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Why does the paragraph format flag in Thunderbird always revert to checked at start up, when unchecked is what I always want??

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by firstsob

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Under Thunderbird options > composition, there is a check box for "Use Paragraph format instead of Body Text by default". I prefer body text so I keep this un-checked. However, every time I close Thunderbird and it is relaunched, the box reverts back to checked.

Seems like this is a bug that needs to be fixed. It doesn't call for some obscure hack to force the program to work properly. From the blogs this has been happening through several of the new versions.

When will someone fix this?

Under Thunderbird options > composition, there is a check box for "Use Paragraph format instead of Body Text by default". I prefer body text so I keep this un-checked. However, every time I close Thunderbird and it is relaunched, the box reverts back to checked. Seems like this is a bug that needs to be fixed. It doesn't call for some obscure hack to force the program to work properly. From the blogs this has been happening through several of the new versions. When will someone fix this?

Chosen solution

OK I've done some digging around and I think I've found something that may help. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1489976

Locate profile folder: In thunderbird

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information, click on 'Open folder' button.
  • Exit Thunderbird.
  • delete 'permissions.sqlite' - read comment 10 in bug report.
  • Open 'prefs.js' file using eg: Notepad or similar text editor program.
  • look for preference 'mail.ui-rdf.version'
  • Set the value to 14, so it looks like the line below - Note in Bug report they set Value to 14 and it successfully then upgraded to 17 .
  • user_pref("mail.ui-rdf.version", 14);

Save the 'prefs.js' file. Start Thunderbird.

Set the options > composition, uncheck "Use Paragraph format instead of Body Text by default".

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All Replies (3)

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What OS are you using? What version of Thunderbird ?

Do you use any product like CCleaner which can clean up files? Note some Anti-Virus products can also clean up files. If yes, please make all Thunderbird files exempt as these products can clean up eg:session etc files.

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Chosen Solution

OK I've done some digging around and I think I've found something that may help. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1489976

Locate profile folder: In thunderbird

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information, click on 'Open folder' button.
  • Exit Thunderbird.
  • delete 'permissions.sqlite' - read comment 10 in bug report.
  • Open 'prefs.js' file using eg: Notepad or similar text editor program.
  • look for preference 'mail.ui-rdf.version'
  • Set the value to 14, so it looks like the line below - Note in Bug report they set Value to 14 and it successfully then upgraded to 17 .
  • user_pref("mail.ui-rdf.version", 14);

Save the 'prefs.js' file. Start Thunderbird.

Set the options > composition, uncheck "Use Paragraph format instead of Body Text by default".

Modified by Toad-Hall

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Todd Thank you for your help! This fix worked.