University Computer Help Desk

How to save a copy of an email folder from RedbirdMail

RedbirdMail allows you to save copies of your email folders.

Before You Begin

RedbirdMail allows you to save copies of your email folders so you have access to them outside of RedbirdMail. This is similar to save a copy of individual email messages, except that when you save a copy of an email folder, it includes all the messages within the folder.

It is normally not necessary to download copies of your email folders. These instructions are provided for cases when you need to save permanent copies of your folders and messages.

Save an Email Folder

To save a copy of an email folder (and the messages contained within that folder), do the following:

  1. Do one of the following:
  2. Your Inbox opens and displays a list of your email messages.
  3. Click Folders.
  4. Put a check mark next to the folder you want to save.
  5. Click the drop-down menu labeled Choose Action.
  6. Select Download from the menu.
  7. A message appears, which says, All messages in the following folder(s) will be downloaded into one MBOX file. This may take some time. Are you sure you want to continue? Click OK.
  8. If you are prompted to open or save the file, choose to save it.

The folder you downloaded is saved as an .MBOX file.

Open .MBOX File

Normally, .MBOX files are not associated with any application on your computer. In other words, when you double-click on an .MBOX file, it does not open properly. You may receive an error message, or you may find that nothing happens.

You can use a text editor like Wordpad in Windows or TextEdit in Mac OS X to view the contents of an .MBOX file. This will allow you to view all email messages contained in the folder you downloaded. However, the messages will be displayed as one long file, as opposed to individual email messages (which is how they are organized in RedbirdMail).

Open .MBOX File with Wordpad in Windows

To use Wordpad in Windows to open the .MBOX file, do the following:

  1. Click the Start button.
  2. Type wordpad in the Search box and press Enter. This opens Wordpad.
  3. Click the Wordpad button (located to the left of the Home tab). Then click Open.
  4. Click the drop-down menu where you see All Wordpad Documents (*.rtf) and choose All Documents (*.*).
  5. Browse to the location of the .MBOX file you want to open.
  6. Double-click the .MBOX file you want to view.

The email folder contents are displayed. Each email message in the folder is displayed sequentially. Message headers are displayed at the top of each message, and the message contents are displayed at the bottom.

The message headers contain information about the route the email message took from the sender to the recipient. Normally, message headers are hidden from view, but in Wordpad, the entire contents of the message, including message headers, are displayed.

Open .MBOX File in TextEdit in Mac OS X

To use TextEdit in Mac OS X to open the .MBOX file, do the following:

  1. Double-click Macintosh HD > Applications > TextEdit.
  2. Click File > Open....
  3. Browse to the location of the .MBOX file you want to open.
  4. Double-click the .MBOX file you want to view.

The email folder contents are displayed. Each email message in the folder is displayed sequentially. Message headers are displayed at the top of each message, and the message contents are displayed at the bottom.

The message headers contain information about the route the email message took from the sender to the recipient. Normally, message headers are hidden from view, but in TextEdit, the entire contents of the message, including message headers, are displayed.