how to transfer mail files

[offthewall]

hello, i am trying to empty my 17" powerbook g4 to sell it. I have everything off it, i just don't know how to get all my saved emails and stored email files transfered to my mac mini. once again thank-you for any ideas or help.

Patrick

[Dan Millar]

It depends...

You could "migrate" your files to a new account on the mini using the Migration Assistant (in your Applications/Utilities folder on the mini), or if thats not convenient, you can copy the mail files to your new mini and import them - the method depends which version of OS X and Mail is on your PowerBook.

If migration's not an option, then tell us which versions you're using on your PowerBook and we'll let you know the best method for merging into an existing account.

Happy Mac'ing

Dan

[offthewall]

sorry about that, the powerbook is on panther and the mini on leopard

[Dan Millar]

Panther Mail (v1.3 - right?) does not have an explicit export command. Instead, you have two options. The first method is to;

   a) select all the messages in the message browser that you wish to transfer; then,
   b) select "Save as..." from the File menu; then,
   c) in the file save dialog, choose "Raw Message Source" as the file type; and, finally,
   d) name the file after the mailbox it came from, i.e. incoming, sent, etc..

Transfer these files to your new Mac - a USB stick would do the job well - and open the Mail program on your new Mac.

From the File menu, select "Import Mailboxes...", choose "mbox" format and navigate to and select one of the files you exported.

A new folder will appear in the mailbox pane on the left called "Imported...".

Choose it from the list, then select and drag the messages that appear in the browser to the correct mailbox in the mailbox pane, i.e., if you imported your "Sent" file, drag the messages on top of the appropriate "Sent" folder in the mailbox pane and release them - they will be added to that folder's contents.

Rinse and repeat for all files you exported.

Let me know if you have any problems...

Happy Mac'ing!

Dan