I get the idea. Basically it is a copy and paste job. Thanks for the info
that one cannot export and import the OE .dbx files except into MS Outlook
(as opposed to OE) and MS Exchange. I wonder why not? But that is another
issue!

One point though.... If I already have, say, a "Jack.dbx" file on each
computer it is obvious that the pasted "Jack.dbx" file will overwrite the
"Jack.dbx" file on my primary computer and I will have lost the
correspondence with Jack on my primary computer. Is my assumption that the
..dbx files on my primary computer will be overwritten correct? Y/N ?

To overcome this problem I have thought of the following tactic. On the
secondary computer I used temporarily while my main computer was out of
action, I intend to rename the "Jack" sub folder to "Jack_BT" (BT for Being
or Been Transferred) -- Get the idea? This should rename my "Jack.dbx" file
to "Jack_BT.dbx" on my secondary computer. OK so far? Y/N ?

Once I have copied and pasted the "****_BT.dbx" files from my secondary
computer onto my main computer -- as per your instructions -- I will now
have twice the number of subfolders to my Inbox -- in other words in
addition to a "Jack" subfolder I will also have a "Jack_BT" subfolder as
well. Naturally the same will happen with all the other Inbox subfolders.

Once this is done, all I have to do on my primary computer is to "Select
All" the emails from say my "Jack_BT" subfolder and drag them to the Jack"
sub-folder and then delete the now empty Jack_BT subfolder. Naturally I will
have to do this with all the other new "****_BT" subfolders now showing in
the Inbox.


And Bob's your uncle as they say.... There won't be any problems with my
main Inbox, Outbox and Sent folders being overwritten as they are completely
empty on both computers. Thus those .dbx files being overwritten are not an
issue any more.

Hope my assumptions are right and also that others can make a note of this
procedure which they might find useful at some later date.

Reading through your response once again, is the trick you propose to paste
the .dbx files to another folder (to be created by me)?

In this case how does OE6 go about showing all the messages (both the
existing ones and the copied and pasted ones) in one seamless list in any
particular folder or subfolder? (seamless being the operative word here! --
in other words I want to be able to see say past two years' correspondence
with "Jack" in the Inbox "Jack" sub-folder -- remember I drag my sent
messages also to the Jack sub-folder.)
--
Jackanory

"Ron Sommer" wrote in message
...
You do not export to move the dbx files.
The messages and folders will be added to the existing messages and
folders.

This is what you should do:

On the other computer:
In OE, Tools, Options, Maintenance tab, Store Folder button, right click,
Select All, right click, copy.
Close OE.
Start, Run, right click, Paste.
OK
NOTE: in XP the dbx files may be hidden, in My Computer, Tools, Folder
Options, View tab, check Show hidden files.

Move the files to a new folder on the new computer.
Highlight all of the files and make sure the Read Only attribute is not
set.
Open OE, File, Import, Messages, OE6, Message store directory, then browse
to the new folder.
--
Ronald Sommer


"Jackanory" wrote in message
o.uk...
: Problem
: For some months I had to use another computer for my emails. Now I am
back
: to my usual computer and would like to import my .dbx files from my
other
: computer to my main computer BUT without overwriting my existing .dbx
files
: so that I have continuity. Is this possible and how?
:
: I DO have rather a complex setup with folders and subfolders for some
20
to
: 30 persons etc I correspond with where I drag and drop all incoming as
well
: as sent mail so I can go to any folder and have a full history of my
: correspondence with that person.
:
: Somehow I don't think this will be possible but one never knows. Anybody
out
: there with clever ideas? If I export my .dbx files from my other
computer
: and import them to my mainstay computer, the existing .dbx files on my
main
: computer will be overwritten for sure.
:
: Why are email files lumped all into .dbx files instead of being saved
: individually like word documents etc anyway?
:
: --
: Jackanory
:
: