setting thunderbird as preferred email application corrupts "Launch Web Browser" shortcut

[jamie campbell]

when I set thunderbird as the mail client in preferred applications, my "Launch web browser" shortcut key launches firefox with a big random number (eg 1107040615) instead of continuing to use the specified home page (in my case google).

I can reproduce this by
a) create a new user
b) select a key combination for "Launch web browser" keyboard shortcut
d) hit the key combo to verify it works (it does, but for a new user it goes to about:startpage instead of google, which is fine)
e) change preferred applications mail reader to thunderbird
f) hit the key combo for "Launch web browser" again. This time firefox tries to go to a big random number instead of about:startpage.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: thunderbird 3.1.10+build1+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.11.04.2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Jun 22 17:53:06 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64 (20110427.1)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_CA:en
 LANG=en_CA.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: thunderbird
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Chris Coulson (chrisccoulson)]

I've got no idea what would cause that. In any case, setting the default mail client from preferred applications just changes the setting in gconf and adjusts the x-scheme-handler/mailto handler, so this isn't a thunderbird issue

[R1dO (r-den-ouden)]

This corruption will also occur when changing the default media player (from banshee to rhythmbox).

Hence I suspect it might be an issue with the "preferred applications" tool.

P.s.
Just to be curious:
Is the "x-scheme-handler" supposed to be adjusted by adding/changing an appropriate line in ".local/share/applications/mimeapps.list" ? Or should I look somewhere else?

The setting in gconf "/desktop/gnome/applications/media/exec" does show the correct change.

[UbrPeter (komka-tff-peter)]

It affects me too.
To corrupt the behavior of the keyboard shortcut, it is enough to just open and close the "preferred applications".
What has been changed? How can I undone that? I tried to snapshot my whole home directory before and after, but could not see any changes. (The zeitgeist data hub (which is constantly changing files..) was not started.)

[UbrPeter (komka-tff-peter)]

Changing "%u" to "%s" helps(?)
(In Configuration Editor, /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/{http,https,about,..})
(These are the keys which get added when "preferred applications" is launched.)
(Sorry, I have no time to double-check these. "Best guess".)

[R1dO (r-den-ouden)]

Changing %u (and %U) does indeed solve the problem here. At least until "preferred applications" is opened again.

The %u (and %U) are found in the following keys (rest keeps %s):
* about
* http
* https
* mailto (this one has %U)
* unknown