Customizing Thunderbird on Linux / Windows (config hacks)
I moved to Ubuntu 7.04 sometime back and have been enjoying myself since. Though there were a couple of things which really annoyed me, and today I finally fixed them.
1. Reply on top of previous message
One problem was that in Thunderbird, when you reply to a message, the new message was appended to the end of the message you were replying to. I was used to Outlook, so I changed it to behave like Outlook (and Thunderbird on windows). To add the reply on top, you need to do the following:
1. Goto Edit -> Preferences
2. Click on the 'Advanced' tab
3. Click on 'Config Editor...'
Now you would see the config editor.
In the top search box, type the following:
If the value is set to '0', change it to '1' and the replies would start appearing on top.
2. Allow Javascript in Mails
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set the boolean to 'true' (Toggle)
3. Display last name first
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set the boolean to 'true' (Toggle)
Then search for
Set the integer to '1'
4. Add all incoming Email Addresses to your Address Book
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set the boolean to 'true' (Toggle)
5. Add default CC
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set the string to the required emailid
6. Not show send Progress
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set the boolean to 'true'(Toggle)
7. Check for newer version of Thunderbird once every week.
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set integer to '604800'
(the number of seconds in a week)
8. Use threads like Gmail
Goto the Config editor as described earlier (link)
Search for
Set the boolean to 'false' (Toggle)
PS.If you have heard : Mozilla might make Thunderbird a separate entity
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1. Reply on top of previous message
Thats not a problem with Thunderbird, thats a problem with Outlook. Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express do it backwards, every other mail client does it the right way around.
By 
, at July 26, 2007 8:18 PM
Previous poster implies that it is better and easier to scroll through an entire message to get to the bottom to see the newest reply, rather than have it at the top. That's just silly
By , at July 26, 2007 9:12 PM
2. Allow Javascript in Mails
You can't be serious. Ok, so you're used to Outlook, where any random email message can pwn your machine. Why add that "feature" to Thunderbird?
By , at July 26, 2007 9:15 PM
Actually, it is better--more polite and conserving of bandwith, etc., to trim the quoted email to the bare minimum, and _then_ reply underneath. Actually, in order to help create a feeling of a conversation, quote and reply in line, as you go. This is a _very_ long-standing form of netiquette, that predates the "Outlook-way" by ages. Outlook came along, and created lazy posters, who quoted entire emails, or worse, _digests_ just so they could add one or two word replies like "agreed" or "That's just silly".
Consideration and care on the part of the replier is never out of fashion...
By , at July 26, 2007 9:23 PM
Wow, I don't even know where to begin.
Replying on top of the message is BAD. It interrupts the flow of conversation. Like anonymous number 4 said, trim it down to the part that you're replying to, and reply below it.
Javascript... Javascript... OK. No. Why would you NEED javascript in email? You might as well turn off your firewall and uninstall any antivirus while you're at it.
By 
Travis, at July 26, 2007 9:45 PM
Right. People handling hundreds of message threads a day are going to netiquettely trim each one to save a vanishingly insignificant amount of bandwidth?
In the age of mass video emailing (grr), that's just crazy-talk. There's netiquette (i.e. not emailing everyone you've ever met a 2 MB video of your dog standing on its hind legs), and then there's obsessive compulsive disorder :P
While I hardly have a soft spot for the Evil Empire, I agree that Outlook does it right by putting the most relevant information where it's most easily visible.
By Ryan, at July 26, 2007 10:14 PM
There are those out there who are as new to computers as Microsoft is so they think that top posting is the correct way since thats all they have ever used. When the internet was first getting started and Bill Gates was in daipers the communication standards were defined. You trim all but the relavent parts of the message and reply at the bottom so the message can be clearly understood. There is no scrollng through the entire message as there shouldn't be much in the previous message.
What happens when you use a Microsoft mail client is you start to feel like your back in high school trying to take the SAT and ACT tests where your given a bunch of questions then a huge paragraph in which you have to search for the answers.
Its even worse on mailing lists and discussion forums where someone may ask a question and you know the answerer to but the context of the question if 12 replies down because someone forgot to trim and top posted. It makes it near impossible to understand because you have to scroll all the way down then tr to read from the bottom up.
If you do turn on the threading you will also notice that Microsoft clients break this too by messing up the message id's the threading engine uses to keep them in order.
By , at July 26, 2007 10:32 PM
It's not about saving bandwidth - it's about saving time.
I don't really want to scroll down through 3 other fully included emails to check if the author added something at the bottom.
Also replying inline follows more naturally the conventions of a conversation or narrative. You get a more natural flow by replying this way as I'm able to see what you are replying to.
A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
Q: Why is top-posting such a bad thing?
A: Top-posting.
Q: What is the most annoying thing in e-mail?
By , at July 26, 2007 10:51 PM
"Traditional netiquette (especially on Usenet and mailing lists) is to reply contextually beneath quoted material, trimming down the quotes to the minimum needed to establish context. This does not always put your entire reply beneath all of the quoted material, since if you are replying to multiple paragraphs, each section of the reply would be beneath the quote of the paragraph to which it is responding. Some people prefer to start their cursor at the top of the message in order to facilitate moving down through the message and trimming the quotes before typing replies contextually. In this case, they would place the signature block at the very bottom of the message." - from http://kb.mozillazine.org/Reply_above_quoted_message
So there are valid reasons for wanting your cursor at the top of the message when replying.
By Graham, at July 27, 2007 12:57 AM
A: It is contrary to logical thought.
Q: Why is top posting bad?
By , at July 27, 2007 1:54 AM
I think the whole argument that it's "tradtional netiquette" is downright silly. Just because something was always done one way, doesn't mean it's right. Slavery was pretty popular for a few hundred years if I recall...
Anyway, I don't need to follow the entire conversation from start to finish, I already read the previous parts so I don't need to scroll through them. I don't care if Microsoft, Iran or al-Qaeda added top posting. I find it immensely useful and I use it.
By Collude, at July 27, 2007 9:36 AM
Top-posting vs. bottom posting (that most of the time is really interleaved posting). There is no universally correct way. Context matters. In forums/newsgroups, in conversation threads, and - more importantly - on mailing lists, "bottom" posting is generally the clearest and most polite. Trimming unnecessary parts is a must. In one-to-one email conversation, or when you know there will be no reply, or if you have a very short answer to a long message, to posting is clear (and hence polite). Trimming unnecessary parts is always good, but less useful than otherwise. When top-posting, make sure if you top-post that it is clear that no further answering text is interleafed in the quoted message(s).
Anyway, you will find that many bottom (interleaving) posters add text to the post also when they want to add context or to generally address the issue at hand.
In summary, just make sure your answers are easy to read and to understand, and do not make your reader waste time. Context matters.
The default you set your client to will probably depends on what kind of message you write most.
By , at July 27, 2007 3:43 PM
A debate on top-posting vs. bottom-posting? What is this, 1995 again?
By Dave, at July 27, 2007 6:08 PM
Come on now, maybe in the days of the 300 baud dumb terminal it was proper etiquette (and I swear to christ I will pistol whip the next mother $&#!er who says "netiquette") to save bandwidth. No however, considering the people you are replying to are most likely part of the conversation, it is far more efficient to reply on top. Chances are everyone has read everything beneath already. Forwarding to someone new? Guess what, they get to read from the bottom up to catch up. Any other way may be the official standard, but its against common sense and efficiency.
By RatRaud, at July 31, 2007 5:43 AM
You can actually set where the reply and signature go (top or bottom) in Thunderbird by:
1. Going to the Properties of the Account.
2. Go to Composition & Adressing.
3. Check Automatically quote the original message when replying...
NOW THE IMPORTANT PARRTS:
4. Then - select whether you want your reply ABOVE or BELOW the quote (email message).
5. and place my signature - select whether you want your signature below the reply or below the quote.
I hope this helps.
By Titus Blair, at July 31, 2007 8:08 PM
I can't get 5. Add default CC to work. New emails are not cc'd by default. I'm putting the email address I wanted cc'd for the value. ie) bob@yahoo.com
By Casey, at September 13, 2007 12:14 AM
please built xpi
By Samiaji, at October 6, 2007 3:44 PM
Despite the negativity I really appreciate the information! Thanks!
And I too like the email reply to start on top like all other email I use (Yahoo, GMail, Outlook, etc.)
By , at February 16, 2008 2:36 AM
Wow, the first comment is so out of bounds and outright silly.
Who cares what they think is the Quote, unquote "right way" to do e-mail.
The point of the writing was how to configure Thunderbird to "The Users" preference.
And I found it very helpful.
You know I work on and with Linux all day everyday and still I manage not to hate Microsoft, Bill Gates or Windows Apps and anybody that does, well get a life.
By , at March 7, 2008 12:24 AM
