How-to configure email sorting in Thunderbird 3.x
Created on 2010-11-12 by Yannick Vaucher
How-to configure email sorting in Thunderbird 3.x
2.1. Set descending order by date
2.2. Set grouped by thread view
1. Introduction
All folders of the project must be viewed in thread view mode. Thread view mode is MANDATORY.
Moreover you must also configure that the threads be sorted by Date and in Descending order.
Difference between sorting by [Date] and by [Order Received] is important.
When you are in [Order Received] mode (which is the default), the threads remain where they are irrespectively of new emails joining to the Thread.
When you are in [Date] mode, the threads are moved to the top whenever a fresh
email joins the thread.
(However, when the folder is opened, and a fresh email joins to the thread, the thread does not move until after you switch to a different folder and returns. In other words the re-sorting of threads occurs only at the moment of the visiting/opening of the IMAP folder).
All those modification have to be set so our huge number of e-mail can be processed with more efficiency and with ease. This has to be set in every single folder so we can.
However, Thunderbird comes with some default behavior that doesn't fit to our use.
Moreover, for each of the folders, Thunderbird saves specific settings. So this forces us to change the sorting settings each time we open a new folder.
In fact I told "forced" at the past time as here is the solution to change Thunderbird's default behavior.
1.1. Thunderbird version
This how-to has been realized on Thunderbird 3.1.6.
It may works on all Thunderbird version 2.x and 3.x.
2. Thunderbird settings
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In this how-to we will enter in the deep configuration of Thunderbird with it's internal editor. |
Let's open this editor. Tools -> Options…
Go in Advanced Tab
Click on Config Editor …
As said previously, we are entering in deep configurations, so you can pass this message.
2.1. Set descending order by date
In the filter textbox seize : mailnews.default_sort
As default, mailnews.default_sort_type should be 18. This is for Date sorting.
Now, change the sort order.
Double click on the line mailnews.default_sort-order.
Set 2 for descending.
Click OK.
2.2. Set grouped by thread view
Now let's enable the thread view.
In the filter, enter: mailnews.default_view
Edit the value by clicking on the line mailnews.default_view_flags
Enter the value 1 and accept by clicking OK.
2.3. Apply changes
Thunderbird is now configured, but to apply those changes, we need to close it.
Next time we open thunderbird, the changes will take effect.
3. Preferences values
Here are the lists of values we can set in those preferences.
mailnews.default_sort_order
1 = Ascending
2 = Descending
mailnews.default_sort_type
17 = None
18 = Date
19 = Subject
20 = Author
21 = ID (Order Received)
22 = Thread
23 = Priority
24 = Status
25 = Size
26 = Flagged
27 = Unread
28 = Recipient
29 = Location
30 = Label
31 = Junk Status
32 = Attachments
33 = Account
mailnews.default_view_flags
0 = Unthreaded
1 = Threaded
4. References
Discussion on how-to set thread view :
Discussion on how-to change default sorting :
http://superuser.com/questions/13518/change-the-default-sorting-order-in-thunderbird
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