Opening MBox files on a Mac

NOTE:  These instructions are only for administrators who process public information requests. 

Before starting, download the zipped files from GovQA (or wherever you're getting them) to your computer then double-click them to unzip.  You should be left with a folder containing one or more Mbox files.

WINDOWS INSTRUCTIONS

Mac Instructions:

In your Application folder (on a Mac) launch Mail, which is Apple Mail.

You will need to have an account set up by default in order for Mail to launch so we'll use a "fake" one.  The next several steps show you how to do this.  This is NOT a way to send or receive mail... only a way to get around Apple's forced account settings.  Do not set this up with your own credentials. 

Configure each screen like the example:

You may or may not get the following screen.  If so, click Use another account.

Account email address:  [e-mail] (not gcisd.net)

Get password from Diane Isbell

If you get a screen asking you to authorize access (you probably won't) click ALLOW.  

That completes the app set up. 

Opening & Vetting The Emails

Go to File → Import Mailboxes then click MBox format.

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Navigate to the MBox file(s) that you downloaded to your hard drive, select the folder or file(s) then wait for them to import.  They will import to a separate Inbox folder in the sidebar then you can start working on them.  

After vetting the mail you can select them all at one time then export to PDF, print to paper or PDF, or whatever else you need to do.

To save as a PDF, you can select all the messages (per inbox) then Command-P to print.  At the bottom click the PDF button then Save To PDF.  There is a limit to how many it will do without crashing depending on if there are attachments but it's usually trial and error.  Be aware that this does NOT take the attachment with it.  If you want the attachments you have to download them individually