677524 - Can't delete missing imap folder. error message ".... ox doesn't allow inferior mailboxes"

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Thunderbird :: Folder and Message Lists, defect)

Description

[Mitra Ardron]

I'm trying to delete a folder on TB which was already deleted (in other software, maybe even in Linux) on the server.

I get error messages about this folder not existing during normal operation. 

When I try and delete I get a message in the Activity manager "The current command did not succeed .... ox doesn't allow inferior mailboxes" 

Weirdly, nothing shows up in the Error Console, which maybe should be considered another bug!

Comment 1

[Ludovic Hirlimann [:Usul]]

can you check if the folder is present in your profile ?

Comment 2

[Mitra Ardron]

Its there
-rw-------  1 mitra  mitra       0 14 Jun 16:47 mail.path-1.net/mail.sbd/inbox pop
-rw-r--r--  1 mitra  mitra  961878 21 Aug 18:33 mail.path-1.net/mail.sbd/inbox pop.msf

Comment 3

[Ludovic Hirlimann [:Usul]]

can you cd .. and ls -l mail.sdb and see that you have execute rights on that folder ?

Comment 4

[Mitra Ardron]

Yes, I do - and its just this folder that gives problems. 
drwx------  26 mitra  mitra  884  4 Sep 23:06 mail.sbd

Comment 5

[Ludovic Hirlimann [:Usul]]

Hum Now that I re-read comment 0, This might more be a server issue than a local issue like I initially thought sorry for being so slow Mitra. Could you try again and make an imap log so we can rule out the server side issue or not ..

Comment 6

[Mitra Ardron]

Attachment: Log file as requested

Here is a log - shows an attempt to open the missing folder AND then an attempt to delete it.

Comment 7

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

> 8 select "mail/inbox pop"
> 8 NO Mailbox doesn't exist: mail/inbox pop

Is missing folder "mail/inbox pop"?

> 6 lsub "" "*"
> * LSUB () "/" "mail/inbox pop"
> 6 OK Lsub completed.

Even though you deleted "mail/inbox pop" by other software, the mbox still keeps subscribed status. How did you delete by other software?
If deleted by IMAP client including Tb, such status won't usually happen, because IMAP client usually requests both delete(or rename to Trash/... if IMAP delete model=Move to trash) and unsubscribe.

Which is your choice? Checked? Unchecked? 
  Server Setting/Advanced, [?] Show only subscribed folders 

> 9 lsub "" "mail/inbox pop/*"
> 9 OK Lsub completed.
> 10 rename "mail/inbox pop" "Trash/inbox pop"
> 10 NO Target mailbox doesn't allow inferior mailboxes

You looks to select IMAP delete model of "Move to: /Trash" in your Tb.
And, your server looks to check attribute of move target folder before existence check of source folder.
Does this error occur upon delete of other existent/ordinal folder?

To recover from status of "already deleted but not unsubscribed yet", execute Unsubscribe of the folder, "mail/inbox pop", using Tb. Tb explicitly issues 'unsubscribe "mail/inbox pop"', then removes it from folder pane.

Tb has two modes;
 Server Setting/Advanced;
 (a) [Checked] Show only subscrbed folders (defaulted)
     Shown folders are based on LSUB response.
     So, unsubscribed folders are not shown, not accessed.
     This mode is mainly for performance gain when very many folders exist but
     number of folders used daily is not so many. Because LIST for all folders
     is not required, start-up time is usually shorter than mode of (b). 
 (b) [Unchecked] Show only subscrbed folders
     Shown folders are based on LIST response.
     So, all existent folders are shown and accessed.
As LIST status(existent or not) and LSUB status(subscribed or not) is maintained independently by IMAP server, status of "already deleted but not unsubscribed yet" may occur if file/directory for mbox of IMAP is deleted outside of IMAP server.
When mode of (a) is selected, Tb currently doesn't automatically hide folder of "already deleted but not unsubscribed yet".

I think Tb is better to ask user about action on folder of "already deleted but not unsubscribed yet", for example "Recreate? or Unsubscribe?", upon click folder or delete/rename request. Another enhancement like "Show only subscribed and existent folders only" mode may be a solution in your case.
However, such enhancement surely requires long time even if developers will try to enhance Tb.
If you frequently create folder of "already deleted but not unsubscribed yet", I recommend you to use mode of (b).

Comment 8

[Mitra Ardron]

Sorry Wada, I don't totally understand what you are saying again, so apologies if I answer something other than what you are saying.

1: I don't do anything regularly, and don't know how it happened - I suspect another the folder was deleted in another imap client, or maybe an alpha version of TB did something wrong, or maybe something went wrong on the server. 

I do think it is an error if TB gets stuck into a state when something like this happens and the (non geek) user has no way out of it.

Modes, as usual, are irrelevant to the user experience. TB should behave correctly in its standard out-of-the-box state without having to change Preferences. 

I would suggest correct behavior - in the first case - where "8 NO Mailbox doesn't exist: mail/inbox pop" is seen, shouldn't TB delete the local folder, since TB is mirroring folders on the server, and the server no longer has a folder with this name.

About the "inferior mailboxes" - yes, I get this error when deleting any folder.

Comment 9

[Mitra Ardron]

This problem is still there, when i try and delete a folder I get an error about 
mailbox won't allow inferior mailboxes.

The folders are there on the server, and visible but can't be deleted.

Comment 10

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Mitra, can  you post a screen shot please?
I'm having trouble picturing this.

Comment 11

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to Mitra Ardron from comment #9)
> This problem is still there, when i try and delete a folder, I get an error about mailbox won't allow inferior mailboxes.

This may be a result of "server doesn't return \Noinferiour in LSUB response,  server returns \Noinferiour to LIST only". 
> * LSUB () "/" "Trash"

As I already explained, Tb has 2 modes: (a)  "Show only subscribed folder" (b) not "Show only subscribed folder"
   (a) is "Tb reliess on LSUB response only for folder pane disply, and doesn't use LIST * like one".
   (b) is "Tb doesn't use LSUB command for folder pane display, Tb relies on LIST response" only.
When many Mboxes are  held at server, and when number of subscribed Mboxes is less than total number of Mboxes, 
(b) takes longer than (a), because "number of Mboxes returned to LIST" >> "number of Mboxes returned to LSUB".
So, Tb has mode of (a).
If  "number of Mboxes returned to LIST" == "number of Mboxes returned to LSUB", there is no advantge of (a).
And, (a) is powerful sord in case of "not well configured server returns all files under server's directory to LIST *, regardless of a file is used as Mbox at server or not". If (a), Tb requests LSUB only, so server returns LSUB response only.

I already asked you to check with (b) when issue of "mbox is deleted by someone at server, but it's not unsubscribed by someone" occurred in your environment.
Did you check with (b)?
Does your sever return \Noinferior for Trash when option (b) is used?
If \Noinferior is retured to LIST, what is Tb7s behavior? "rename aaa/bbb Trash/bbb" requested by Tb?

If Tb issues "rename aaa/bbb Trash/bbb" wen \Ininferior is returned, workaround is :
   Stop using IMAP delete model of "Move to trash".
    Use IMAP delete model of "Remove immediately" or "Just mrk it as deleted".
This is for "delete message", but is applied to "delet folder" too in Tb.


> I would suggest correct behavior - in the first case - where "8 NO Mailbox doesn't exist: mail/inbox pop" is seen,
>  shouldn't TB delete the local folder, since TB is mirroring folders on the server, and the server no longer has a folder with this name.

I already asked you to check with (b) when issue of "mbox is deleted by someone at server, but it's not unsubscribed by someone" occurred in your environment.
Did you check with (b)?

Option of (a) is your request of "rely on LSUB only"mode" to Tb.
"LSUB" is list of folder names what you want to use. "An mbox listed in LSUB but no LIST respomse for the mbox" may be a result of mistake by other one. In such case, error message is warning of "you have to restore from backup". "Automatic removal of LSUB" can not be good action in such case.
And, meaning of "NO" return code is never defined in imap. "Mailbox doesn't exist" part is merely free comment to human being from server.
If you want  ignoring "An mbox listed in LSUB but no LIST respomse for the mbox", you can use option (b) any time. 

Regardless of default setting of Tb, your current setting is surely "your intentional choice of option (a) or option (b)".
This is always true in any software, and this is applicable alway even when user is general user.
Please don't forget "Here is bugzilla.mozilla.org for developers. Here is not support forum for users". 





"

Comment 12

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

FYI.
Following is example of similar report to yours, although many are for \Noselect, and Bug 547783 is same as your kind suggestion.
> Bug 534021 - Tb annoying IMAP user with error popup "Mailbox isn't selectable:" (server doesn't return \Noselect in LSUB response)
> Bug 574864 - New error message after upgrade (Server returns "NO Mailbox does not exist or must be subscribed to" to STATUS command for existent/non-\Noselect folder) 
> Bug 547783 - Subscribed folders that don't exist could be handled better, so we don't get "Command not successful. The mail server replied: Mailbox does not exist, or must be subscribed to."

Please search B.M.O well by yourself before bug open, please. Bugzilla.Mozilla.Org has "Advanced Search".

Comment 13

[Mitra Ardron]

Wayne  - sorry, I can't repeat it any more - I just tried creating a folder; deleting in Linux; and then deleting on TB and it worked fine. 

That bug was from 3.5 years ago, so I guess something in TB or on the server changed.