User Guide

Extract Em! is an add-on/extension for the Mozilla Thunderbird email client application.

This extension extracts attachments from a folder or an entire account, or allows you to select specific attachments to include. Extracted attachments are saved to one or more .zip files.

  1. Right-click on an account, a folder, or a message to provide the attachment source, and select the Extract 'Em! item from the context menu. (Note: selecting a message sets the containing folder as the source.)
  2. If an account is selected, a screen will be displayed allowing for the selection of a subset of folders for extraction (the "Let Me Choose" option).
    If a folder or message is selected, the Quick Menu is displayed with the following options:
    1. Extract 'Em!: discovers all attachments in the selected folder and packages them in the .zip file immediately (subfolders omitted)
    2. Extract 'Em! (+ subfolders): includes subfolders in the immediate extraction
    3. Let Me Choose: allows selection of specific folders/subfolders for discovery, and specific attachments for inclusion
    4. Additional options:
      1. Include embedded images (image attachments which are contained within the message body rather than traditionally attached)
      2. Use file type filter: allows for limiting extraction to selected file types specified by file extension
  3. Extract Immediate: attachment discovery and packaging progress are displayed; package files are saved to the file system*.
  4. Let Me Choose: a screen presenting all folders and subfolders in the selected source is displayed.
    1. Select the specific folders to be included in attachment discovery, using the checkbox for individual folder selection and the folder label for toggling selection of associated subfolders.
    2. Click the Discover Attachments button to find all attachments in the selected folders.
    3. After discovery, if desired, select specific folders to further reduce the set of attachments to be included in packaging.
    4. To extract:
      1. Click the Extract 'Em! button to package all attachments in the selected folders.
      2. Alternatively, specific attachments can be included/excluded by selecting the Attachment List tab and using the provided checkboxes for individual attachment selection.
    5. See the * note regarding saving of package files.

* Extracted attachments are packaged in .zip archive files. Where these files are saved is dependent on the "Always prompt for save location" option:

  • If this option is checked, then the user will always be prompted for the directory in which to save each package file
  • Otherwise, each package file is saved in the folder specified under the Thunderbird setting labeled "Save files to" in the General | Files & Attachments section
Screenshots
Select Source
Right-click on an account, a folder, or a message to provide the attachment source, and select the Extract 'Em item from the context menu. (Note: selecting a message sets the containing folder as the source.)
Quick Menu
Select an Extract 'Em! option to immediately extract all attachments in the source, or Let Me Choose for more granular selection.
Immediate Extraction
Attachment discovery and packaging progress are displayed before the user is prompted for destination file details.
Let Me Choose
Specific folders can be included or omitted for attachment discovery.
Attachment List
Specific attachments may be included or omitted. If a folder grouping is selected under the Extract 'Em! options, entire groups may likewise be incuded or omitted.
Image Zoom
For image attachments, click on the preview image to display the item in a zoom window. Click on the zoom window to dismiss.
File Type Filter
File type filtering allows for selectively including only specific file types (jpg, mp3, etc.)
Filename Pattern
Filename pattern assignment (available in the Extract 'Em! options) allows for renaming the attachment file, incorporating the message author, date/time, etc. in the result filename.
Options
Fully interactive UI; allows for selection of specific attachments to extract
Displays a shortcut menu when Extract 'Em! is opened
Saves all attachments from messages in the selected folder with limited user intervention; excludes sub-folders
Includes attachments in sub-folders during immediate extraction
Omits UI presentation, with the exception of the save prompt
If checked, the user is always prompted to select a save directory; otherwise, files are directly saved to the folder specified in the Thunderbird settings

Replaces the original attachment filename with one constructed from message attributes
Limits results to selected file types, specified by extension (.jpg, .mp3, .mov, etc.)
Identifies and includes images embedded in the message body (inline images)
Stores the attachments in the .zip archive in the same folders they reside under in Thunderbird
Outputs additional troubleshooting information to the debugger console
Groups items in the Attachment List according to the specified attribute
Specifies the size of the Preview Image for items in the Attachment List
Acknowledgments

I would like to express my gratitude to the following for their contributions and assistance regarding this project:

  • The developer Deimios, whose Attachment Saver extension provided me with a starting point
  • The zip.js library which provides the current .zip file packaging component (courtesy of gildas-lormeau)
  • The JSZip library which provided the .zip file packaging component through version 1.1.2 of Extract 'Em! (courtesy of Stuart K.)
  • The various contributors offering their translation services
  • The various contributors to the Thunderbird Add-on Developers forum who are prompt and most helpful in responding to inquiries.