1818919 - Able to create ghost folder `>> foldername` with special characters which shows in UI, but not created on Gmail Imap. Dragging messages in makes them corrupt (112) or lost (TB102). Deleting folder fails.

Status: NEW

(Thunderbird :: Folder and Message Lists, enhancement, P2)

Description

[RycoDePsyco]

Steps to reproduce:

Hello, my dears,

Unfortunately, there is a stupid problem in Thunderbird that the program does not check.

What happened:

I have created a folder called ">> folder name" in GMail and other subfolders with normal names.

This was also loaded into Thunderbird

Now I have selected several emails in the Thunderbird program and moved them to the subfolders using drag n drop.

This also worked according to the view in which the folder suddenly contained 30 unread emails "Subfolder (30)" was also there
The reason was to get a better overview and to sort the emails

Only now have I looked into the subfolder and could not access it

Only then did an error message appear that the folder does not exist

When copying there was no information that this is not possible

All emails are thus irrevocably deleted.

This is very annoying, because it contained expensive paid content that was only available in the email.

My request, please put this issue to the heart of the Thunderbird programmers, so that this is fixed.
That at least emails are not irrevocably gone in this case.

Subfolders were showing up in Thunderbird

The emails in Gmail never got there either.
Therefore irretrievably deleted.

I tested further afterwards.
If I create a folder with the name ">> folder name" directly in Thunderbird, the folder is NOT created, but there is no error message either.

Nothing happens.

Due to this error, of course, I hardly have a chance to find out what lost content it is due to the mass of emails.
In my case, I hope for the best.

In my opinion, however, it would be correct and also good if someone could take care of the matter.

Thanks to everyone who signed up.

Actual results:

Emails irretrievably deleted

Expected results:

Regular transmission of the emails or an error message, "not possible"!

Comment 1

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

Ouch. Thanks RycoDePsyco. May not be the most frequently used foldername, but if TB doesn't complain, this should work.
The UX of this special case is a complete disaster, and involves dataloss. TB has had problems with this for long.
Confirming for 112.0a1 (2023-02-27) (64-bit), and (somewhat different) for 102.8.0 (64-bit), both Win10.

STR

1. Gmail IMAP account
2. Right-click on Inbox > New Folder..., enter >> foldername as foldername
3. Drag messages from Inbox into the new folder
4. Try to delete the folder from UI

Actual result

• Step 2: Server sends error message (lower right corner of TB window) that folder creation failed - then why is it showing in our UI?
• Step 3: on TB 102: messages are not even appearing in the new folder, lost for good: dataloss
• Step 3: on TB 112: message appear in new folder after long delay (several seconds), but are corrupt (message reader shows nothing): dataloss
• Step 3: error messages in console
• Step 4: another server error messages slides out, no way to delete folder from UI

Expected result

• If >>foldername isn't possible on Gmail, we shouldn't create it, nor accept message into it.
• Of course, this shouldn't cause dataloss either.