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How do I choose a default sort column (e.g., received) AND sort order (e.g., descending), for all folders/their children, for all Gmail IMAP accounts (four), at once, for Thunderbird 91.7.0 and above?

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  • Last reply by david

ddfox
ddfox
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Notice:

      • Previous solutions on this site no longer work, or only work partially. ***

The chosen solution on this Superuser thread (cited in multiple older threads on this Mozilla support forum), no longer works:

https://superuser.com/questions/13518/change-the-default-sorting-order-in-thunderbird

Changing values through the Config Editor and restarting doesn't change anything.

Right (or secondary) clicking on the column headers and applying settings to various other folders, children, et al, also interesting does not change any values in the Config Editor if you go back later to look out of curiosity.

Moreover, the method of clicking on the column headers does indeed mirror the visible/hidden columns selection, but does not mirror the chosen sort column, or the sort order on that sort column.

I used to use the SortPref addon for this I believe, but I haven't used Thunderbird in a long time. Now it seems like that addon is no longer compatible with TB 91.

Honestly, this shouldn't be this hard to accomplish in TB after literally decades. This should be a basic, global configurable, easily discoverable (not requiring Google searches), and accessible from the menus, not buried in the Config Editor (which doesn't work now anyway), and not relying on an addon. This is core email client functionality, especially for people who have dozens or hundreds of folders across multiple IMAP accounts. Moreover, it should always continue to work after upgrades, the UI and/or API shouldn't change to make it stop working as expected. The user should even be prompted to set it up during the initial IMAP account setup wizard and/or first run of Thunderbird before any IMAP accounts have even been added.

'''Notice: *** Previous solutions on this site no longer work, or only work partially. ***''' The chosen solution on this Superuser thread (cited in multiple older threads on this Mozilla support forum), no longer works: [https://superuser.com/questions/13518/change-the-default-sorting-order-in-thunderbird https://superuser.com/questions/13518/change-the-default-sorting-order-in-thunderbird] Changing values through the Config Editor and restarting doesn't change anything. Right (or secondary) clicking on the column headers and applying settings to various other folders, children, et al, also interesting does not change any values in the Config Editor if you go back later to look out of curiosity. Moreover, the method of clicking on the column headers does indeed mirror the visible/hidden columns selection, but does not mirror the chosen sort column, or the sort order on that sort column. I used to use the '''SortPref''' addon for this I believe, but I haven't used Thunderbird in a long time. Now it seems like that addon is no longer compatible with TB 91. Honestly, this shouldn't be this hard to accomplish in TB after literally decades. This should be a basic, global configurable, '''easily discoverable''' (not requiring Google searches), and accessible from the ''menus'', not buried in the Config Editor (which doesn't work now anyway), and not relying on an addon. This is '''core email client functionality''', especially for people who have dozens or hundreds of folders across multiple IMAP accounts. Moreover, it should always continue to work after upgrades, the UI and/or API shouldn't change to make it stop working as expected. The user should even be prompted to set it up during the initial IMAP account setup wizard and/or first run of Thunderbird before any IMAP accounts have even been added.

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david
david
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Those config options are, as they state, defaults. If you change their setting, they become the new defaults. Default settings are used when you create new folders. The term, default, does not mean that all folders are immediately changed. The expectation is to set your preferences at the time you create the folder. That is a custom feature of TB. What you're requesting is a feature to 'change all' folder settings. If you believe this feature should be added, then write it up at bugzilla dot mozilla dot org. This forum is to help people use Thunderbird as it is, not as they wish it to be. Thanks for sharing your concerns.