Keep it working - Thunderbird: Difference between revisions

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(Updated for TB6. Removed renaming profile to use unique name as that bug seems long gone.)
m (→‎Initial setup: typos etc.)
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* '''Don't keep a copy of your messages on the POP server without providing some way to automatically get rid of them later on.''' If you use "[[Menu differences in Windows, Linux, and Mac|Tools -> Account Settings]] -> Server Settings -> Leave message on server" to keep a copy of the original message on the POP server after Thunderbird checks for new mail (so that you can still access it via webmail), set the number of days it should keep the copy.
* '''Don't keep a copy of your messages on the POP server without providing some way to automatically get rid of them later on.''' If you use "[[Menu differences in Windows, Linux, and Mac|Tools -> Account Settings]] -> Server Settings -> Leave message on server" to keep a copy of the original message on the POP server after Thunderbird checks for new mail (so that you can still access it via webmail), set the number of days it should keep the copy.


* '''Install the [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/ add-on compatibility reporter] add-on to disable version checking'''. All add-ons have a maximum version field that specifies the last version of Thunderbird that they support.  Add-on authors don't update their add-ons often enough to keep that current. The [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/ Mozilla Add-ons] web site periodically bumps the maximum version field of any add-ons hosted on that web site if they think it should still work with the latest release, but most add-ons aren't available there so you need a workaround. <p>If Tools -> Add-ons warns you that Thunderbird is not compatible with a specific add-on, ignore it. That is just its way of complaining that you are using an add-on whose maximum version field is being ignored. Whether this workaround works depends upon what APIs the add-on uses, but it frequently works. If it doesn't disable or uninstall the add-on using Tools -> Add-ons. If you can't do that, use "Help -> Restart with add-ons disabled" to start Thunderbird in [[Safe_mode | safe mode]] and then uninstall the add-on.
* '''Install the [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/ add-on compatibility reporter] add-on to disable version checking'''. All add-ons have a maximum version field that specifies the last version of Thunderbird that they support.  Add-on authors don't update their add-ons often enough to keep that current. The [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/ Mozilla Add-ons] web site periodically bumps the maximum version field of any add-ons hosted on that web site if they think it should still work with the latest release, but many add-ons aren't available there so you need a workaround. <p>If Tools -> Add-ons warns you that Thunderbird is not compatible with a specific add-on, ignore it. That is just its way of complaining that you are using an add-on whose maximum version field is being ignored. Whether this workaround works depends upon what APIs the add-on uses, but it frequently works. If it doesn't, disable or uninstall the add-on using Tools -> Add-ons. If you can't do that, use "Help -> Restart with add-ons disabled" to start Thunderbird in [[Safe_mode | safe mode]] and then uninstall the add-on.


* Install the [http://mailtweak.mozdev.org/ MailTweak extension] and '''enable the preferences cache'''. Its no substitute for regularly backing up your [[Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird | profile]] but if your computer crashes or loses power while Thunderbird is running that can trash the [[Prefs.js file]] which stores your account information and settings. This tweak will automatically restore them if that happens. It only supports up to Thunderbird 3.*, so you need to install the the [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/ add-on compatibility reporter] add-on in order to install it.
* Install the [http://mailtweak.mozdev.org/ MailTweak extension] and '''enable the preferences cache'''. It is no substitute for regularly backing up your [[Profile_folder_-_Thunderbird | profile]] but if your computer crashes or loses power while Thunderbird is running that can trash the [[Prefs.js file]] which stores your account information and settings. This tweak will automatically restore them if that happens. It only supports up to Thunderbird 3.*, so you need to install the the [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/add-on-compatibility-reporter/ add-on compatibility reporter] add-on in order to install it.


==Routine usage==
==Routine usage==

Revision as of 17:57, 2 September 2011

This article suggests one way to to keep Thunderbird working and avoid serious problems. It's intended for new users, so it keeps things simple and presents few alternatives. The assumption is when you get more experience you may do things differently as you understand the tradeoffs.

Initial setup

  • Check that your antivirus software isn't configured to delete your Inbox if you get a virus. If it doesn't support quarantining the infected message, see this article for a workaround.
  • Don't check for viruses in messages you send. This avoids some interoperability problems, and if the recipient isn't already using a anti-virus program they have bigger problems to worry about than your message.
  • Don't keep a copy of your messages on the POP server without providing some way to automatically get rid of them later on. If you use "Tools -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> Leave message on server" to keep a copy of the original message on the POP server after Thunderbird checks for new mail (so that you can still access it via webmail), set the number of days it should keep the copy.
  • Install the add-on compatibility reporter add-on to disable version checking. All add-ons have a maximum version field that specifies the last version of Thunderbird that they support. Add-on authors don't update their add-ons often enough to keep that current. The Mozilla Add-ons web site periodically bumps the maximum version field of any add-ons hosted on that web site if they think it should still work with the latest release, but many add-ons aren't available there so you need a workaround.

    If Tools -> Add-ons warns you that Thunderbird is not compatible with a specific add-on, ignore it. That is just its way of complaining that you are using an add-on whose maximum version field is being ignored. Whether this workaround works depends upon what APIs the add-on uses, but it frequently works. If it doesn't, disable or uninstall the add-on using Tools -> Add-ons. If you can't do that, use "Help -> Restart with add-ons disabled" to start Thunderbird in safe mode and then uninstall the add-on.

  • Install the MailTweak extension and enable the preferences cache. It is no substitute for regularly backing up your profile but if your computer crashes or loses power while Thunderbird is running that can trash the Prefs.js file which stores your account information and settings. This tweak will automatically restore them if that happens. It only supports up to Thunderbird 3.*, so you need to install the the add-on compatibility reporter add-on in order to install it.

Routine usage

  • Keep the Inbox empty. Move any new messages that you want to keep to either a child folder or another folder after you've read them. This will help avoid corrupting your Inbox folder.
  • Regularly compact your Inbox folder and any folders you delete messages in or move messages from. Once a week is a useful rule of thumb though how often depends upon how many messages you get and how critical they are to you. Ideally you would configure Thunderbird to automatically compact folders for you by setting it to compact when it will save 75KB (or another low value) and not prompt you for permission to compact the folders. For further information on these settings, see the Compacting folders article.
  • Regularly back up your profile. As a minimum back up your profile once you get Thunderbird working, and every time you upgrade. If you're using a version of Thunderbird that automatically upgrades (v1.5 or later), back up your profile after it upgrades. Use Mozbackup to do this if you're using Windows.

Add-ons and upgrading

  • Only install extensions from Mozilla add-ons , the Add-ons Mirror and Kaosmos. Not every extension is well behaved. These are the three most popular web sites for Thunderbird extensions so there is a better chance the extension has been tested and/or used by a lot of other users.