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Why can't I save user options in some add-ons such as Signature Switch?

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After adding a signature in the 'Set Signature' dialog and clicking OK, clicking OK in the 'Signature Switch Options' dialog appears to do nothing. I have noticed similar behavior with another add-on (but cannot remember which). If I cancel the options dialog, Signature Switch works (with my signature), but does not remember any setting changes including my signature next time it is used. I did wonder if it was due to a file permissions issue, however running TB as 'Administrator' does not help.

TB v58.0b3 - though have same problem in other recent versions. Signature Switch v1.7 Windows 10 pro v1709

After adding a signature in the 'Set Signature' dialog and clicking OK, clicking OK in the 'Signature Switch Options' dialog appears to do nothing. I have noticed similar behavior with another add-on (but cannot remember which). If I cancel the options dialog, Signature Switch works (with my signature), but does not remember any setting changes including my signature next time it is used. I did wonder if it was due to a file permissions issue, however running TB as 'Administrator' does not help. TB v58.0b3 - though have same problem in other recent versions. Signature Switch v1.7 Windows 10 pro v1709

All Replies (12)

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As I understand it... you used Thunderbird 'Write' to create signature which you saved as HTML file in a suitable folder on eg: Desktop.

You installed signatureswitch addon extension. In Write window: Options > Signature Switch > Options click on 'Add' to open 'set signature' Enter description eg: Spouse or Child etc locate where you saved the HTML file and click on Open to add path.

Did you set anything in 'AutoSwitch (optional)' ? eg: you may want to send an email to your wife, husband, partner, child Under 'Addresses' you can enter their email address. click on OK click on OK

Note: if you are sending to that person and another friend, both in TO fields you may want to manually select another signature at time of composing. Also note: if enter 'A' in a 'TO' field and you get a drop down showing eg:

  1. Adam email address
  2. Amy email address
  3. Arnold email address

Let's say 'Amy is daughter, but you want to send to 'Arnold', a friend. If you use the down key to select, it will highlight 'Amy' before 'Arnold' and end up selecting a signature for Amy and not removing it when 'Arnold' is finally selected. This only occurs if using keyboard to step through intill you get to the one you want, so if using default signatures for specific names be careful in how you select those names.


I have a default signature set up in Account Settings for some email address/mail account. see image below.

When I open 'Write', that default email address is applied and auto appears. When I select email address to send 'TO' my eg: children, signature switch auto swaps the signature which I set as explained above.

If I open 'Write' Use the 'Contacts Sidebar' to select a 'Child' name and either drag and drop into a TO field or use 'Addto TO' button. I notice the signature is not immediately selected, but if you do either of the following it is then auto switched. use 'backspace' to go back up to end of child email address and the press enter or use tab key to go to 'Subject' field.

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Toad-Hall, thank you for reply.

Yes, it is setup as per your first 2 paragraphs. The problem is that it doesn’t save the drescription and path (or any other changes). I have to re-enter them every time that I reply/compose an email.

I notice that the options box (with empty description and path) opens for every reply/new mail. Is that usual behaviour?

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Further information...using the context menu, I can toggle the the signature in Account Setting on and off.

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What version of Thunderbird are you using?

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Matt, thanks for your reply... Thunderbird v58.0b3 Signature Switch v1.7 Windows 10 pro v1709

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re : If I cancel the options dialog, Signature Switch works (with my signature), but does not remember any setting changes

If you made changes in Signature Switch Options, added anything, etc then you would not click on 'Cancel' as this does not save anything. So, if you really did click on 'Cancel' then this would explain why nothing is saved.

Please confirm that after making any changes to Signature Switch Options you do click on the 'OK' button to save changes.

My signature HTML files and any images they use are stored in this location:

  • C:\Users\User Account\Signatures

So path is for my formal signature is:

  • C:\Users\User Account\Signatures\Formal.html

Where do you keep yours? Please state path.

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Toad-Hall, thanks for your reply.

Sorry, my original post perhaps wasn't clear enough. If I press OK, then the button changes colour and nothing else appears to happen, the dialog is not dismissed and no user options seem to be changed. It is because the dialog doesn't disappear, that makes me think the add-on is unable to write the changes wherever it keeps them. Do you know where they should be stored? If I press Cancel, then the options dialog is dismissed and a write email window appears. If while over this window I select the context menu (right click) then it has a Signature Switch sub-menu... Signature Switch|Signature on/off: toggles my signature. Signature Switch|Options: re-launches the options dialog. Furthermore, if I again attempt to change any settings ,using this dialog and press OK, then nothing happens and no changes persist.

With regard to my signature html files, they are stored on my desktop (C:\Users\UserAccount\Desktop) e.g. path C:\Users\UserAccount\Desktop\SignatureWithEmail.html. I can point ThunderBird's in-built signature option (in Account Settings) either to these signature files or use the text box there.

Apologies for the long answer.

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Menu icon > Options > Options > Advanced > 'General' tab click on 'Config Editor' button it will say be careful :)

In top search type: signatureswitch

  • extensions.signatureswitch.signatures

This is where the list of signatures appears as a string. I've added an image showing mine.

But your issue seems to be a saving problem.

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Are you able to save them by doing it this way:

Menu icon > Addons locate Signature Switch and click on 'Options'

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not_a_number said

Matt, thanks for your reply... Thunderbird v58.0b3 Signature Switch v1.7 Windows 10 pro v1709

Could you please try with the current release version instead of the release version. I am not sure which pre release versions are affected, but there is a problem with changes Mozilla made to the geko engine that apparently makes Firefox go faster but removes access to add-on options in Thunderbird. As we are independent of Mozilla in the development sense, the change will need to be accounted for in Thunderbird because Mozilla will not change what they have done.

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Link to current version. Choose the one suitable for your OS and prefered language:

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Many thanks to Toad-Hall and Matt.

I suspect that the underlying issue remains. However, after setting my signatures in TB v52.6.0 and Signature Switch v1.6.16, I reverted to v58.0b3 and SS v1.7 and all appears well. I can now edit and re-save my settings. Though have have not yet tried manually deleting and then re-creating the preferences. I'll update you when I have.