No reply-all button for messages sent by me to one person
This is behavior that changed recently. It used to be that I always got a reply-all button, now that button disappears when the message is sent by me to a single person. (!!?). I can still right click and then select reply-all from the drop-down menu, but what's the logic behind removing the button from the preview pane? Very frequently I want to send a follow-up email to a previously sent email, this is reply-all functionality, why make it so difficult? Is there any way I can restore the button to the preview pane?
All Replies (12)
The Reply-all button only appears if there is more than one contact in the To or Cc line. When you send a follow-up message to a previously sent message, most people would use Edit As New Message. It doesn't make sense to 'reply' to a message you've sent.
You can't have a permanent Reply-all in the Message Pane header, but you can put one on the Mail Toolbar by right-clicking it, Customize, and dragging the button onto the toolbar.
This is about ease of use. I disagree that "It doesn't make sense to 'reply' to a message you've sent". Who are you so say what makes sense?, this is about style and work flow. It makes total sense to me, stylistically I want it to have the look of a reply with the previous message indented, I don't 'want the "edit as new message" appearance. Also, edit as new message doesn't appear on the preview pane anyway so also requires a right click. I hate that this feature was removed because someone decided that something "didn't make sense".
Norby is absolutely correct. 60.3.2 is a really bad downgrade from previous versions. First, the links in emails no longer opened in my browser, which was fixed by installing an older version over top of 60.3.2 and then updating again, now "someone" just decides Reply all "does not make sense" to him or her and there goes the option many people are used to. I can drag the "Reply all" button to the main menu (where it does NOT belong!) but it cannot be dragged to the message preview menu pane. I only get Reply, Forward, Archive, Junk and Delete. Even the More option does not show Reply all. That "Reply all" supposedly appears on messages with multiple recipients, is also just a fairy tale as can be seen from the attached. Perhaps people should stop messing with functionality that works and that many people have become accustomed to over years of use, just for the sake of change. Norby's question is valid, who are you to decide what functionality people should or shouldn't use?? Fix the bugs and leave the rest alone already!
First, it's not my decision to hide the Reply-all button in messages with a single recipient - I just try to explain why the designers applied a certain degree of logic. A reply is usually meant as a response to a message you receive, not one you've sent. Adding content to an already-sent message is called a follow-up. But if you have a particular way of working that relies on a Reply-all option, you can add the button.
Second, I don't have a single message with multiple recipients that does not show a Reply-all button in the Message Header. If you right-click in the Header Pane just to the left of the Reply button in your picture, Customize..., you may find additional buttons.
Dear sfhowes, sorry did not mean this is personal attack. I'm just critical of the logic behind the decision. Replying to yourself seems perfectly logical to me, it's not adding content, it's an actual reply, e.g.: --- P.S. Don't forget the cranberry sauce
On xxx, Norby wrote: >Alice, >See you on Thursday, let me know if you need directions. --- I suspect that many have grown accustomed to this style. I can still do it, just takes an extra couple of key clicks. Cheers.
The first part of your message is of no consequence because that was Norby's issue, not mine. However, as can be clearly seen from my first screenshot, there is NO Reply all button despite the fact that there are 3 recipients. It also shows that the Reply all option is NOT in the More options and, as per the attached, there is NO option to add the Reply all using the Customize option for the message menu, where the button belongs. That option is only available in the main menu where of course the option does not belong at all and it is blocked from being dragged to the message menu. Next you might tell me that this is somehow all my fault or, like Matt did yesterday regarding 60.3.2 no longer opening links contained in emails in my default Firefox browser, the fault of my anti-virus software. If something does not work, it is always easier to blame something else. By the way, installing 60.2.1 over top of 60.3.2 to get the links to open in my browser no longer works either and even if I reinstall 60.2.1 and tell it to "Never check for updates", that does not work either. I did that yesterday and it happily updated back to 60.3.2 as soon as I restarted TB. What version you are running is unknown to me but it can hardly be 60.3.2, as the same version is unlikely to behave differently on your computer compared to mine, unless you are running it on a non-Win10 machine.
I am running TB 60.3.2 on W10. If the buttons aren't appearing, you might have a broken layout. Try safe mode (Help/Restart with Add-ons Disabled) and see if the appearance changes. If the proper buttons appear in safe mode, follow the instructions in the kb article to reset toolbars and controls.
Thanks, I have tried your suggestion. When run in safe-mode the Reply all button shows. If I run it normal, disable both my add-ons and restart, the button does not show up. Other than disabling the add-ons, what other changes happen in safe-mode that can explain this?
PS Unfortunately, the links not opening in the default Firefox browser has remained the same.
Athraithe ag kosimek ar
PS-2 Running it in normal mode as administrator with both add-ons activated solves the link opening issue but still no Reply all button.
kosimek said
Thanks, I have tried your suggestion. When run in safe-mode the Reply all button shows. If I run it normal, disable both my add-ons and restart, the button does not show up. Other than disabling the add-ons, what other changes happen in safe-mode that can explain this?
The article mentioned above explains what happens in safe mode. Launch TB in safe mode, check 'Reset toolbars and controls' and click 'Make changes and restart'. Do the buttons now appear in normal mode?
I chose to only select the 'Reset Toolbars and controls' option first. Made that permanent and restarted TB in normal mode with the add-ons active. The button now shows up as it did prior to the update to 60.3.2 Running it as administrator solved the link problem so it appears I am good to go. What exactly I reset as far as toolbars and controls are concerned is unknown to me. With the exception of the two add-ons, I am not aware of ever making any changes to anything before. Anyway, thanks a bunch for your help, appreciate it.