Windows 10 will reach EOS (end of support) on October 14, 2025. For more information, see this article.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Angle brackets in save file name break saving on SMB attached storage

  • 1 reply
  • 0 have this problem
  • 44 views
  • Last reply by Pouches

more options

So I have been switching over to Linux as Windows 10 discontinuation is coming up. The problem I just ran into today is how Thunderbird does file names on Linux compared to Windows. Windows has the sender's email in parentheses (example@example.com) and Linux has the sender's email in angle brackets <example@example.com>. The problem that has arisen, is that when trying to save an email to a location that is attached via smb (for example: smb://192.168.1.111/Network_Attached_Files) it fails. I can save the email locally, but then even trying to cut and paste to the smb location still fails. I found the problem to be the angle brackets in the file name, smb just doesnt accept it. Thunderbird on Windows uses parentheses so the file name isnt a problem.

Is there any way to change how Thunderbird saved the file name by default, to change the angle brackets back to parentheses like it does in Windows? (when you right click -> save as for example)

Or is there a way to simply remove the sender name and email from the file name by default? So just the subject name and date is there.


I find it strange that I am the first person who seems to have come across this problem. I suppose saving emails on a network attached storage location is far less common than locally on a PC, but still Id think there would be at least a hundred+ people who use Thunderbird and use network storage that this would have already affected and been a problem. Is the angle bracket thing in the file name something new maybe?

So I have been switching over to Linux as Windows 10 discontinuation is coming up. The problem I just ran into today is how Thunderbird does file names on Linux compared to Windows. Windows has the sender's email in parentheses (example@example.com) and Linux has the sender's email in angle brackets <example@example.com>. The problem that has arisen, is that when trying to save an email to a location that is attached via smb (for example: smb://192.168.1.111/Network_Attached_Files) it fails. I can save the email locally, but then even trying to cut and paste to the smb location still fails. I found the problem to be the angle brackets in the file name, smb just doesnt accept it. Thunderbird on Windows uses parentheses so the file name isnt a problem. Is there any way to change how Thunderbird saved the file name by default, to change the angle brackets back to parentheses like it does in Windows? (when you right click -> save as for example) Or is there a way to simply remove the sender name and email from the file name by default? So just the subject name and date is there. I find it strange that I am the first person who seems to have come across this problem. I suppose saving emails on a network attached storage location is far less common than locally on a PC, but still Id think there would be at least a hundred+ people who use Thunderbird and use network storage that this would have already affected and been a problem. Is the angle bracket thing in the file name something new maybe?
Attached screenshots

All Replies (1)

more options

Bringing this back to the top of the list with my question:

Is there any way to change how Thunderbird saved the file name by default, to change the angle brackets back to parentheses like it does in Windows? (when you right click -> save as for example)

Or is there a way to simply remove the sender name and email from the file name by default? So just the subject name and date is there.

Helpful?

Ask a question

You must log in to your account to reply to posts. Please start a new question, if you do not have an account yet.