I told you above that the only effect of checking that option was to empty a Junk folder and prevent anything else from being put into it. You haven't mentioned that. You are too intolerant of someone trying to sort this out, while you make messes and maybe don't explain everything. If your corrections leave this same issue with no way to reverse it you will be at fault. But I just have to go on "faith" that you have everything right. I don't believe in faith. Thanks anyway. Thunderbird is doing a good job otherwise.

As this is not on the subject of compacting I will reply.

I have a Junk folder in one mail account. I just noticed that you are automatically deleting anything that is put in there. YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS DOING THAT.

Are you talking about the settings in Account settings > junk Setting where you can enable automatic deletion after a given number of days. The setting has been there for years and remains unchanged and is not turned on by default. If it is set then it is you that set it.

Perhaps you need to own the fact that the software does what you and your mail provider decide based on the settings. Not what anyone else does. Once you download and install the software no one outside of you and your mail provider are involved in the process. Unless you invite others in like your anti virus mail scanner, but it is still not anything to do with anyone here.

As I said before the process is between you and your mail provider. If you are using IMAP for your mail, settings in Thunderbird are routinely overridden by server settings with regard to retention. Servers often routinely undertake housekeeping and delete mail from the junk/Spam folder and the Trash/Deleted folder on a program set by the server administrator. I have no idea if your accounts are IMAP or POP. I suggest you check so you know if that is relevant to you.

My Trash folders are being left. Now I can't find where to reverse this authorization I gave you.

You gave no authorization to anyone, you either made a choice as to a setting on your computer, or your mail provider made a choice which you accepted by using IMAP protocol to fetch your mail. You never authorized anyone here to do anything on your behalf and as such your attitude that someone is doing things you did not authorize is grating to say the least.

Your current crop of programmers is making a mess of this issue. Can't write a clear panel message, and can't make healthy judgments on what to do.

Seriously, if you think you can do a better job of it your welcome to have a go. Otherwise I suggest you hold your peace.

You are too intolerant of someone trying to sort this out, while you make messes and maybe don't explain everything.

Consider just how tolerant your comments have been, even the above. No one here has made a mess. We have tried to explain to you how things actually work, and what the message means. We have provided you access to the source materials on which to make an informed decision. Your response "I'm not convinced this message is about Compacting." Seriously. It is not our function to teach you to drink the water, if you choose not to read or can not comprehend the source materials, that is not a support issue.

You state "Your current crop of programmers is making a mess of this issue. Can't write a clear panel message, and can't make healthy judgments on what to do." Your failure to understand the issue, or to understand that the issue has been fixed but awaits release in version 91 results in you to maligning current employees and developers. Perhaps if you want tolerance and understanding you might try treating others with the same.

If your corrections leave this same issue with no way to reverse it you will be at fault. But I just have to go on "faith" that you have everything right. I don't believe in faith.

You have access to the bug reports, and through them the modified source codes. Nothing is hidden. Everything is facts. But out of the blue you start talking about faith.

I'm not versed in reading code or bug reports. Although I have been an applications programmer and have enuf reason to be suspicious of incompetence around the web. I said above I'm using POP. I said the result of authorizing your deletions mssg was only seen in the Junk. I'm not wording it wrong. I have noticed something in Settings about Junk but I have not done that.

Want to add that a Compacting reminder should trigger a one-time compacting, not a permanent automatic authorization. You had it right in past years. I don't know how we got to this. Thanks for the answer anyway.