how do I switch identities when receiving messages?
I am switching from Outlook Express to Thunderbird (I'm finally leaving XP) . I have three identities on one email account with Earthlink. I can't figure out how to switch between these identities when receiving messages. In OE, I can choose "switch identities" and a list comes up and I choose another identity to receive mail from. It keeps them all separate. I successfully set up a second identity in "Manage Identities" and I can see both identities, when creating new mail, in the "from" tab, but I can't receive mail from the second identity because I can't see how to change identities when receiving mail. I'm sure it's a simple thing, but I just can't put my finger on it.
Solución elegida
I got it set up in no time. Looks exactly like the example you showed. Thanks again!
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You can set up multiple email accounts in Thunderbird, and you can receive mail for all of them without switching anything.
At this point in time, I am only receiving emails from my default address. From what you are saying, I gather I should be receiving emails from all my addresses at the same time? I really don't want it to do that. Each email address has a different purpose and I want to be able to receive from each address separately. It would get real confusing if they all came together and all mixed up.
But they can each have their own Inboxes and associated folders. There's no reason for them to be mixed up.
The problem might be that you only know "identities" and Thunderbird users won't necessarily know what you mean by them.
I'm not sure what you are trying to say...
I'm not trying to make a second or third separate account, just 3 identities on the same account. I think I've figured out how to send messages using different identities, I just can't figure out how to receive from different identities.
Lets get some definitions on the ground.
Your referring to email addresses as identities. That is you have Stu@earthlink.net, Stuman@earthlink.net and stuman666@earthlink.net
In outlook express you maintained then as completely different identities and had to switch the program to work with one or the other.
Thunderbird has profiles which are basically analogous to identities in that everything is totally isolated. They are discussed here. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_manager
Thunderbird is not really setup for that as you will also need an add-on to switch between the profiles https://freeshell.de//~kaosmos/index-en.html#profname
Thunderbird is better used with the three accounts all set up in the mail profile in their own folders on the left. I know outlook express could also do that, so it is not new ground. You simply add the additional account using the account wizard File menu (Alt+F) > New > existing account.
If then looks something like this
There is no jumble, but you are able to search them all as a group to find things.
If you have not got the menu turned on, see http://thunderbirdtweaks.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/hidden-lost-menu-and-toolbar.html
OK, I think I get it now. I was just confused that there are different identities when creating mail, so I was expecting the same thing for receiving mail. Your explanation makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the info.
Solución elegida
I got it set up in no time. Looks exactly like the example you showed. Thanks again!