Tools > Options > Composition Under Addressing Tab Address Autocompletion

The history file looks to be history.mab in your profile folder ( you can open with notepad ) If that is blank or missing or corrupted that could cause it

in Tools>Options>Advanced>Config Editor my default value mail.collect_addressbook = moz-abmdbdirectory://history.mab

re : I don't use an addressbook but i use autocompletes

As you type in the 'TO field, options of contacts are displayed in a drop down list and offer an autocomplete of email address. So, autocompletes are a type of filter based on what you type and matched with potential email addresses that are stored in any of your address books. If you are not adding contacts to an address book then perhaps this has been occuring by default on emails you send. The address book that is often set up to keep a store of outgoing email addresses is the 'Collected Addresses' address book. Click on 'Address Book' Select 'Collected Addresses' - is it empty ?

In the 'profile name' folder, this 'Collected Addresses' address book is called 'history.mab'.

Maybe something went wrong and the file got renamed 'history.mab.bak' and a new empty 'history.mab' was created. When accessing the 'profile name' folder remember to exit Thunderbird first. Then see if you have the 'history.mab.bak' file - make a copy as backup and then change the name back to 'history.mab' to replace the empty new 'history.mab' file.

AnnaG mentions how to locate setting info for 'Address Autocompletion' via the 'Menu Bar' toolbar, but as it is disabled by default perhaps this info would help: Menu app icon > Options > Options > Composition > 'Addressing' tab Select checkbox for 'Local Address Books' Select checkbox for 'Automatically add outgoing email addresses to my:' and choose an appropriate addess book. 'Collected Addresses' is the usual one to choose.

I do note you are using a Portable version adapted by PortableApps.com as opposed to the desktop version by Thunderbird.

Thanx for the reply. Unfortunetly , it didnt solve it.

@AnnaG:

1. The file history.mab is not corrupt. I opened it and all the email addresses are still there.

2. in Tools>Options>Advanced>Config Editor my default value was not

mail.collect_addressbook = moz-abmdbdirectory://history.mab

but

moz-abmdbdirectory://abook.mab

I corrected it like you suggested but it didn't solve it.

@Toad-Hall:

1.

Select 'Collected Addresses' - is it empty ?

The drop down field for keep outgoing addresses is empty and in fact, the dropdown doesn't work. It doesn't open, nothing shows.

2. 'history.mab' > not corrupts + i didn't see a 'history.mab.bak' file

3.

Select checkbox for 'Local Address Books'

> was already checked

Select checkbox for 'Automatically add outgoing email addresses to my:' and choose an appropriate addess book. 'Collected Addresses' is the usual one to choose.

> see under 1. I can't choose this as the dropdown does not work.

Thank again for looking into it. Hopefully this gives new ideas.

Guy

Thanx for the reply. Unfortunetly , it didnt solve it.

@AnnaG:

1. The file history.mab is not corrupt. I opened it and all the email addresses are still there.

2. in Tools>Options>Advanced>Config Editor my default value was not

mail.collect_addressbook = moz-abmdbdirectory://history.mab

but

moz-abmdbdirectory://abook.mab

I corrected it like you suggested but it didn't solve it.

@Toad-Hall:

1.

Select 'Collected Addresses' - is it empty ?

The drop down field for keep outgoing addresses is empty and in fact, the dropdown doesn't work. It doesn't open, nothing shows.

2. 'history.mab' > not corrupts + i didn't see a 'history.mab.bak' file

3.

Select checkbox for 'Local Address Books'

> was already checked

Select checkbox for 'Automatically add outgoing email addresses to my:' and choose an appropriate addess book. 'Collected Addresses' is the usual one to choose.

> see under 1. I can't choose this as the dropdown does not work.

Thank again for looking into it. Hopefully this gives new ideas.

Guy

re : 1. Select 'Collected Addresses' - is it empty ? The drop down field for keep outgoing addresses is empty and in fact, the dropdown doesn't work. It doesn't open, nothing shows.

This part of the question related to what you can see in the 'Address Book' itself and not in 'Options'. There is no drop down field - are you actually looking in the 'Address Book' window ? I'm asking if you can see any contacts stored in the various address books eg: 'Collected Addresses' or 'Personal Address Book'. I need to know what is and is not visible in the 'Address Book' itself. Check through all the various address books to see if you can see any contacts stored. See image as example -

If you had this in 'about:config':

• mail.collect_email_address_outgoing = True
• mail.collect_addressbook = moz-abmdbdirectory://abook.mab

Then you had the collected addresses going to 'Personal Address Book'.

Thanks for the image you posted. As you cannot select anything from that drop down in 'Options' for 'Address Autocompletion', it is possible that something is wrong with the Portable version you are using. I notice you mention 68.6.0 and Auto fill in addresses for about 2 weeks. That was about when the version 68.6.0 was released, but I can see in the Portable apps forums that they were still having some issues with version 68 only a week ago - John T. Haller comment https://portableapps.com/comment/243068#comment-243068 Whilst you are using Thunderbird and in all general aspects it is the same. But the source code is available, you are using a product that has been further developed by 'PortableApps' and not Thunderbird developers. This is a link to the 'PortableApps' forum for Thunderbird. https://portableapps.com/forums/support/thunderbird_portable https://portableapps.com/forum/active?forum=9

Do you have a need to use a Portable version of Thunderbird?