Using an IMAP Email Client to Save your GroupWise Messages

You can use an IMAP email client, such as Thunderbird for Windows or Macintosh, or Apple Mail for Macintosh, to save your GroupWise messages.  (Note that Thunderbird is free, and Apple Mail comes pre-installed with the Macintosh operating system.)

Follow the steps below to complete the process:

1. If you are a Windows user, install Thunderbird or an equivalent IMAP email program. Click here to download Thunderbird from the Mozilla website. 
   
   If you are a Mac user, you can use either Apple Mail or Thunderbird for this purpose.
   
   
2. Configure your IMAP client to connect to your GroupWise account and receive your GroupWise messages. Click here for instructions.
   
   
3. Permanently save your messages as independent entities by saving them “locally” in your new account. For instructions, click below.
   
   Thunderbird
   Apple Mail
   
   
4. When your Smith account goes away, you must de-activate your Smith account in your IMAP client so it will no longer try to connect. For instructions, click below.
   
   Thunderbird
   Apple Mail
   

Saving Your Smith Email to a Local Folder in Thunderbird

IMAP email clients maintain a “live” connection to your email account, but you must save the messages in a “local mailbox” to retain them. Here’s how:

1. Open Thunderbird.
   
   
2. In the folder list on the left, single-click on Local Folders to select it.
   
   
   
   
3. Open the File menu and click on New Folder.
   
   
   
   
4. Enter a name for you local folder (e.g., Smith email) and click OK.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Double-click on Local Folders, then single-click on your new folder to select it.
   
   
   
   
6. Optional: Click on File, New, Subfolder to create subfolders under your new folder.  In the example below, we created one called Old inbox.
   
   
   
   Note: If you currently have messages stored in folders in your Smith account, you don’t have to recreate them. You can drag whole folders from your Smith email into your local folders.
   
   
7. Drag messages or whole folders from your GroupWise cabinet to the local folder[s] you created. That’s it!
   
   NOTE: Dragging items from your Inbox (the “Mailbox” in GroupWise) into your local folder will delete them from your online account; this happens only with inbox messages. But don’t be alarmed: you will still be able to read and reply to those messages normally.

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Saving Your Smith Email to a Local Folder in Apple Mail

IMAP email clients maintain a “live” connection to your email account. But you will want to be sure the messages are saved to a “local mailbox” to retain them. Here’s how:

1. Set up Apple Mail to receive your Smith email messages. See http://www.smith.edu/tara/groupwise/macmail.html

2. Once your email appears in Apple Mail, create a new mailbox by clicking on Mailbox, then selecting New Mailbox.

3.  Select On My Mac, give your local mailbox a name, and click OK.

5.   Drag messages and even whole folders from your Smith IMAP connection into the local mailbox you created. This will save copies of the messages permanently on your Mac; they will be retained even after your Smith account goes away.

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Deactivating Your Smith Account in Thunderbird

1. Start Thunderbird. If prompted to enter your Smith password, cancel out of the window without entering your password.
   
   
2. Make sure the messages you want to save are in a "local" folder.
   
   
3. Go to Tools, Account Settings.
   
   
4. In the Account Settings window, select your old Smith account.
   
   
5. Click the Remove Account button in the lower left corner, then click OK.
   

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Deactivating Your Smith Account in Apple Mail

1. Open Apple Mail, click on the Mail menu, and select Preferences.
   
   
2. Click on the Accounts tab.
   
   
3. Select your Smith account and click on the minus sign at the bottom of the Accounts list.
   
   
   
   
4. In the Remove Account window, click OK.
   
   
   
   
5. Close the Preferences window, and you're all set.
   

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