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automatically open mailboxes with new messages

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For many years people have asked if Mozilla will ever add the function to automatically open existing mailboxes that have received new mail. The last time I checked on this function the reply was that the function is not something currently available. It's been at least 5 years since I last checked, so I'd like to know if that function is something planned in the future. Those of us who have used EudoraOSE (starting with Eudora original) find that function critical. The reason? I've been compiling E-mail for more than 20 years. My business mandates extraordinary amounts E-mail daily. When "new" mail arrives in an already existing mailbox, it's great when Eudora opens that mailbox automatically so that I don't have to sift through necessary mail that has not been assigned a filter for a specific mailbox. Is there any time in the future that Thunderbird will have the function to automatically open mailboxes with new mail? Just as Eudora already does and has since it was created. I truly like to use Thunderbird. But I won't and don't because it doesn't have that function. Unless you deal with thousands of E-mail in your E-mail client, you wouldn't understand the advantages. I just updated to 68 today, hoping the function is now part of Thunderbird...not. So I'll continue to use EudoraOSE until Thunderbird has that same function.

For many years people have asked if Mozilla will ever add the function to automatically open existing mailboxes that have received new mail. The last time I checked on this function the reply was that the function is not something currently available. It's been at least 5 years since I last checked, so I'd like to know if that function is something planned in the future. Those of us who have used EudoraOSE (starting with Eudora original) find that function critical. The reason? I've been compiling E-mail for more than 20 years. My business mandates extraordinary amounts E-mail daily. When "new" mail arrives in an already existing mailbox, it's great when Eudora opens that mailbox automatically so that I don't have to sift through necessary mail that has not been assigned a filter for a specific mailbox. Is there any time in the future that Thunderbird will have the function to automatically open mailboxes with new mail? Just as Eudora already does and has since it was created. I truly like to use Thunderbird. But I won't and don't because it doesn't have that function. Unless you deal with thousands of E-mail in your E-mail client, you wouldn't understand the advantages. I just updated to 68 today, hoping the function is now part of Thunderbird...not. So I'll continue to use EudoraOSE until Thunderbird has that same function.

Chosen solution

Thank you, again, sfhowes.

I had to find the "correct" folder (had a chrome folder in c:/Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Thunderbird/chrome That wasn't the right spot. When I opened Help/Troubleshooting... and Open Folder, I found the correct folder and file, and edited that one. It worked! I remember I had a hard time trying to place the css in the right spot years ago for zebra striping.

All is good now. Thanks again. Thomas

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All Replies (9)

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After years on these forum, I am really tired of Old Eudora users popping up and demanding the the Eudora way be created. If it has not yet happened, I doubt it will. But has it every been requested formally as a bug?

Bug 382653 looked hopeful. But that was to implement it in the Penelope addon that only ever functioned with a single version of Thunderbird. Silly idea really. Part of the death of OSE was the fact it was in a binary addon that no one really had access to the source of. Development stopped as soon as the two developers that were paid to build it were moved on by their employer.

Nope I can find no formal request, in Bugzilla. Just a Penelope bug without the source code used to implement it. (they kept that at qualcomm I think), but I do not know. I could not locate it 10 years ago.

Eudora is however no longer a functional product. Eudora OSE is not either really. It does not understand modern connection methods or encryption. So give it time and you will migrate or stop using a mail client.

We are about three weeks from it not getting mail from Yahoo, 6 months from it failing with Gmail. It already does not connect to many mail servers because it does not support the TLS encryption used. It might suit you, but it is in it's death throws.

Personally I just use things like displaying unread mail only and taking notice of folder colors to identify new unseen mail in folders. (that is why they change to blue).

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Matt, Wow...you are most certainly angry. Where in my post did I "demand" anything? I simply asked a question nicely.

You are right about much of what you said. But to launch into a tirade about OSE is, well, not really what I would expect from the Mozilla Support Team.

YOU don't have E-mail boxes that extend so far that it literally takes more than 20 full scrolls to get to the bottom with a 20" monitor - 3,715 folders (and sub-folders). If you did, you'd understand why it's SO important to find a way to, well, "find" the E-mail that is not only new, but is E-mail that needs to be addressed quickly.

You could have just said, "Sorry, but Thunderbird is the only option at this point due to the massive updates to Thunderbird which directly effect Eudora OSE and have 'disabled' the automatic mailbox opening. Uninstall Eudora OSE because with the new update to Thunderbird 60 (and above) Eudora OSE won't work - period". I know...I am already facing that as of my update yesterday.

But I will find a way to be alerted to new E-mail upon arrival that is important to address.

I'll remember to "never" post a question again where I "might" have your support.

Modified by Mr. Garrison

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If you have several accounts and mailboxes, and want to see just the new mail, you could enable View/Folder/Unified, so that all new mail would appear in the single, Unified Inbox. Click the Unread button on the Quick Filter Bar to show only unread messages.

Further customization can be achieved by creating a Saved Search to show mail according to several criteria, e.g. new, unread, specific senders, and from multiple specified folders. It might not be exactly the same as Eudora, but it's probably an acceptable, possibly better, substitute.

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sfhowes,

Thank you. Since I'm now forced to eliminate Eudora OSE for Thunderbird, that information provides what I need - albeit a bit cumbersome (I got lazy with EOSE), at least there are work-arounds.

That said, for me, it would be nice if the blue highlighted folders with new mail were a different color. I know that's possible, but can you be so kind as to point me in the right direction of where to change that color?

I'm sure I'll get used to the switch. I've kept Thunderbird installed for years so that it is updated to keep EOSE somewhat updates. Since Thunderbird works "with" EOSE to keep EOSE running, it's been installed for many years. With both installed they both use the same mailboxes so I don't have to try to merge them. Open either and get the same mail. The recent update I did on Thunderbird showed me that it was time to let EOSE die...sigh...

Thanks again. Thomas

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To change the color of folders with new mail, create a userChrome.css file with this content:

@namespace url("http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul");

/* Change the color of folders with unread messages */
treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(hasUnreadMessages-true)
{color: red !important;}

You can set the color as desired.

Create a subfolder of the profile folder, name it chrome, create a new text file in chrome and save it as userChrome.css, Save as Type: All Files *.*, copy the above content into the css file. Help/Troubleshooting, click Open Folder to open the profile folder, close TB.

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Chosen Solution

Thank you, again, sfhowes.

I had to find the "correct" folder (had a chrome folder in c:/Program Files (x86)/Mozilla Thunderbird/chrome That wasn't the right spot. When I opened Help/Troubleshooting... and Open Folder, I found the correct folder and file, and edited that one. It worked! I remember I had a hard time trying to place the css in the right spot years ago for zebra striping.

All is good now. Thanks again. Thomas

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sfhowes,

I hope you have some words of wisdom for me. I keep trying variations and reviewing different code, but the only thing I've been able to do is change the color for my already existing zebra code, and the "Inbox" text.

The code you gave me changed only "Inbox" text to red - nothing else. I confirmed by checking mail, getting mail into one of my "Local Folders" to the inbox, and, it "was" that light blue. But now it's only black, bold text.

For whatever reason, I can't get the red on the Local Folders. None of the "Local Folders" appears to pay any attention to the code you provided: /* Change the color of inbox folder with unread messages */ treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(folderNameCol, hasUnreadMessages-true, newMessages-true){

 font-weight: bold !important;
 color: #ff0000 !important;
 }

You had "red" where I used "#ff0000"...that's the developer in me. I'm sure there is code to target Local Folders, but I have no idea what that may look like.

Thanks.

Modified by Mr. Garrison

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Have a look at this discussion:

https://support.mozilla.org/bm/questions/1261363

I think it's just a matter adding lines with hasUnreadMessages replaced by subfoldersHaveUnreadMessages. You may also need a line with specialFolder-Local Folders.

See also: https://superuser.com/questions/377361/thunderbird-userchrome-change-sub-folder-and-parent-folder-color-with-unread-m

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sfhowes,

Thanks - again! I kept digging. I had come across the first link with all the code, but nothing worked from that either...don't know why.

After reading the "Superuser" link, I used the suggested code, but I had to edit it since it didn't work, and with that I did some guessing.

I had a couple of commands in the parenthesis, but found that only 1 could be in there at a time - at least the commands that I was attempting.

Here's what works: treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(subfoldersHaveUnreadMessages-true){

 font-weight: bold !important;
 color: #ff0000 !important;
 font-style: italic !important;
 }

treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(hasUnreadMessages-true){ color: #ff0000 !important; }

The first line is for the subfolders, or Local Folders. That works like a champ and I can change the color later if desired. For now, red stands out. The second line addresses the Inbox.

As long as new messages stand out, I'm happy. I hope this helps anybody looking to do the same because the "Add Ons" don't address this issue either. They want to change an account color or allow you to change a folder color, but "not" when there are conditions. It's either 1 color or another, but has nothing to do with the contents.

Thanks again.