If you have the 'Sort by Attachment' column displaying then all emails with an attachment show a large paperclip beside the message before you even open it in the Message Pane. It usually auto enabled as the third column.

See image on how to enable this column.

The attachment should also be displayed with paperclip icon at the bottom of email. So when viewed in Message Pane there are two icons already visible. plus the sender usually discusses the attachment at some point.

I'll try to see if there is a way of adding another attachment icon to draw attention to an attachment.

@Toad-Hall

Thanks for the reply. It doesn't quite help with my issue, though. Changing the attachment icon itself at the bottom of the message would help some, but it is not ideal in my situation.

Toad-Hall said

before you even open it in the Message Pane.

I am specifically looking for visibility within the message pane. That column is already activated on the inbox view and the paperclip is there.

The attachment should also be displayed with paperclip icon at the bottom of email.

Exactly. I would love to see it at the top of the message pane. This would make life much easier for the older person I am working for. And the bigger the icon, the better.

I've found a way of moving the same attachment section that is usually positioned at the bottom of the message to be positioned at the top of the message below the header info.

You need to do the following in the order specified.

First: change config editor setting: 'Tools' > 'Options' > 'Advanced' > 'General' tab or 'Menu icon' > 'Options ' > 'Options' > 'Advanced' > 'General' tab

• click on 'Config Editor' button - it will tell you to be careful :)
• In top search type: unpack
• look for this line: extensions.alwaysUnpack; Value = false
• double click on that line to toggle the Value from 'false' to true
• close window - top right X
• click on OK

Second: download and install the chrome.xpi file

• http://downloads.mozdev.org/mailtweak
• I dragged and dropped the 'chrome.xpi' to my 'downloads' file.

In Thunderbird 'Tools' > 'Add-ons' or 'Menu icon' > 'Add-ons'

• click on gear wheel icon and select 'Install addon from file'
• locate the file you downloaded and click on 'Open'.

It will be installed and located in the 'Extensions' addon section. You will need to restart Thunderbird for it to take effect.

Third: Create a chrome folder in your Profile folder name: Make hidden files and folders visible:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders

In Thunderbird 'Help' > 'Troubleshooting Information'

• click on 'Show folder' button

a new window opens showing your profile folder name contents.

• close Thunderbird now - this is important.

Create a new folder and call it chrome - note the spelling Save it in the profile folder name folder - the same place as the 'Mail' folder. See first image below.

Four: create userChrome.css Open Notepad

• Copy everything between the following lines and paste into Notepad.
• Save the file as userChrome.css - note the spelling - in the chrome folder.

See second image below.

/*
 
* Do not remove the @namespace line -- it's required for correct functioning
 */

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

#messengerWindow #messagepanebox, #singlemessage {
  -moz-binding: url(chrome://userchrome/content/userChrome.xml#messagepane);
  }

Five : Create userchrome.xml Open Notepad

• Copy everything between the following lines and paste into Notepad.
• Save the file as userChrome.xml - note the spelling - in the chrome folder.

See second image below.

<binding id="messagepane">
  <implementation>
    <constructor><![CDATA[
      var sp = document.getElementById("attachment-splitter")
      var br = sp.previousSibling, at = sp.nextSibling
      this.insertBefore(this.removeChild(at), br)
      this.insertBefore(this.removeChild(sp), br)
      ]]></constructor>
    </implementation>
   </binding>

Restart Thunderbird Select email that has an attachment. It should display below header at top of Message Pane. See third image.

@Toad-Hall

So close!! Thank you so much for your help, your instructions are amazing and very clear. The screenshots look promising, but I haven't gotten it to work just yet.

I've tried three times now, and each time I encounter the same problem: my email preview completely goes away, and when I open a message in its own pane, the message body is blank.

I noticed that there are three files present in your second image. My folder doesn't have three files after following the instructions. Would including userContent.css be the final piece? Where might I find/how might I create that file to test this theory?

My userContent.css has no influence on this particular issue.

So I can see exactly what you have got so far, can you supply images of the following:

1. Confirm you have changed config editor setting: Show image of Config Editor window showing this line:

extensions.alwaysUnpack; Value = True

2. Confirm you have the addon installed and enabled. Show image of 'Add-ons Manager' window showing 'User chrome 1' in 'Extensions'.

3. chrome folder in your Profile folder name: Require 2 images show image of Profile folder name, so I can see where the chrome folder is located. show image So I can see contents of chrome folder - it should have two files.

4. userChrome.css Open this file using Notepad Show image of the window displaying contents of this file.

5. userChrome.xml Open this file using Notepad Show image of the window displaying contents of this file.

@Toad-Hall

I did some more searching in add-ons and viewing screen shots, and it turns out that Thunderbird Conversations changes the display of the attachments at the bottom of the message to quite a large icon.

I truly appreciate your help and your taking the time to write this up. If the add-on solution quits working, you'll be the first place I go!