Toggle to HTML composition AFTER start of writing a new mail

[Frank Röhm]

Hello,

since I switched from Outlook 2007 to Thunderbird 16 (now 17) two months ago, from time to time I search the web for a solution or Add-On to switch to html-mail composition after I have already started to write a new mail.

I used it often in Outlook (for mails to explain something with screenshots) and it is a great and modern feature.

I know that I can copy the already written text, close and delete the new mail, open a new one with mouseclick (!) and Shift, but this is not at all comfortable.

I am sure that I am not the only one who would love this feature, which would make Thunderbird smoother and a more up to date mail client.

Also I am sure the developer are aware of it, but I don't know where to apply and beg for it, all I found is many questions for this feature and only this clumsy shift-thing.

Maybe it is on the ToDo list?
Maybe somebody will write an Add-On for it once?
Or is it really really impossible?

frank

[goodwin]

This was covered in this group about 2-3 months ago - the thread subject
was
"Switching between plain text/HTML when writing"
I don't use MSoft at all so am unaware of any such capability /and/
wouldn't use it if I knew it.

Impossible is relative in software - theoretically, nothing is
impossible but sometimes it doesn't pay.
Someone else may know what is current on this but I don't recollect any
resolution in that thread. Search google groups (spit)
Try searching around https://bugzilla.mozilla.org - and see if it is
being looked at. Post the question to the mozilla.support.mozilla group.

[Christoph Schmees]

On 18.01.2013 02:48, Frank Röhm wrote:
> Hello,
>
> since I switched from Outlook 2007 to Thunderbird 16 (now 17) two months ago, from time to time I search the web for a solution or Add-On to switch to html-mail composition after I have already started to write a new mail.
>
> I used it often in Outlook (for mails to explain something with screenshots) and it is a great and modern feature.
>

this is still OL thinking. You don't need HTML to /attach/ files
to a mail.
I *never* compose emails in HTML. If I want to attach files
(screenshots, scans, documents ...) to a mail I just do it! :-)

You can do that via the menu or by d&d of the file(s) to the
header pane of the mail being composed.

Christoph

--
email:
nurfuerspam -> gmx
de -> net

[Chris Ramsden]

On 18 Jan 2013 08:20, "Christoph Schmees" <cj...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:

>>
>
> this is still OL thinking. You don't need HTML to /attach/ files to a
mail.
> I *never* compose emails in HTML. If I want to attach files (screenshots,
scans, documents ...) to a mail I just do it! :-)
>
> You can do that via the menu or by d&d of the file(s) to the header pane
of the mail being composed.
>
> Christoph
>

Yes, yes, yes!!

Plaintext + attachments is universal.

But MS has beguiled the business sector in particular into thinking that
email should look and feel like traditional paper-based correspondence.

Chris.

[Arivald]

W dniu 2013-01-18 02:48, Frank Röhm pisze:

Just update settings to always write in HTML. There is possibility to
switch from HTML to plain in composer, but not other way.

BTW "shift+click" in this case will allow You to start plain text mail
immediately.

To set preferences to always write in HMTL:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Plain_text_e-mail_%28Thunderbird%29#Send_HTML_messages


If You used any "stationery" template with Outlook, You can use it in TB
too, with my Stationery extension. Must have for business emails ;-)


--
Arivald

[Jay Garcia]

On 18.01.2013 03:50, Chris Ramsden wrote:

In plain text composition mode, just typing the word attach will
automagically trigger the functionality to attach a file, etc.


--
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Mozilla Contribute Coordinator Team - www.mozilla.org/contribute/
Mozilla Mozillian Member - www.mozillians.org
Mozilla Contributor Member - www.mozilla.org/credits/

[Arivald]

W dniu 2013-01-18 14:07, Jay Garcia pisze:

> On 18.01.2013 03:50, Chris Ramsden wrote:
>
> --- Original Message ---
>
>> On 18 Jan 2013 08:20, "Christoph Schmees" <cj...@nurfuerspam.de> wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> this is still OL thinking. You don't need HTML to /attach/ files to a
>> mail.
>>> I *never* compose emails in HTML. If I want to attach files (screenshots,
>> scans, documents ...) to a mail I just do it! :-)
>>>
>>> You can do that via the menu or by d&d of the file(s) to the header pane
>> of the mail being composed.
>>>
>>> Christoph
>>>
>> Yes, yes, yes!!
>>
>> Plaintext + attachments is universal.
>>
>> But MS has beguiled the business sector in particular into thinking that
>> email should look and feel like traditional paper-based correspondence.
>>
>> Chris.
>>
>
> In plain text composition mode, just typing the word attach will
> automagically trigger the functionality to attach a file, etc.
>
>

"annoyingly" is the word, not "automagically"... I really hate this kind
of "helpers"...

--
Arivald

[Christoph Schmees]

On 18.01.2013 14:24, Arivald wrote:
> ...

>>
>> In plain text composition mode, just typing the word attach will
>> automagically trigger the functionality to attach a file, etc.
>>
>>
>
> "annoyingly" is the word, not "automagically"... I really hate
> this kind of "helpers"...
>

you *can* disable this feature.

[Jay Garcia]

In the config editor, look for the line:

mail.compose.attachment_reminder_keywords

Edit as necessary.

[WaltS]

I have "Check for missing attachements" not checked in my Composition >
General preferences.

Don't get the helper.

--
Fedora 17 (64-bit) KDE 4.9.5
Thunderbird Release
The "Not Me" gremlin installed it.
Yeah, Right!

[Frank Röhm]

Am Freitag, 18. Januar 2013 03:21:12 UTC+1 schrieb goodwin:
> > ... ...

>
> This was covered in this group about 2-3 months ago - the thread subject
>
> was "Switching between plain text/HTML when writing"

> ...

>
> Impossible is relative in software - theoretically, nothing is
>
> impossible but sometimes it doesn't pay.
>

> ...

>
> Try searching around https://bugzilla.mozilla.org - and see if it is
>
> being looked at. Post the question to the mozilla.support.mozilla group.

Thank you goodwin for your really helpful answer!
I found the other post in this group here:

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.support.thunderbird/YQRXtTUB5EA/discussion

and indeed, I found there the link to an already existing wish in bugzilla:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=216132

and at least I voted for it (but only 48 votes till yet).

My best way to deal with this problem is now this:

- I activate html for all my accounts as default.
- as TB sends anyway in plain when no formatting is done this is no problem then.

I tested it, and really, no HTML when there is no formatting.
Great, I can live with this, anyway as I said, normally I don't need formatting at all.

Thanky,

franky

[Frank Röhm]

Am Sonntag, 20. Januar 2013 16:11:40 UTC+1 schrieb Frank Röhm:
> My best way to deal with this problem is now this:
>
> - I activate html for all my accounts as default.
>
> - as TB sends anyway in plain when no formatting is done this is no problem then.
>
> I tested it, and really, no HTML when there is no formatting.
>
> Great, I can live with this, anyway as I said, normally I don't need formatting at all.
>

After some month with this kind of work-around I am a bit annoyed again.
It is not a real solution, because Thunderbird does format HTML-Mails without any formatting anyway.
The font-size is not controllable. By default, the size is too small, and when I display it bigger, the mails I send will be with huge letters and so on. Not a nice composing, so mostly, when I remember, I hit the SHIFT and (have to, grrr!) use the mouse, to compose or answer in plaintext.
I think I soon will go back to default plaintext again, could be the less annoying way.

The idea is clear: it is not at all intended by the TB-developers, that html-mails should be composed easy like in Outlook ;)

I am waiting for the day a good-natured developer will create an Add-On to outwit this stubborn restriction...

frank

[Arivald]

W dniu 2013-04-17 22:37, Frank Röhm pisze:

> Am Sonntag, 20. Januar 2013 16:11:40 UTC+1 schrieb Frank Röhm:
>> My best way to deal with this problem is now this:
>>
>> - I activate html for all my accounts as default.
>>
>> - as TB sends anyway in plain when no formatting is done this is no problem then.
>>
>> I tested it, and really, no HTML when there is no formatting.
>>
>> Great, I can live with this, anyway as I said, normally I don't need formatting at all.
>>
>
> After some month with this kind of work-around I am a bit annoyed again.
> It is not a real solution, because Thunderbird does format HTML-Mails without any formatting anyway.
> The font-size is not controllable. By default, the size is too small, and when I display it bigger, the mails I send will be with huge letters and so on. Not a nice composing, so mostly, when I remember, I hit the SHIFT and (have to, grrr!) use the mouse, to compose or answer in plaintext.
> I think I soon will go back to default plaintext again, could be the less annoying way.
>

It is good idea to do NOT change or set font size in mails. Let
recipient use his own preferred font size.

And for Your reading, Just configure Your TB font sizes to your liking.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Font_settings_in_Thunderbird

> The idea is clear: it is not at all intended by the TB-developers, that html-mails should be composed easy like in Outlook ;)

Outlook? Maybe it is easy to format, but generated HTML is horrible an
bloated. And Outlook HTML compatibility issues areanother horrible story...

But this "easy to format" is just feeling of Office users, because
Outlook use Word to do formatting. Unix or Mac users probably does not
find it "easy"


--
Arivald