[Feature Request]: Folder tree panel and improved Archive page layout for email-client-like navigation

[Setya17]

Feature Description

Feature Description

I would like to propose redesigning the Archive page layout to include a folder tree panel, making Mail-Archiver more intuitive for average users who are familiar with email clients like Outlook or Thunderbird.

Background / Use Cases

I see Mail-Archiver as valuable in two main scenarios:

1. Private users: Managing mailbox size limits (the recently implemented "delete after archive" feature addresses this perfectly - thank you!)

2. Small businesses / Micro-enterprises: Knowledge retention when employees leave. In many small companies, a significant portion of institutional knowledge exists only in employees' mailboxes. When someone leaves, their entire email history often disappears, causing serious problems. Mail-Archiver can solve this, but only if employees actually use it.

The challenge: To encourage adoption, Mail-Archiver needs to provide a familiar "email client experience". Average users don't understand IMAP protocols - they just "use email". If the interface feels foreign to them, they won't use it.

Proposed Implementation

Changes to the Archive page only (Dashboard remains unchanged):

1. Account selector panel (top area)

• Add a panel above or below the search panel
• Contains a list of available accounts (respecting existing user permissions)
• Selecting an account filters emails to show only that account's emails
• This alone provides significant filtering compared to current "all accounts" view

2. Collapsible search panel

• Make the current search panel collapsible/expandable
• Users who need advanced search can expand it
• Users who prefer folder navigation can collapse it to save space

3. Folder tree panel (left side, ~25% width)

• Add a collapsible folder tree panel on the left side of the email list
• Layout ratio: approximately 25% folder tree / 75% email list
• Display folders in a hierarchical tree structure
• Show email counts next to folder names: Inbox (1523/123) format (total/unread)
• Collapsible/expandable subfolders for nested structures
• Clicking a folder filters the email list to show only emails from that folder

4. Configurable list size

• Currently the email list is fixed at 20 items per page
• Add an option to configure the number of visible items (e.g., 20/50/100)

Visual concept - Current vs. Proposed layout:

CURRENT LAYOUT:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Search Panel - always visible]                 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Email List - 100% width, fixed 20 items]       │
│                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

PROPOSED LAYOUT:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [Account Selector: account1@ | account2@ | ...] │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [▼ Search Panel - collapsible]                  │
├────────────┬────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [Folder    │ [Email List - 75% width]           │
│  Tree      │                                    │
│  25%]      │ [Configurable: 20/50/100 items]    │
│            │                                    │
│ ▼ Inbox    │                                    │
│   ▶ Work   │                                    │
│   ▶ Personal                                    │
│ ▶ Sent     │                                    │
│ ▶ Archive  │                                    │
└────────────┴────────────────────────────────────┘

Folder tree details:

• Hierarchical display with expand/collapse arrows
• Email count format: FolderName (total/unread)
• Example: Inbox (1523/123) means 1523 total, 123 unread
• Subfolders indented and collapsible
  • Example: INBOX > Projects > 2024 > Client ABC

Benefits

• Familiar UX: Users can navigate archives the same way they navigate their email client
• Easier adoption: Lower barrier for non-technical users
• Progressive filtering: Account → Folder → Search (if needed)
• Better performance: Showing one account's folders at a time reduces data load
• Flexible viewing: Configurable list size accommodates different screen sizes and preferences

Additional Context

I'm a contributor to this project (Hungarian translation, previous feature request for delete-after-archive) and would be happy to help test this feature or contribute in any way I can.

Thank you for considering this feature!

Proposed Solution

No response