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"Edit Saved Search" dialog broken on Mac Big Sur?

  • 9 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by Jon

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I am using Thunderbird version 91.1.1 that I just installed on a new MacBook Pro. I have used Thunderbird for some time now, and have a Saved Search folder that I have set up previously. Today when I went to set up the Saved Search folder, the dialog gets locked up in a state where the only thing I can do is quit Thunderbird from the Menu (see attached image for the state it's stuck in). I have isolated it to specifically when I select folders in the dialog ... I was able to create the saved search folder by not changing the search folder selection, but if I go into that dialog when I exit it after making a selection it gets into this locked up state. I assume it is a bug, unless it's waiting on me to do something (which I cannot figure out what that might be?)

I am using Thunderbird version 91.1.1 that I just installed on a new MacBook Pro. I have used Thunderbird for some time now, and have a Saved Search folder that I have set up previously. Today when I went to set up the Saved Search folder, the dialog gets locked up in a state where the only thing I can do is quit Thunderbird from the Menu (see attached image for the state it's stuck in). I have isolated it to specifically when I select folders in the dialog ... I was able to create the saved search folder by not changing the search folder selection, but if I go into that dialog when I exit it after making a selection it gets into this locked up state. I assume it is a bug, unless it's waiting on me to do something (which I cannot figure out what that might be?)
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

It looks like this bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1699514

Editing the dat file manually appears to be an effective workaround.

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Just a quick update, it is still happening in version 91.2.0. Any time I try to add a folder to a saved search, it gets locked up in this really odd state where the "Edit Saved Search Properties" dialog stays up and locked behind the main Thunderbird window, and nothing works.

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... another data point, even if I don't change anything on the folder selection, just opening and closing the dialog gets it stuck for me.

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If anyone is in my situation and wants to try to fix it the hard way, you can manually edit the saved folder selection in ~/Library/Thunderbird/Profiles/[profile]/virtualFolders.dat - the "scope" value lists the folders with a pipe delimiter to separate them.

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Or, you can delete virtualFolders.dat and Mail/smart mailboxes from the profile folder, with TB closed, then restart TB and set up the saved search again.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unified_Folders_not_working

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Thanks @sfhowes. I tried that but the dialog still gets locked up. The smart folders work correctly if I edit the virtualFolders.dat file directly, but any time I try to click on the "Choose..." button to select folders to search and then close the dialog the interface gets locked up.

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Does the dialog still lock up in safe/troubleshoot mode (hold Option when launching TB).

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Yes, just tried it in safe mode and it behaves the same way.

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Chosen Solution

It looks like this bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1699514

Editing the dat file manually appears to be an effective workaround.

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Thanks @sfhowes - yes, that definitely sounds like it's describing this issue. I'll follow that bug and hopefully it will get resolved (crossing fingers, looks like it's already 7 months old...)