How do you read your email messages?

I read messages in the Message Pane in the lower half of the main Thunderbird window. There, when I delete a message, the cursor moves down to the next message. If I have set it to display just unread messages then the cursor will move automatically to the next unread message.

So, you must be doing something different.

NO. I am doing the same thing. What I asked was HOW DO I -AUTOMATICALLY OPEN- THE NEXT -UNREAD EMAIL-. My cursor will ALOS move automatically to the next unread message. THEN I MUST SELECT THE MESSAGE to read it.

My question is HOW can I set it up to AUTOMATICALLY OPEN the next message ??? If I am correct there WAS an option in the past to OPEN (not point to) the NEXT -UNREAD MESSAGE- . I do not know how to do this now.

Here the selected message opens in the Message Pane. I can't imagine what you see in the Message Pane if not the selected message.

I suspect we differ in our use of the word "open".

When I 'OPEN' a message it OPENS in a NEW WINDOW. I consider a viewing in the lower half a 'PREVIEW' of the message as it is normally not shown in it's entirety.

I DOUBLE CLICK on a message flagged as not read in the message list to OPEN IT in a WINDOW. I do not normally use the LOWER half to preview a message because I have so many email accounts that it covers up some of them and I cannot see if there is a pending message unless I scroll down thru my accounts.

re :I consider a viewing in the lower half a 'PREVIEW' of the message

The Message Pane is showing an opened email, it is not a preview. There are different ways of opening and reading an email. In the Message Pane, in a new tab or in a new window. All three methods do the same thing, they open the email.

The only difference is that to open in a tab or new window requires you to select that option by double clicking on the email in the list or right click and select from the drop down options.

re :I do not normally use the LOWER half to preview a message because I have so many email accounts that it covers up some of them This sounds like you have this setting: View > Layout > Wide

Suggest you use View > Layout > Classic or View > Layout > Vertical

see info with images at this link under 'Layouts' section:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Window_layout_-_Thunderbird

re :I cannot see if there is a pending message unless I scroll down thru my accounts. the quickest method of seeing new unread mail in all accounts: View > Folders > unread

You obviously have a different way to view messages which I do not prefer. I have tried all the VIEW settings. I want to view messages in a separate window(s).

I frequently have MULTIPLE messages from MULTIPLE email accounts displayed at the same time. I delete some and want to go to the NEXT UNREAD EMAIL from that account, while I keep some up as I may reference ONE email to ANOTHER or copy parts of one to another - all of which are OPEN. I CANNOT do this if I display them in the MESSAGE PANE - ONE AT A TIME. I would like the NEXT UNREAD EMAIL to open when I delete an email.

I thought this was possible before but I haven't pursued the problem as I have been concentrating more on getting Firefox working like it -used to- as I hat the relocation of the tabs as well a a lot of other things that were changed a couple of releases ago.

You obviously have a different way to view messages which I do not prefer. I have tried all the VIEW settings. I want to view messages in a separate window(s).

I frequently have MULTIPLE messages from MULTIPLE email accounts displayed at the same time. I delete some and want to go to the NEXT UNREAD EMAIL from that account, while I keep some up as I may reference ONE email to ANOTHER or copy parts of one to another - all of which are OPEN. I CANNOT do this if I display them in the MESSAGE PANE - ONE AT A TIME. I would like the NEXT UNREAD EMAIL to open when I delete an email.

I thought this was possible before but I haven't pursued the problem as I have been concentrating more on getting Firefox working like it -used to- as I hat the relocation of the tabs as well a a lot of other things that were changed a couple of releases ago.

Perhaps some keyboard shortcuts will be useful to you

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/keyboard-shortcuts

F, N, B and P in particular.

Upon delete the next message is opened and displayed in the Message Pane. As is any email that is selected via arrow keys on keyboard, single click select or using Go > Next.

To invoke a different method of opening you use a double click to open in the option selected in Tools > Options > Advanced > Reading and Display.

You have confirmed that on delete it is opening the next message in the Message Pane, so as this is occuring, there is nothing wrong with the function in that respect. You have also confirmed that if you want to see that message in another eg: window you can use your selected choice by double clicking and this also works as expected.

I've spent some time checking Addons to see if someone had created a suitable addon to do as you have explained - on delete open next message in a window, but could not locate anything.

Try this: Upon Delete, as the next message will be auto selected in the list and already displayed in the Message Pane, these are the options available:

1. Quick method via keyboard: use 'Ctrl'+'O'
2. Via Toolbar: Message > Open Message
3. Via mouse : Move mouse to select the email in list and double click

Thanks for the research. I looked myself and couldn't find anything either. I guess I'll just have to put up with reading the next message with Ctrl "O" even though it does not select the next UNREAD message. That works OK when you only have one or two email accounts and open one email at a time but when you have a lot like I do it means more clicking and swapping windows.

FINALLY I found out how to display the NEXT MESSAGE.

Under READING & DISPLAY

• • Uncheck- **

CLOSE MESSAGE/TAB ON MOVE OR DELETE

I knew there was some setting that I (was) changed and it worked differently at one time. By -unchecking- the setting the NEXT (unread, if reading new) MESSAGE will display.