsgroup is
that Mint has the script inxi installed by default. Then, you can
access a terminal and input:

inxi

which will give a result which looks such as this one from an old
computer which doesn't have XP anymore:

$ inxi
CPU~Single core AMD Geode NX (-UP-) clocked at 1397.653 Mhz
Kernel~3.13.0-24-generic i686 Up~85 days Mem~1013.4/2015.9MB
HDD~120.0GB(10.8% used) Procs~143 Client~Shell inxi~1.8.4

--
Mike Easter

Gordon

2015-11-19 05:02:16 UTC

Post by E.
I am still a newbie at Linux Mint.

Mint is the distro. Thunderbird works on several platforms.

Linux is all the same, but different, just like your modern motor car.

Post by Mike Easter
OE handles its configuration for accessing newsgroups somewhat
differently than Tb.

True, but it is Thunderbird which is doing this, not Linux or Mint as such.

Post by Mike Easter
An example of an advantage of using Mint to access this newsgroup is
that Mint has the script inxi installed by default. Then, you can
inxi
which will give a result which looks such as this one from an old
$ inxi
CPU~Single core AMD Geode NX (-UP-) clocked at 1397.653 Mhz
Kernel~3.13.0-24-generic i686 Up~85 days Mem~1013.4/2015.9MB
HDD~120.0GB(10.8% used) Procs~143 Client~Shell inxi~1.8.4

Heck, when did we enter the twilight zone. Or rather we seem to have lost
the topic somewhat.

magmet

2015-11-19 06:14:07 UTC

Post by Mike Easter
.. .
$ inxi
CPU~Single core AMD Geode NX (-UP-) clocked at 1397.653 Mhz
Kernel~3.13.0-24-generic i686 Up~85 days Mem~1013.4/2015.9MB
HDD~120.0GB(10.8% used) Procs~143 Client~Shell inxi~1.8.4

Heck, when did we enter the twilight zone. Or rather we seem to have lost
the topic somewhat.

It's one of the hottest kernels out there, and was successfully tested
for the third time in the Nevada desert on October 20.

Mike Easter

2015-11-19 13:02:06 UTC

Post by E.
I am still a newbie at Linux Mint.

Mint is the distro. Thunderbird works on several platforms.

In this specific case, I believe the OP's experience is centered around
XP + OE, some Vista (which has Windows Mail, undiscussed), and
'introducing' Mint 17.2 Cinnamon + Thunderbird.

Post by Mike Easter
OE handles its configuration for accessing newsgroups somewhat
differently than Tb.

True, but it is Thunderbird which is doing this, not Linux or Mint as such.

The OP is transitioning on two fronts specifically; XP > Linux in the
form of Mint via Cinnamon; and OE > Tb. I was focusing on XP's OE as a
news agent vs linux/mint/cinnamon's Tb as a news agent. I believe that
he doesn't have a broader experience with linux than Mint 17.2's
Cinnamon and I was focusing on using its news agent - as Tb is both the
default and appears to be the one he has chosen for mail.

Post by Gordon
Heck, when did we enter the twilight zone. Or rather we seem to have lost
the topic somewhat.

I introduced the inxi subthread because earlier I thought it might be
needed to see the OP's hardware; but he has reported his cpu and ram
already.

--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter

2015-11-19 12:12:01 UTC