Thunderbird UI Font Size (Again)

[C A Upsdell]

As I noted in an earlier post, TB's UI font size for Windows is way too
small, and the add-on to change it no longer works in TB 60.

Does anyone know whether one of the about:config options controls this?
I'm 68, my mom's 88, both of us use TB, and both have a terrible time
reading TB's damn small UI font, even with reading glasses. We're
getting very frustrated with TB, and are willing to dig into advanced
options if that is what is needed to make the damn UI font legible.
I've gone through the about:config options and so far have struck out.

(Of course it would be better still if the TB developers would take the
time to make the UI font size one of the standard options. Or make the
UI font size based on one of the Windows configurable font sizes.)

[Chris Ramsden]

Try adjusting one of these settings in the config editor.

1) layout.css.dpi - set to the actual dpi of your screen, or
2) layout.css.devPixelsPerPx - use this like a scaling factor. You'll need a fractional value, I'd guess in the range 0.5 to 2.

ISTR the first of these may be only effective in Linux, so may not work in Windows.

It's possible that neither of these exists by default so you may have to create them. (1) is integer type, (2) is a string.

DPI defaults to 96 in most software, but if you have a modern display yours may be somewhat higher. For instance, mine is 143. On some platforms, you may have trouble finding an explicit statement of the DPI for your display. If you know the logical width and height of your screen (in pixels), you can measure the physical screen with a rule and get a good approximation to the actual DPI.

Note that these settings will adjust /all/ text and images in Thunderbird, so once you have got the menus and lists to your liking, you will probably need to revisit the font sizes for message text.

I don't use these settings myself; I have a userChrome.css file. Say if you need details if the config settings above don't work out for you.
--
Chris

[C A Upsdell]

On 2018-08-12 13:46, Chris Ramsden wrote:
> On 11/08/18 21:36, C A Upsdell wrote:
>> As I noted in an earlier post, TB's UI font size for Windows is way too small, and the add-on to change it no longer works in TB 60.
>>
>> Does anyone know whether one of the about:config options controls this? I'm 68, my mom's 88, both of us use TB, and both have a terrible time reading TB's damn small UI font, even with reading glasses.  We're getting very frustrated with TB, and are willing to dig into advanced options if that is what is needed to make the damn UI font legible. I've gone through the about:config options and so far have struck out.
>>
>> (Of course it would be better still if the TB developers would take the time to make the UI font size one of the standard options.  Or make the UI font size based on one of the Windows configurable font sizes.)
>>
> Try adjusting one of these settings in the config editor.
>

> 2) layout.css.devPixelsPerPx - use this like a scaling factor. You'll need a fractional value, I'd guess in the range 0.5 to 2.

THAT did the trick. Default was -1.0 , I changed it to 1.125 , and that
increased the UI font size just enough to make it readable. Thanks a lot!!!

[Roger Fink]

I don't have the latest T-bird installed so I don't how V. 60 differs
from earlier versions, but if you have a Chrome subfolder under your
profile folder you can use its userChrome.css file (or you can easily
create it) to control the GUI fonts in Thunderbird, which is how I do
it. The relevant content in my userChrome.css is:

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

/* Change the thread and folder pane font. */
tree, treechildren {
font-family: "Gisha" !important;
font-weight: normal !important;
font-size: 11pt !important;
}

/* Set default font for various things. */
menubar, menu {
font-family: "Tiresias PCfont Z" !important;
font-weight: normal !important;
font-size: 9pt !important;
}

/* Set default font for various things. */
window {
font-family: "Tiresias PCfont Z" !important;
font-weight: normal !important;
font-size: 10pt !important;
}


If you elect to do this be sure that T-bird is closed when you're
editing the file, and make sure you copy your original userChrome.css
(if you have one) to a place where you can retrieve it if necessary. You
will likely use different fonts and font sizes than what I use, (but I
strongly suggest trying out the free Tiresias PCfont Z). You will be
relying on repetitive trial and error to determine what looks good and
what sizes you need.

This is a cumbersome process, but once you have it set up, it should
survive future upgrades. Ten years ago, this would have been an early
post in this thread, but this kind of approach has been de-emphasized
(understandably) in Mozilla products. I only posted it because it looks
like you're in a tight spot.

Since I'm not familiar with the newest Thunderbird it might be useful if
someone else could first confirm that this is still in fact a valid way
to modify the T-bird GUI. Good luck.

[Big Al]

Make a folder in your profile called "chrome". No quotes of course.
Make a file in that folder called "userChrome.css" Again no quotes.

Paste all of this into that file: Start at the "do not remove" line.
If you don't like it, just delete the file. You have to restart TB to
make this work. This works for me. Also note the "Arial" font. If
you are using Linux, then you should make it something else. Liberation?

/* do not remove this line (and it should be one line */

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

/* this does an overal enlargment of fonts */
/* Shows up most on the menu */
/* all things like settings dialogs also show bigger. */

* { font-size: 16pt !important;
font-family: Arial !important;}

/* fix for too-tall dialogue where buttons are not visible, being off
the bottom */
#accountManager { min-height: 36em !important; }


/* expand the attachment name field size on the bottom preview pane */
#attachmentBucket, .attachmentBox {min-width: 35em;}

/* change font for things on account settings menu, */
/* won't change the actual setup window though */
label.iconic-label { font-size: 16pt !important; }

/* change the font on the tabs */
..tab-text { font-size: 18pt !important;
font-weight: normal !important;
height: 28px !important; }

..tabmail-tab { max-width: 350px !important; min-width: 300px !important; }

/* Text In Tab Labels And Tool Bar(s) */
toolbar {
font-weight: normal !important;
font-size: 18pt !important;
background-image:
linear-gradient(to bottom,#EBEDFE,#B5B3FF) !important;
}

#tabs-toolbar { background-color: #D4D4D4 !important;}



/* Menu font Top of the window File/Edit etc */
menu, menulist, menuitem { font-size: 18pt !important; margin-top: 0px
!important; height: 22px !important; }


/* this darkens the line use in the headers to link threads */
tree[seltype="cell"] > treechildren::-moz-tree-line,
tree[seltype="text"] > treechildren::-moz-tree-line,
treechildren::-moz-tree-line { border: 2px solid #285AB0 !important;}


/* Folderpane - Text background and color of folder when email is
selected */
#folderTree treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(selected) {
background-color: #F0F0F0 !important;
color: #000000 !important;
}
/* Folderpane - background and color of folder when first selected */
#folderTree treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(selected, focus) {
background-color: #6060FF !important;
color: #FFFFFF !important;
}


/* Found in TB support group relating to ver 24 of TB */
/* Change the colour of unread messages and containing folders*/
treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(folderNameCol, hasUnreadMessages-true) {
color: blue !important; font-weight: bold !important; }

/* make account with new mail red and bold */
#folderTree > treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(isServer-true,
biffState-NewMail,) {
font-weight: bold !important; color: blue !important; }

treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text(folderNameCol, specialFolder-Inbox,
newMessages-true) {
font-weight: bold !important; color: blue !important; }

/* Set Font Size In Folder Pane */
#folderTree >treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text {
font-size: 15pt !important; }
#threadTree >treechildren::-moz-tree-cell-text {
font-size: 17pt !important; }

/* After adjusting the font size(s), */
/* you find that the spacing between the lines also needs adjusting. */
#folderTree >treechildren::-moz-tree-row { height: 22px !important; }
#threadTree >treechildren::-moz-tree-row { height: 26px !important; }

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

In Linux systems there is a hiden file ".thunderbird" and int it you
will find a directory called something like "abcdefgh.default". In it
make a directory called "chrome" if it not there. In this directory make
a file called "userChrome.css" with this content:

/* Global UI font */

*{ font-size: 14pt !important;
font-family: DejaVuSerif !important;
}

With this you can change size and font of your UI.

I do not know where to find these files under Windows. I hope someone
with a Windows system will help and tell you where to find these settings.

Greetings,

Erik

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

In Linux systems there is a hidden file ".thunderbird" and in it you

will find a directory called something like "abcdefgh.default". In it

make a directory called "chrome" if it is not there. In this directory

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[EnDeeGee]

> >snip>

Thank you.
I have set all the font-size to 12pt and everything works fine for me.
Finally a usable 64bit TB without having to use binocular to read it. :-)

[Chris Ramsden]

On 2018-08-13 04:15, Roger Fink wrote:
> I don't have the latest T-bird installed so I don't how V. 60 differs
> from earlier versions, but if you have a Chrome subfolder under your
> profile folder you can use its userChrome.css file (or you can easily
> create it) to control the GUI fonts in Thunderbird, which is how I do
> it. The relevant content in my userChrome.css is:
>
> @namespace
> url("http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul");
>
> /* Change the thread and folder pane font. */
> tree, treechildren {
>    font-family: "Gisha" !important;
>    font-weight: normal !important;
>    font-size: 11pt !important;
> }
>
> /* Set default font for various things. */
> menubar, menu {
>    font-family: "Tiresias PCfont Z" !important;
>    font-weight: normal !important;
>    font-size: 9pt !important;
> }
>
> /* Set default font for various things. */
> window {
>    font-family: "Tiresias PCfont Z" !important;
>    font-weight: normal !important;
>    font-size: 10pt !important;
> }
>
>

> If you elect to do this be sure that T-bird is closed when you're
> editing the file, and make sure you copy your original userChrome.css
> (if you have one) to a place where you can retrieve it if necessary.
> You will likely use different fonts and font sizes than what I use,
> (but I strongly suggest trying out the free Tiresias PCfont Z). You
> will be relying on repetitive trial and error to determine what looks
> good and what sizes you need.
>
> This is a cumbersome process, but once you have it set up, it should
> survive future upgrades. Ten years ago, this would have been an early
> post in this thread, but this kind of approach has been de-emphasized
> (understandably) in Mozilla products. I only posted it because it
> looks like you're in a tight spot.
>
> Since I'm not familiar with the newest Thunderbird it might be useful
> if someone else could first confirm that this is still in fact a valid
> way to modify the T-bird GUI. Good luck.
>

I use a userChrome.css myself, though I always lose the will to live
when faced with isolating the individual items available in the UI. Mine
just sets the face and font globally, using '*', so I am in awe at your
exactitude. ;-)

But yes I can affirm it's still a valid method, at least up to 52.9.1. I
too haven't tried 60+ on my production machines yet. I do recall some
oddities when testing 60 and up, so I fear that userChrome.css may be at
end of life.

Note that the folder in question is 'chrome', not 'Chrome'. It is case
sensitive.

--
Chris

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[Erik]

C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:

[EnDeeGee]

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\profilename.default\chrome

[Roger Fink]

Glad it all works now.

[Erik]

Erik schreef op 13-08-18 om 11:53:

I am sorry for the many repetitions. I got the impression that I did
something wrong when I did not see my message in this newsgroup.

Erik

[Roger Fink]

On 8/13/2018 9:08 AM, Chris Ramsden wrote:
>
>
> On 2018-08-13 04:15, Roger Fink wrote:
>> I don't have the latest T-bird installed so I don't how V. 60 differs
>> from earlier versions, but if you have a Chrome subfolder under your
>> profile folder you can use its userChrome.css file (or you can easily
>> create it) to control the GUI fonts in Thunderbird, which is how I do
>> it. The relevant content in my userChrome.css is:
>>
>> @namespace
>> url("http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there.is.only.xul");
>>
>> /* Change the thread and folder pane font. */
>> tree, treechildren {

>> Â Â font-family: "Gisha" !important;
>> Â Â font-weight: normal !important;
>> Â Â font-size: 11pt !important;

>> }
>>
>> /* Set default font for various things. */
>> menubar, menu {

>> Â Â font-family: "Tiresias PCfont Z" !important;
>> Â Â font-weight: normal !important;
>> Â Â font-size: 9pt !important;

>> }
>>
>> /* Set default font for various things. */
>> window {

>> Â Â font-family: "Tiresias PCfont Z" !important;
>> Â Â font-weight: normal !important;
>> Â Â font-size: 10pt !important;

Yes, I should have used "yourfavoritefont" instead of specific fonts,
but at two in the morning a one-swipe copy-and-paste was too much to
resist.

btw, the newsreader clent I use is the Tb clone FossaMail 38.2, which
was the final release of the program, and the only release in 64-bit, so
after copying in my userChrome.css from Tb, I was faced with the same
problem as O.P.

[Rod]

Theme and font size changer 64.1 is available through Mozilla Addons. It
works with newer versions.

[WaltS48]

On 8/11/18 4:36 PM, C A Upsdell wrote:
> Does anyone know whether one of the about:config options controls
> this? I'm 68, my mom's 88, both of us use TB, and both have a terrible
> time reading TB's damn small UI font, even with reading glasses.

Do you get regular eye exams?

I'm 70, wear bifocals and have no problem.

My roommate is 63 and couldn't read a newspaper. Turned out she had
cataracts. After cataract surgery has 20/20 vision in the left eye and
20/30 in the right eye.

--
CPU: 3.2 Ghz AMD Athlon(tm) II X3 455 Processor
RAM: 8 GiB
Graphics: GeForce GT 630/PCIe/SSE2
OS: Ubuntu Linux 18.04LTS - Gnome Desktop

[Tanstaafl]

On Mon Aug 13 2018 19:36:50 GMT-0400 (Eastern Standard Time), Hartdonor
<hart...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> AppData is a hidden folder, so you have to show hidden files before you
> can use it. Or you can just type it in directly in the address bar. i.e.:
>
> C:\Users\[username]\AppData

Or just enter %appdata%

[Roger Fink]

On 8/14/2018 9:00 AM, Erik wrote:
> Erik schreef op 13-08-18 om 11:53:
>> C A Upsdell schreef op 11-08-18 om 22:36:
>>> As I noted in an earlier post, TB's UI font size for Windows is way
>>> too small, and the add-on to change it no longer works in TB 60.
>>>
>>> Does anyone know whether one of the about:config options controls
>>> this? I'm 68, my mom's 88, both of us use TB, and both have a
>>> terrible time reading TB's damn small UI font, even with reading

>>> glasses.� We're getting very frustrated with TB, and are willing to

>>> dig into advanced options if that is what is needed to make the damn
>>> UI font legible. I've gone through the about:config options and so
>>> far have struck out.
>>>
>>> (Of course it would be better still if the TB developers would take

>>> the time to make the UI font size one of the standard options.� Or

>>> make the UI font size based on one of the Windows configurable font
>>> sizes.)
>>>
>>>
>>
>> In Linux systems there is a hidden file ".thunderbird" and in it you
>> will find a directory called something like "abcdefgh.default". In it
>> make a directory called "chrome" if it is not there. In this directory
>> make a file called "userChrome.css" with this content:
>>
>> /* Global UI font */
>>

>> Â *{ font-size: 14pt !important;
>> Â font-family: DejaVuSerif !important;

>> }
>>
>> With this you can change size and font of your UI.
>>
>> I do not know where to find these files under Windows. I hope someone
>> with a Windows system will help and tell you where to find these
>> settings.
>>
>> Greetings,
>>
>> Erik
>
> I am sorry for the many repetitions. I got the impression that I did
> something wrong when I did not see my message in this newsgroup.
>
> Erik

There is a problem right now for certain people trying to post to this
newsgroup, myself among them, and apparently you too. There has been
more than a 24 hour delay in posting two replies I did yesterday, and in
the meantime there have been, I dunno, maybe a dozen+ posts that have
appeared. I tested both of my outgoing servers - Google and Comcast - on
mozilla.test and both test messages posted instantly.

[Big Al]

Similar place in Windows. C:\users\name\appdata\roaming\thunderbird\...

appdata is hidden but you can just type it in the address bar to see it.