If you want the message pane, you should be able to get that to appear by clicking F8. If that does not do it, click View > Layout > Message Pane from the menu bar.

I can see a message pane just fine, but the message opens in a new window when I click on its title. That covers everything up except the new window.

Hi! yzoldowl,

  Just press F8 and everything will be fine. If it doesn't help then let me know! :)

No, "just press F8" does not work. Here is a screenshot of what is happening. Often when I select multiple messages to delete or move, each one opens in a new window. This is not acceptable to me. I want to read my messages per the second image: inline, as I select each one.

This is how I want to read my messages, just as I always have in Thunderbird. If I can no longer do this, I will seek a new email client.

If you are single clicking message header and it is opening in a window instead of displaying in the message pane, replace your mouse. It is going bad and issuing a double click instead of a single click.

My mouse is an optical, only about three weeks old. I don't see how it would be going bad already.

You should at least be able to get messages to all use the same window instead of a new one every time. In Options > Advanced > Reading & Display, you can get messages to use an existing message window. You can also set a new tab.

Facts are it takes a double click to open in a window or tab and all electronics go bad. Being an optical mouse means it has no ball to detect movement and has nothing to do with if the buttons work properly. Who does not have a spare mouse or two around to try?

I tried that too. I guess someone tinkered with T'bird (again), and I'll have to wait 'til someone else tinkers it back into shape. I remember for awhile there, T'bird wasn't rendering colors as I wanted them either. Not happy with this development either. No matter what I try, it keeps opening messages in a new window and I have to keep right on closing them. :(

That is my existing setting -- but thanks!

You have the Message Pane visible. Your first image shows that you have selected an email because I can see it in your Message pane (behind the front window) - this is what you want and I can see that this is what you are getting.

However, the same message has been opened in a new window and is displaying in front of the Thunderbird main user interface window. This window will open if you have a double click setting to open in a window instead of a tab or you right clicked and select to open in a new window.

So something is instructing Thunderbird to act to open that window and that instruction comes from your mouse which works depending upon the settings you have selected in your Mouse Settings and Folder options and you physically using the mouse.

A single left click on an email in the list will display it in the Message pane assuming the Message Pane is enabled.

A double click on an email will open that email in the selected method as dictated by your selection here: Tools > Options > Advanced > Reading & display tab open messages in: I select 'A new tab', but you may have one of the other options selected

As you have got a new mouse, it is possible that you have not adjusted the settings to suit your personal preferences. So that either a single click, or two single clicks close together or a long single click is being interpreted by your computer as a double click or a lock. Or the mouse itself has something awry.

This is an issue between the mouse and the computer and Folder Options. Mouse settings are set here: Control Panel > Mouse check the speed of your 'double-click speed'

disable 'clicklock' if enabled to see if it is effecting anything.

Check your Folder options: Control Panel > Folder Optons check this is selected:

• Double click to open an item (single click to select)

It is also possible something is wrong with the mouse itself. I located this by googling:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/257319-mouse-double-clicking-single-click.html

• http://pupuweb.com/optical-mouse-single-click-problem-solved/

yzoldowl said

My mouse is an optical, only about three weeks old. I don't see how it would be going bad already.

This has nothing to do with a mouse. I have the same problem. I also have 3 different mice.

Toad-Hall said

You have the Message Pane visible. Your first image shows that you have selected an email because I can see it in your Message pane (behind the front window) - this is what you want and I can see that this is what you are getting. However, the same message has been opened in a new window and is displaying in front of the Thunderbird main user interface window. This window will open if you have a double click setting to open in a window instead of a tab or you right clicked and select to open in a new window. So something is instructing Thunderbird to act to open that window and that instruction comes from your mouse which works depending upon the settings you have selected in your Mouse Settings and Folder options and you physically using the mouse. A single left click on an email in the list will display it in the Message pane assuming the Message Pane is enabled. A double click on an email will open that email in the selected method as dictated by your selection here: Tools > Options > Advanced > Reading & display tab open messages in: I select 'A new tab', but you may have one of the other options selected As you have got a new mouse, it is possible that you have not adjusted the settings to suit your personal preferences. So that either a single click, or two single clicks close together or a long single click is being interpreted by your computer as a double click or a lock. Or the mouse itself has something awry. This is an issue between the mouse and the computer and Folder Options. Mouse settings are set here: Control Panel > Mouse check the speed of your 'double-click speed' disable 'clicklock' if enabled to see if it is effecting anything. Check your Folder options: Control Panel > Folder Optons check this is selected:

• Double click to open an item (single click to select)

It is also possible something is wrong with the mouse itself. I located this by googling:

• http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/257319-mouse-double-clicking-single-click.html

• http://pupuweb.com/optical-mouse-single-click-problem-solved/

This is a cop out. Nothing to do with mouse. I've used 3 different mice. All have the same probelem. Just fix it please.

Look skyjon, every case of this that I have seen in the year plus of working this forum it has been the mouse. If your system is broken some other way that is your problem. Have some respect for the people that volunteer their time to try and help solve your personal issues.

Airmail, What do you mean by "have some respect". Starting a message with the word Look is hardly respectful. Am I not allowed to voice my opinion? Are we all living in North Korea? How have I disrespected anyone by asking for a fix? Have you ever considered that the answer above might be wrong & that since you last looked into it things may have changed? Is that not a possibilty?

It is not wrong. Your system has problems. It is the mouse or the mouse drivers.

OK ignore all my questions then. How very repectful & highly professional of you Airmail. Well done.

What do you know. It WAS the mouse.

I will gladly add you to my ignore list since you know it all anyway. Not!!

Wrong again Airmail. It was NOT the Mouse or my SYSTEM. It was FAKE batteries. Something you never even mentioned. It's no big secret that I figured it out myself in the end. You've already ignored most of my questions anyway so whats the difference if you add me to your ignore list. Dear me some folks are so self important.