Asterisk showing new messages is not shown at topmost level

[Christoph Jüngling]

Binary package hint: thunderbird

I use filters to put new received and sent mails (the latter with support of "Send Filter 1.0") into folders. If the destination folder is somewhat deeper in the folder hierarchy this folder alone shows the asterisk and the number in braces indicating that new messages have arrived.

Well, if the folder structure is collapsed, the highest visible folder indicates unread mails by beeing formatted bold. But in this case this folder doesn't show the asterisk nor the numbers of unread mails.

It would be much more helpful to "inherit" (or should I say "reverse inherit"?) both of these information ("new mail(s)" and "number of unread mails") to the folder that is visible on top of the hierarchy containing new or unread mails, even if the hierarchy is fully or partially expanded.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Dependencies:

DistroRelease: Ubuntu 8.10
Package: mozilla-thunderbird None [modified: /var/lib/dpkg/info/mozilla-thunderbird.list]
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games
 LANG=de_DE.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: thunderbird
Uname: Linux 2.6.27-11-generic i686

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Christoph
Thank you for having taken the time to report a problem with Ubuntu and Thunderbird. We are sorry that we do not always have the capacity to look at all reported bugs in a timely manner.

You made this bug report in 2009 regarding Thunderbird and there have been many changes in Ubuntu since that time. Your problem may have been fixed with some of the updates.

Could you confirm that this is no longer a problem and that we can close the ticket?

Or, if it still might be a problem, it would help us a lot if you could test it on a currently supported Ubuntu version. When you test it and it is still an issue, kindly upload the updated logs by running only once:
apport-collect 379015

and any other logs that are relevant for this particular issue.

G

[Christoph Jüngling (chris.juengling)]

I'm using v52.8.0 now. The problem seems to be solved -- partly:

* The top folder of a hierarchy which contains unread mails is still bold, and now it's additionally colored blue and shows a golden asterisk on its icon.

* The folder which really contains the unread mails is bold and colored, too, and shows the number of unread mails in brackets, as before.

Please see the attached screen shot.

[Christoph Jüngling (chris.juengling)]

Oh, and 52.8 is the Thunderbird version, OS is Ubuntu 18.04.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Christoph,
Thanks for the fast reply.
So, do you want to keep the ticket open? If so, could you run the following (only once):
apport-collect 379015

and upload the updated logs and and any other logs that are relevant for this particular issue.

Take care and have a great day!
:)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Oops, I clicked "send" too soon. Sorry, Christoph. I see the screen shot now.
Are you asking for an improvement of the Thunderbird interface or is this an error?
Forgive my mistakes - I am new to this and new to Thunderbird.
Take care
G

[Christoph Jüngling (chris.juengling)]

For me, the "send filter" add-on is no more related to this topic. What I described is just the normal behaviour of the current Thunderbird. And in this case, I'ld appreciate any folder to indicate the number of unread mails in the hierarchy below.

Usually I'ld call it a "feature request" or an "enhancement". Whether it is a bug, issue or error (whatever it is named) depends on the specification of the feature "display number of unread mails behind the folder name".

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Christoph,
I think it is a good idea. I will get the bug team to add it to the "wish list" category, and perhaps the "papercuts" project.
Have a great day and thanks for the idea.
:)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Summary of bug:
Thunderbird enhancement suggestion by Christoph:
When you have a directory tree/heirarchy of mail subfolders, give the top of the directory tree an indicator of how many unread messages are in any of the subfolders. See attached drawing with the suggested location of the new indicator (the "(209)" in red beside label of the top of the folder tree).

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Ubuntu Bug Control - Please change importance to "wishlist"

[C de-Avillez (hggdh2)]

setting to wishlist as requested on #ubuntu-bugs.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

I confirm this bug occurs in Thunderbird 52.8.0 (64-bit). See attached screenshot.
Thanks
G

[Christoph Jüngling (chris.juengling)]

Hi gf,

thanks for your help to put this in the right place. Please add to your description the point, that every folder containing sub-folders with new emails shall indicate the summarized number of unread mails in its underlying folder hierarchy, not only the top-most entry.

So, as in my screenshot, the folders "Firma" and "Fotografie" as well.

I would call it an recursive behaviour.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for the feedback, Christoph. How about this...?

Summary of bug:
Thunderbird enhancement suggestion by Christoph:
When you have a directory tree/heirarchy of mail subfolders, give the top of the directory tree an indicator of how many unread messages are in any of the subfolders. See attached drawing with the suggested location of the new indicator (the "(239)" in red beside label of the top of the folder tree).

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Sorry I hit send too soon!
Here is the revised summary of the bug:

Revised Summary of bug:
Thunderbird enhancement suggestion by Christoph:
When you have a directory tree/heirarchy of mail subfolders, give the top of the directory tree an indicator of how many unread messages are in any of the subfolders. See attached drawing with the suggested location of the new indicator (the "(239)" in red beside label of the top of the folder tree).Also, for each folder containing sub-folders with new emails should indicate the summarized number of unread mails in its underlying folder hierarchy.

Thanks
G

[Gfmozillabug (gfmozillabug)]

Created attachment 8989004
thunderbird-folder_unread_indicator.odg

Thunderbird 52.8.0 64-bit
Folders and Message Lists
Ubuntu Linux 18.04

Enhancement Request - Summary:
Thunderbird enhancement suggestion by Christoph Jungling at UbuntuBugs #379015:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/thunderbird/+bug/379015

When you have a directory tree/hierarchy of mail subfolders, give the top of the directory tree an indicator of how many unread messages are in any of the subfolders. See attached drawing with the suggested location of the new indicator (the "(239)" in red beside label of the top of the folder tree). Also, for each folder containing sub-folders with new emails should indicate the summarized number of unread mails in its underlying folder hierarchy.

Similar to closed Mozilla Bug #235956 which is listed as closed/fixed but that feature doesn’t appear to be present in current version.

Thanks
(on behalf of Christoph)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Christoph,
I have created an "upstream" enhancement request at the Thunderbird/Mozilla bug report site called Bugzilla. And I have linked that bug report to this one.

Here is the link to the other report:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1472463

This is as far as I can go on this ticket. I hope they action it soon.
Hope you are well.
Take care
Glady

[Christoph Jüngling (chris.juengling)]

Glady, thanks very much for your help!

[Wls220spring (wls220spring)]

Created attachment 9013166
msgcount.png

That attachment appears to show what I have when I enable the Menu bar and enable View > Layout > Folder Pane Columns. That adds a Total column to the Folder Pane.

The user may have to adjust column width.

It is in Thunderbird 52.x.x and 60.0.

[Gfmozillabug (gfmozillabug)]

Wow, that's great, Walt! I will email the user right away and get back to you as to their response.
Thanks!
:)
G

[Gfmozillabug (gfmozillabug)]

Hi again Walt,
Based on your picture, in the Diane folder, is there one unread email and 72 total emails (71 of them are already read)?

Do you have any folders that have subfolders that have unread emails in those subfolders?

In your picture, would that be "Verison" folder that has the "heart" symbol and the number 1? That's what I also get on my Ubuntu 18.04, TB 52.9.1.

The user is in a different language (German, I think) - does that make a difference?
And he does not get the number with the "heart" symbol beside the top folder of a collapsed set of subfolders.
See attached original screen print from user ( I will attach it next).

Thanks
G

[Gfmozillabug (gfmozillabug)]

Created attachment 9013172
User Original screen print - missing unread count beside top folders.png

User's original screen print of subfolders, showing no count of unread messages beside top folder

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Christoph,
We had some response from Mozilla today. I added more clarification.
Just wanted to keep you updated on this.
:)
G

[Unicorn-consulting (unicorn-consulting)]

(In reply to g from comment #4)
> User's original screen print of subfolders, showing no count of unread
> messages beside top folder

The top folders children are visible, so it gets no visible counts. If the folder is collapsed then counts are made visible