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Introduction
TBC
Installation
TBC
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Config Editor
The Config Editor is accessed via Preferences→Preferences→Advanced→General→Config Editor.
Default web browser
Thunderbird defaults to using the desktop's default web browser. To override this setting, use the config editor (below) to ensure network.protocol-handler.app.http and https exist with the path to the desired browser program. For example, for firefox ( this did not work on Ubuntu 12.04 Precise):
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network.protocol-handler.app.https,
string,
/usr/bin/firefox
Gmail client
There's a Mozilla KB page on configuring Thunderbird as a Gmail client, listed in the Reference section below.
IMAP settings
Server Settings -> Advanced -> Show Only Subscribed Folders
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- mail.imap.auto_unsubscribe_from_noselect_folders Default and desired value: true
- mail.server.default.check_all_folders_for_new Default false. Setting it true avoids the user having to wait for mails to be downloaded on opening folders other than the Inbox – but it may degrade overall performance, especially when Thunderbird is started. When the IMAP server is local it should be OK. In case of several IMAP servers, the setting can be made for specific servers using mail.server.server<n>.check_all_folders_for_new
Show Only Subscribed Folders
Account Settings→Server Settings→Advanced→Show Only Subscribed Folders
Subscribing
Depending on the setting of "Show Only Subscribed Folders", folders on the server that Thunderbird is not subscribed to are invisible or shown greyed out.
To subscribe to folders, right click any folder and choose Subscribe. Expand the list until the folders you want to subscribe are visible, toggle (\?) the checkbox and click Subscribe.
Usage
Archive folder removal
Under IMAP, Archive is a special folder that cannot be removed in the Thunderbird GUI. It may be removed by stopping Thunderbird, and removing the /home/user/.thunderbird/profile/ImapMail/server/Archives.sbd folder and Archives.msf file. TODO: clarify when this works; it did not on Charles' person PolarisMail account.
Backup considerations
Thunderbird will rebuild .MSF files as needed if they are missing so no need to back them up.
If backups are incremental, big folders (documented below) can result in huge backup data volumes.
Folder maintenance
Big folders
Thunderbird uses a single file for some folders: Drafts, Inbox, Sent and Trash. When they grow large, say > 250 MB, it is prudent to reduce their size:
From kb.mozillazine (http://kb.mozillazine.org/Compacting_folders): If the folder is severely corrupted, deleting the .msf file won't help much, and compacting the folder may just make things worse because Thunderbird can't reliably figure out where a message ends anymore. You'll typically run into this only with the Inbox folder. It's much more vulnerable to corruption because it frequently has both lots of messages and a high percentage of deleted (but not visible) messages. That's why it's recommended that you move messages you want to keep to other folders/child folders rather than keep storing them in the Inbox."
Troubleshooting
Greyed out folders
Folders are shown in grey italics when they have the \NoSelect flag. Normally this means they can contain subfolders, but not messages. A good example is the "[Gmail]" folder on Gmail accounts.
List all folders
The folders' tree structure can be flattened via Advanced Account Settings and setting the IMAP Server Directory to null, then restarting Thunderbird. TODO: was not able to find this setting in TB 17.0 ESR.
Logging
Sample script to be run in the desktop environment:
#!/bin/bash
export NSPR_LOG_MODULES=imap:5
export NSPR_LOG_FILE=/tmp/thunderbird.imap.$(date Y-%m-%d@%H:%M:%S).log
/usr/lib/thunderbird/thunderbird &
Missing folders
May not be subscribed.
Too many simultaneous connections
In case of trouble with "too many simultaneous connections" (common with bluelight@auroville.org.in), reduce the "Maximum number of server connections to cache" (TODO: presumably on all clients); the default value is 5. Account settings > Server Settings > Advanced.
References
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Appendix - configuration for Blue Light accounts
The procedure shown is for bluelight@auroville.org.in; robot@auroville.org.in is similar.
Menu → Preferences → Account Settings. From the Account Actions drop-down list, chose Add Mail Account …
Your name: Blue Light
Email address: bluelight@auroville.org.in
Password: <not recorded here; from BLKPDB>
Remember password: selected (default)
Continue
Accepted all the defaults (including an IMAP account).
Done
Menu→Preferences→Account Settings→bluelight@auroville.org.in
Signature text:
name
Blue Light free and open source software service and research
Town Hall, Auroville 605101, Tamil Nadu, India
Web: http://bluelightav.org
Tel: +91 413 262 2500
Facebook: http://goo.gl/liKwT
Email: bluelight@auroville.org.in
Monday to Friday 09:00-16:30, Saturday 09:00-12:30
Server Settings
Copies & Folders
Drafts and Templates
Keep message drafts in: Other, Drafts on local folders
Keep AutoSave drafts in Drafts folder on: Local Folders.
Composition & Addressing
Composition
Automatically quote the original message when replying: selected
Then, "start my reply above the quote"
and place my signature "below my reply (above the quote)"
Include signature for replies: selected (default)
Include signature for forwards: selected (not default)
Addressing
Use a different LDAP server: Blue Light Address Book
TODO: will have to set it up here
Address books for addresses autocomplete→ Edit: Blue Light Address Book (only)
Junk Settings
Enable adaptive junk mail controls for this account: cleared
Synchronisation & Storage
Disk Space
Synchronise the most recent 30 days: selected
Return Receipts: no changes
OpenPGP Security (not present unless the plugin is installed)
Security no changes
Config Editor
general.useragent.locale: en-US (default) to en-GB
general.useragent.override: New → String: <empty>
mail.server.default.check_all_folders_for_new: true