I'm using Thunderbird 68.4.1 and Windows 10. Something has changed since I upgraded from Windows 7 and composing new messages is more difficult.
I often copy and paste from emails stored in folders and this now seems more complicated. The new message fills the screen with no access to the tabs in Thunderbird. If I make the message smaller, it drops down into the Windows taskbar when accessing any Thunderbird folders or tabs.
If I open the message in a new tab from the Drafts folder, no editing is allowed.
Any help much appreciated.
Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
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- tanstaafl
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
Normally when you are composing a message (in Windows 10) the task bar has two windows hidden behind the Thunderbird icon. One is the main window, the other is the compose message window. You can see them if you hover the mouse over the icon. You can select the desired window by clicking on it.
If I want to access an existing message while composing a message I hover the mouse over the Thunderbird icon in the task bar, then select the main window. Then I can copy the content and switch to the compose message window (using the icon in the task bar again), and paste the content . I've also done something similar where I dragged and dropped an attachment from a old message to one I was composing.
If I want to access an existing message while composing a message I hover the mouse over the Thunderbird icon in the task bar, then select the main window. Then I can copy the content and switch to the compose message window (using the icon in the task bar again), and paste the content . I've also done something similar where I dragged and dropped an attachment from a old message to one I was composing.
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
Thanks very much for the help. I did notice the method you described but was hoping there were other options. The process was much easier with Windows 7. It looks like I'll just have to get used to the way Thunderbird works with Windows 10.
I can't remember exactly how it worked with Windows 7, but I think the new message appeared in a tab along with any other tabs that were open. Regardless, it was a simpler process to access a folder or tab while doing a copy and paste to the new message.
I can't remember exactly how it worked with Windows 7, but I think the new message appeared in a tab along with any other tabs that were open. Regardless, it was a simpler process to access a folder or tab while doing a copy and paste to the new message.
- tanstaafl
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
There is an external editor add-on at http://globs.org/articles.php?lng=en&pg=2 . I've used it before with Notepad++ and Vim. See the reaction #45 comment at the bottom of the page for download links. Latest releases are at https://github.com/exteditor/exteditor/releases
It will give you more flexibility. You can stick to the built-in editor when your needs are minimal, and click on the eternal editor button other times.
It will give you more flexibility. You can stick to the built-in editor when your needs are minimal, and click on the eternal editor button other times.
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
That looks like a very useful Extension. Many thanks!
- DanRaisch
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
It’s possible to open multiple messages in separate, resizable windows in Thunderbird, making copying and pasting rather easy. Make certain that you have Thunderbird set to open messages in a new message window (Tools->Options->Advanced->"Open messages in..." or right click on the message to be viewed and select "Open message in new window". That message will remain open in its own window when you click on the "Write" button.
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
Messages opened in separate windows works very nicely. Thanks very much.
This morning I turned on another computer using Windows 10 and was surprised that Thunderbird operated the same as in Windows 7. I experimented with the Windows 10 taskbar settings and found the solution to my problem.
The setting called "Combine Taskbar Buttons" is the key and needs to be set to Never.
With this setting the Thunderbird tabs in the Windows taskbar displayed side by side. That makes copy and paste easier with less clicks of the mouse. I had the same problem with Microsoft Excel and this change resolves that problem as well.
Thanks all for the help!
This morning I turned on another computer using Windows 10 and was surprised that Thunderbird operated the same as in Windows 7. I experimented with the Windows 10 taskbar settings and found the solution to my problem.
The setting called "Combine Taskbar Buttons" is the key and needs to be set to Never.
With this setting the Thunderbird tabs in the Windows taskbar displayed side by side. That makes copy and paste easier with less clicks of the mouse. I had the same problem with Microsoft Excel and this change resolves that problem as well.
Thanks all for the help!
Last edited by KAWill70 on January 13th, 2020, 8:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- DanRaisch
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Re: Accessing Emails in Folders When Composing New Message
Thanks for letting us know what you found.