kmail

davecs · 10-26-2003, 06:31 PM

I would like to clean up my home folder, but want to copy over all the kmail stuff so that I still have my old messages, e-mail account details and filters stored.

I have found that Kmail uses a directory at ~/mail/ to keep all my messages in. I cannot figure out where the e-mail account details or the filters are stored. It would not take me long to retype my e-mail accounts, but the filters would take hours if not days. Can anyone tell me where all this data is kept?

DAVE

emetib · 10-26-2003, 11:03 PM

whereis kmail

that will tell you where it's running from. i'm not sure if all of your filters are there or not.

cheers.

yapp · 10-27-2003, 02:51 AM

Programs store their settings in hidden directories.

Maybe this gives you a clue

Code:

find ~/.kde/share/ -iname '*kmail*'

To see *all* files in a directory, type

Code:

ls -a

davecs · 10-27-2003, 01:44 PM

Thanks, all, you helped me find the filters and account/password details in:

~/.kde/share/config/kmailrc

I can't believe I didn't look in ~/.kde/share/config/ I found stuff in there before!

DAVE

yapp · 10-27-2003, 03:32 PM

just make a backup before you do your housekeeping

Code:

tar zcvf backup.tar.gz ~

And don't use ~/*, because this will omit all hidden dot-files.

btw, my Mail folder seams to contain some hidden files too; they are probably the settings+indexes of those folders. (and settings like appearance in kmail)

davecs · 10-28-2003, 02:12 PM

What I did last time was to log in to KDE as root, rename my home directory and create a new one. Then I dragged the old, renamed one into the new one as a subdirectory, and used "properties" to make sure my regular ID was still the owner. I then dragged across all the settings I wanted to keep. Crude but effective, but I just couldn't find the Kmail stuff!

I always have Konqueror enabled to show hidden files! Shame I can't do this in the Directories panel. Or can I?

DAVE

yapp · 10-29-2003, 07:38 AM

just my $0.02:

don't absolutely don't ever work as root in your X desktop.
Maybe it was easy to drag a home folder, but nothing prevents you from dragging a dev folder. If linux ever gets spyware, viruses, or a bug in your browser is exploited, nothing will stop the software from hurting your system. (you'll have the security of an Windows 9x system!)

Rather try this in a konsole window:

Code:

su
<enter root password>
mkdir /backup
mv /home/yourname /backup
mkdir /home/yourname
chown yourname:users /backup
chmod 711 /home/yourname
(or chmod go-rw /home/yourname)

that would do the same too

as root, I've made certain other data folders where users could store files, like downloads and multimedia files. This shared folder created with:

Code:

mkdir /data/
chmod go+w /data/
chmod +t /data

this allows everyone to write into the /data/ folder, but not remove each others files.

btw, I'd keep the hidden files hidden at Linux (and visible at Microsoft Windows). they are different worlds with different rules/practices.

yapp · 10-29-2003, 07:44 AM

about hardening your home directory:

try to find the large files with

Code:

du -k

there is no need to clean up really everything, but keep your internet+thumbnail cache small..

and this command might be usefull too, it displays a summary of every hidden directory in kB.

Code:

du -ks .[^.]*

davecs · 10-29-2003, 04:40 PM

What did I start?

Seriously, I went into KDE as root, to work on my home files then exited out again. Total time about 3 minutes!

Anyways, I keep /home on a seperate partition and regularly back up my main partition using partimage, onto a file on my Windows drive (yup it has a use!). I am not a reckless person, ask the wife!

DAVE