It would be useful if other Mac users could test this. I find that with TB 68/W10, choosing the suggestion with the up/down arrow key, and then pressing Enter, produces results for just the selected string. Same result if the string is selected with the mouse.

Until other mac users reply, see if the same thing happens in safe mode (hold Option when you launch TB).

Thanks for your quick reply.

Same problem in safe mode.

Forgot to state my environment: Mac OSX 10.13.6 TB 60.9.0 (64-bit)

Thansk!

Yes, I have an older Mac. I would suggest you start by rebuilding TB Gloda , or "Global Database" ... as per the instructions on this very helpful page: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/rebuilding-global-database

I think Spotlight uses TB Gloda for indexing your messages IF you permitted this action. So if TB can't find it, Spotlight Can't find it either.

Also: be sure to check if you have allowed Spotlight to index your messages.

Do This: Click on the "Thunderbird" menu on the Menu Bar and go down two lines to "Preferences" and click it. (Or hit +, "Command plus Comma" to open it).

Click on "Advanced" in the Left Column ... Click on the left-most tab at the Top marked "General" ... Look down to "System Integration" ... be SURE that the Checkbox to the left of "Allow Spotlight to search Messages" is Checked (On) ... And the one Below it in "Advanced Configuration" that reads "Enable Global Search and Indexer" MUST Be on also!

If EITHER Of Them are OFF (Not Checked) ... there is your problem.

Spotlight isn't PERMITTED to Index all of your messages

OR Thunderbird Isn't permitted to Index your messages! Click them both ON to fix it - and close the Tab.

If both of them were already Checked then I suggest that Database Rebuild I suggested first. Silly me: if the lower one was unchecked from the start ... then you wouldn't have FOUND that Global database to Rebuild ... because it wouldn't have been born yet!

Spotlight EVENTUALLY can search for that one critical email now ... After it "indexes" TB Gloda into IT'S Index.

As Shown in this Screenshot:

The global search that's built into TB is independent of the search mechanism under System Integration, Windows or Spotlight. I have global search and indexing enabled, but Windows Search is not enabled, as it is a common source of performance issues.

I don't think the problem here is a corrupted global database, although it doesn't hurt to rebuild it, and the user doesn't get erroneous results. It's likely a difference between how the OS X search box works compared to the Windows version.

Hi, Thanks for your reply. Yes, this was checked. But it has nothing to do with spotlight.

The problem is in the search field itself. Not an index problem

The problem: Selecting the suggested value does not search on it, the engine still searches on my partially entered strings.

Let me give an example:

• If I type "info"
• I see MANY suggestions (many people have emails with info in it),
• if I select [email protected] (the one I am looking for)
• I get the result on "info" rather than "[email protected]"
• Which yields TOMS of unrelated results.

Why suggest if I can't use the suggestion!

When I type a search term I see a selection of email messages. Clicking on one Instantly shows it in the preview pane. Double clicking on one opens it in a new tab.

Maybe you'd better post a screenshot.

PS maybe try using the "Quick Filter" instead of the search box. Apparently I've NEVER Used the "Search Box" ... having mistaken the "Quick Filter" for it long ago.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ryzzlf9qyng29c7/searchproblem.mov?dl=0

Sea Mac said

PS maybe try using the "Quick Filter" instead of the search box. Apparently I've NEVER Used the "Search Box" ... having mistaken the "Quick Filter" for it long ago.

Quick filter does not work across folders to my knowledge. I need to search my whole Account.

I typed a search term into the actual SEARCH Box and hit return.

Up pops this ugly looking sheet with every email address that has the search term in it. Clicking on any of them opens that message.

I cannot duplicate your problem. I'm glad I've not used that search box before ... I suggest you click the "Quick Filter" Button and use it Instead.

(I've just removed the Search Box from my toolbar as a "Waste Of Space")

Edit/Find/Search Messages (Ctrl+Shift+F) searches across an account or a folder and subfolders, but it's not exactly the same as global search ('facetted' search).

The original issue remains - difference between OS X and Windows global search box.

Hmmmm .... I know Quick Filter CAN Search across all Folders ...

But only offers to do so if it finds no results in the folder you were in. (I mistyped a word to search for) I wish there were a way to FORCE It to include the other folders in the original filtering ....

I don't even know if the SEARCH Box searches across all folders ... I thought it only searched through the folder you were in. You'd better confirm that ...

You NEED Spotlight if you want to search across ALL Folders at once.

This article describes all the search methods:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Search_-_Thunderbird