Thunderbird Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about composing messages:
Where do I set my default message format (Plain Text or HTML)?
How do I turn off prompting about message format?
How can I change the message forwarding method (attachment or inline)?
Which Address Books does Address auto-completion use?
How do I get Address auto-completion to check the campus online (LDAP) directory?
Where do I change spell checking options?
How do I create a signature in Thunderbird?
Questions about receiving messages:
How do I change the default message window behavior (new vs. existing message window)?
How do I save attachments?
How do I set the folder location for attachments?
How can I automatically check for new messages every xx minutes?
How do I set alerts for new messages?
Other Thunderbird questions:
How do I set the Local folders to my network folder?
What folder should I point my Sent Items and Drafts to?
Where do I adjust my Junk mail settings?
Where do I set my default message format (Plain Text or HTML)?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Account Settings.
- Click Composition & Addressing on the left side of the window under the account you want to change.
- To send messages in plain text by default, ensure that Compose messages in HTML format is unchecked.
- To send messages in HTML by default, ensure that Compose messages in HTML format is checked.
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How do I turn off prompting about message format?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the Composition button in the toolbar.
- On the General tab click the Send Options button.
- Change the Ask me what to do drop-down box to the default format you woud like to send messages in.
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How can I change the message forwarding method (attachment or inline)?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the Composition button in the toolbar.
- On the General tab there is the option to forward messages inline or as an attachment.
Back to top Which Address Books does Address auto-completion use?
Thunderbird can use the local address book as well as the Campus LDAP database for email address auto-completion. To set up auto-completion from campus LDAP, see the next question.
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How do I get Address auto-completion to check the campus online (LDAP) directory?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the Composition button in the toolbar.
- Click the Addressing tab.
- Click the check box next to Directory Server: to enable it.
- Click Edit Directories...
- Click Add.
- Enter the following items:
Name: Type in a descriptive account name such as UW-Madison LDAP Directory.
Hostname: ldap.services.wisc.edu
Base DN: dc=wisc,dc=edu
- Click OK on all open windows.
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Where do I change spell checking options?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the Composition button in the toolbar.
- All spell checking options are on the Spelling tab.
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How do I create a signature in Thunderbird?
- Using notepad or any other text editor, create the signature as you would like it appended to your outgoing email.
- Save the document as plain text in a location such as your personal network drive.
- Now open Thunderbird, click the Tools menu, and select Account Settings.
- Click your WiscMail account heading in the left hand column if it is not already selected.
- Then click the Attach this signature checkbox to enable it.
- Click Choose and open the signature file you saved to your network drive.
- Click OK to any open windows. Your signature is now set.
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How do I change the default message window behavior (new vs. existing message window)?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the Advanced button in the toolbar.
- On the General tab there is the option to open new messages in a new window or an existing window.
Back to top How do I save attachments?
- Right-click an attachment in the attachment bar at the bottom of the message and choose Save As.
- You can all save all attachments by right-clicking any attachment and choosing Save All.
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How do I set the folder location for attachments?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the Attachments button in the toolbar.
- Click the Save all attachments to this folder radio button.
- Click Browse and browse to the folder you'd like Thunderbird to save attachments to.
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How can I automatically check for new messages every xx minutes?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Account Settings.
- Click Server Settings on the left side of the window under the account you want to change.
- Make sure Check for new messages every is checked.
- Enter the number of minutes you'd like it to wait before checking.
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How do I set alerts for new messages?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Options.
- Click the General button in the toolbar.
- Under the When new messages arrive section, you can change the alert popup and sound preferences.
How do I set the Local folders to my network folder?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Account Settings.
- Click Local Folders on the left side of the window under the accounts list.
- Under the Message Storage section, click the Browse button next to Local Directory.
- Browse to the location on your network drive where you would like to store your Thunderbird Local folders.
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What folder should I point my Sent Items and Drafts to?
Make sure that your Sent Items and Drafts are not pointing to Local Folders.
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Account Settings.
- Click Copies & Folders on the left side of the window under the account you want to change.
- Make sure that the drop down lists for Sent Items and Drafts are pointing to your account and not to Local Folders.
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Where do I adjust my Junk mail settings?
- Click the Tools menu.
- Select Junk Mail Controls.
- You can now adjust your junk mail settings.
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Questions or Concerns?
Please contact us at helpdesk@education.wisc.edu or 5-4773, for more information. |