Export important emails???

[bsheridan]

I'm planning a clean install of my mac and there are a few important things which need keeping, namely important emails.

I know they may be stored on the email servers but I'm pretty sure copies are also located in ~/Library/Mail.

My question is if I save a copy of this folder to a CD or USB stick, can I then just import them back to the same folder location after I have performed the clean install?, assuming the location will be the same on Tiger and Leopard.

At the moment I am running 10.4.11 (using Mac Mail) but will performing a clean install of 10.5.4.
(You may say you should just upgrade, but I am running out of HD space so a clean install is best)

cheers, b.

 

[cvbateman]

I'm planning a clean install of my mac and there are a few important things which need keeping, namely important emails.

I know they may be stored on the email servers but I'm pretty sure copies are also located in ~/Library/Mail.

My question is if I save a copy of this folder to a CD or USB stick, can I then just import them back to the same folder location after I have performed the clean install?, assuming the location will be the same on Tiger and Leopard.

At the moment I am running 10.4.11 (using Mac Mail) but will performing a clean install of 10.5.4.
(You may say you should just upgrade, but I am running out of HD space so a clean install is best)

cheers, b.

Yes, if you copy the entire contents of the ~/Library/Mail folder (minus any IMAP folders), you are able to perform a Mail->File->Import Mailboxes operation.

 

[macworkerbee]

Here is a tutorial that I found when trying to do the same thing you are doing. Worked like a charm, good luck!

http://www.macinstruct.com/node/183

 

[bsheridan]

Thanks guys, help much appreciated.
b.