Thank you for the response, but that is not what the Help leads you to believe. It is describing the Account Settings page, not composing a new e-mail.

The Help article describes more than one way to create a signature. The top part shows how to create simple TEXT signature in Account Settings. In the Account Settings that text box says 'Signature text', so that means compose signature text in either plain text or HTML if you selected the checkbox to use HTML. The examples show how to create simple signature using Plain Text or HTML but it means you need to have knowledge of HTML. So that should answer your comment regarding the specific mention of Signature Text box below...

Furthermore, the Help article should also clearly indicate that you cannot add an image directly on to the Signature Text box on the Account Settings page.

It is not explicit in saying you cannot add an image, but it is explicit in saying it is for Text.

The Help Artcle then goes on to discus signatures stored in files. This is used for more complicated signatures. It specifically says and I'm quoting : "One way to create a signature file is by using the Thunderbird composer. " It mentions you would need to be composing in HTML so the Formatting bar must be enabled. It then goes on stating all the same information I gave in a previous comment which clearly states how to save the composed signature as a HTML file. Finally it tells you to access Account Settings and add that HTML file.

The Help article should be modified to make it clear you have to go back and compose an e-mail with the signature, save it, then go back to the Account settings and use the option to "Attach a signature from a file instead".

It does that precisely, as mentioned above. So I can only assume you did not read the entire article.

If you had read the Article you would find the section: 'Including image files in signatures' which tells you to use the information written above - which is 'Signatures stored in files' and use the menu Insert > Image.

In other words if you want to add an image to your signature then use the compose Write window to create a HTML file.

Basically all the information is in the Article. I agree with you that where it says 'Signature Text' it does not say you cannot include an image, but then most people would assume an image is not text and where it discusses adding an image it states you need to use the compose Write window, so that is obviously not Account Settings.

It is always useful to hear another persons perspective on a Help Article and I agree with you that it should not be assumed that everyone understands that a 'Text' box does not include images. Perhaps some wording adjustments could clear up any potential misunderstanding.

You are still not getting what I am trying to communicate. Please follow me here:

I create the HTML signature in the Account Settings window as describe under the paragraph "HTML Signatures" in the Help Article. (BTW, there is no indication of where this HTML signature is stored, if I wanted to access it to add to it or modify it).

Now I want to add the image. I skip the next paragraph labeled 'Signatures Stored in Files' since I am assuming that is different method that the one I started with.

I scroll down in the Help Article to the paragraph "Including image files in signatures". Yep, that's what I want! Then it says, "To include an image file from your local computer in a signature, follow the steps above to create an HTML signature." Yep, I did that!

Next: "When you are composing the signature contents, though, use the Insert > Image menu option to specify the desired image." Huh? Where is that menu option? Can't find it!

I have over 40 years' experience in hardware/software development, software QA (I was Director of Product Quality at a former FinTech company). I know the difficulty of seeing things from an inexperienced user's perspective when you are so close and intimate with a product. It is literally not seeing the forest for the trees and we are all guilty of it.

I hope you see the issue now. When the reader reaches the paragraph "Include Image Files in Signatures", you need to advise the user that it is necessary to abandon the HTML signature created above (if they did not use the signature from file method) and go to the composer. Then they will be able to find the 'Insert > Image' option. Simple fix!

Thanks for your patience in this matter. I am really trying to help improve the product.

Charlie

You insist on reading the article as though the person was not sitting at compose window. Notice the wording: "WHEN you are composing the signature elements...." because WHEN you are doing that, the compose window is in front of you, which includes the insert menu option.

My suggestion to you, since I have seen no one ever become confused by this, is that you rewrite the entire help article and submit it to bugzilla dot mozilla dot org as a suggested replacement. Continuing to discuss here accomplishes nothing.

And, like you, I was a director of software development, a director of training, and an author of help documentation and I find no problems here. And that is why you should write the entire article as you think it should be done. If it is an improvement, I'm sure everyone will thank you. Your attempt to improve quality is appreciated. All the best.

You are still not getting what I am trying to communicate. Please follow me here: I create the HTML signature in the Account Settings window as describe under the paragraph "HTML Signatures" in the Help Article. (BTW, there is no indication of where this HTML signature is stored, if I wanted to access it to add to it or modify it).

That's ok, we all understand you created a signature in the 'Signature Text' area in Account Settings.

You explicitly did not create a HTML file and it is not stored as a html file and you edit it in the same place you created it, which in your case is the 'Account Settings' 'Signature Text' text box. That is the editing area.

Just for added information which goes way beyond 'How to create a simple signature using the Signature Text' option in Account Settings - it is stored in the 'prefs.js' file in your 'profile name' folder because you edited a preference.

One way of accessing this is via Menu app icon > Preferences > General click on 'Config Editor' button. It will stored with this prefernce settings: mail.identity.idX.htmlSigText

Now I want to add the image. I skip the next paragraph labeled 'Signatures Stored in Files' since I am assuming that is different method that the one I started with. I scroll down in the Help Article to the paragraph "Including image files in signatures". Yep, that's what I want! Then it says, "To include an image file from your local computer in a signature, follow the steps above to create an HTML signature." Yep, I did that!

No you did not. You have just told me you created it in Account Settings - you did not use the method stated immedately above the add image section.

Next: "When you are composing the signature contents, though, use the Insert > Image menu option to specify the desired image." Huh? Where is that menu option? Can't find it!

That's because you did not follow instructions. You are not creating a HTML file. You are in Account Settings creating the TEXT for the Signature Text box.

I have over 40 years' experience in hardware/software development, software QA (I was Director of Product Quality at a former FinTech company). I know the difficulty of seeing things from an inexperienced user's perspective when you are so close and intimate with a product. It is literally not seeing the forest for the trees and we are all guilty of it. I hope you see the issue now. When the reader reaches the paragraph "Include Image Files in Signatures", you need to advise the user that it is necessary to abandon the HTML signature created above (if they did not use the signature from file method) and go to the composer. Then they will be able to find the 'Insert > Image' option. Simple fix! Thanks for your patience in this matter. I am really trying to help improve the product. Charlie

I have edited the Help Article which states clearly at the top to choose appropriate method. It needs to be passed.

Additional info which may be useful.

When creating the signature using the 'Signature Text' box in Account Settings.... The preference settings: 'mail.identity.idX.htmlSigText' - Stores the preference as a string. It is also possible to edit that string, but this is not advised because it is difficult to know what it will look like, hence you edit in the Account Settings - Signature Text box.

When you create a signature using the Write compose window, you save the file as a HTML file in a location on computer of choice. I created a folder called 'Signatures' in 'Documents'. It contains any images I use in signatures and also the saved HTML files. I find the HTML file method ideal for using eg: Tables which have rows and cells to help position parts of the signature.

How to edit if you have a HTML file: Easiest method is to open a new Write message which will display the signature. Remove any signature delimiters if present. Make any editing adjustments and then use the File > Save as > File to resave or save as a separate HTML file. Then in Account Settings you can choose to use the new HTML file if it has a different file name.

You could also open the saved HTML file using a text editor and make adjustment, but you would need knowledge of HTML. It is also harder by this method because you cannot physically see the adjustments and it will take more time.

What if you only want to edit the signature for that particuar email? Just a one off use on that email. You can do this on the fly. Open a new Write message which contains signature. Manually edit the part that is the signature. Example: instead of it saying 'Regards Joe Blogs', you could manually edit so it says 'Love Joe'. It would not effect the actual stored HTML file, so subsequent new Write messages would still have the original signature.

In the Help Article: I'm adding this information because it may help you to understand information laid out in Help Articles.

If you look at the 'Table of Contents' located at the top, you will notice that the list contains: 'Signatures stored in files' as a main section. and the 'Including image files in signatures' is a subsection of 'Signatures stored in files', this is indicated by an indentation.

When you see this type of indentation and the info in it's subsection 'Including image files in signatures' says 'follow the steps above', this means the follow information in the main header, which is 'Signatures stored in files' in this case.

This is also shown by using different size font. So Table of Contents main sections will use a larger header font and subsections will use a smaller header font.