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Thunderbird / Netscape Considerations

Thunderbird, Netscape, and Mozilla email messages are stored inside a folder file commonly known as an MBOX file. Each folder file contains all the messages for that given folder. The folder file doesn’t contain a file extension, but an associated index file will contain a file extension. This index file has the same name as the folder file. For example, if you have a message folder file called Inbox there will be an index file named Inbox.snm. Thunderbird, Netscape and Mozilla contain the same email file structure.

Older email clients contain index files with the .SNM file extension. Newer email clients have index files with the .MSF file extension.

Subdirectories or subfolders are identified by the .SBD extension. Subfolders are treated differently than the message folders mentioned above. For example, if you have a message folder named Inbox and its associated inbox.snm file (or alternate extension), and the inbox contains subfolders, the subfolder will be a file directory on the workstation. Inside the subfolder will be more mbox and index files. If subfolders are not migrating correctly, verify that the .SBD folder extension exists, or create one manually.

Email data is normally stored on the local workstation. In older client software the source email is found inside or under the profile folder. Newer email clients support Microsoft’s profile settings hierarchy and the mail files will be stored under the subsequent profile location. The mail folder can be located by viewing preferences and/or account settings within the email client.

Thunderbird, Netscape and Mozilla address book files normally have the .MAB file extension. These files are stored inside the mail directory. The default address book file is named abook.mab, although there may be others.