Message threads with duplicate messages cannot be expanded

[Bryn Hughes]

Binary package hint: thunderbird

On a fairly regular basis Thunderbird will show me messages that I can't read or otherwise interact with when viewing in "Threads with Unread" mode.

In the attached image there are several threads that clicking on the '+' sign has absolutely no action. I cannot click the green circle to mark the messages as read either.

This doesn't happen ALL the time, but seems to happen in particular when duplicate messages are delivered (in this case a yahoo! groups mailing list that occasionally sends duplicates)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
Package: thunderbird 3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-22.33-generic 2.6.32.11+drm33.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-22-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx
Architecture: amd64
Date: Thu May 20 15:22:39 2010
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_CA.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: thunderbird

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hello Bryn,
Thank you for submitting this bug and reporting a problem with Thunderbird.

You made this bug report in 2010 and there have been several versions of Ubuntu and Thunderbird since then.

Could you confirm that this is no longer a problem and that we can close the ticket?
Or, if it is still a problem, could you run the following (only once):
apport-collect 583577

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

Thank you again for helping make Ubuntu and Thunderbird better.

G

[Bryn Hughes (linux-nashira)]

I can confirm that this behaviour is still present, at least in the latest patch set for the 16.04 LTS release. Once 18.04 becomes an upgrade option for 16.04 later this month I can re-test on the newest version.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Ok, thanks for the update, Bryn. I will mark the ticket as "new" again. I have 18.04 so I can try to replicate it.
Yes, please also try it again when you get 18.04 and let me know how it goes.
I will keep you informed of my progress.
Have a great day.
:)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Bryn,
I have tested it in Thunderbird 52.8.0 in Ubuntu 18.04. It looks different, in that the "plus" signs are now arrowheads, but they do work and expand the sub list well. And the green button works to mark as "read" all the items in the sublist (even if the list is collapsed).
I have attached a screen shot of a portion of my list.

I tried to create duplicate emails but it doesn't treat those as a thread (so, no arrowhead) but the green button works to make it "read."

Am I trying this correctly? What version of Thunderbird do you have?
Thanks
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hello Bryn,
Did you upgrade to 18.04? If so, could you test this out again to see if it is still a problem?
Thanks
:)
G

[Bryn Hughes (linux-nashira)]

I can confirm that I still see the same behavior in 18.04. Threads (possibly threads with only a single unread item) get "stuck"

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for the update, Bryn. Could you upload a screen shot?

In order to prep this report for the programmers, I will have a number of questions - thank you in advance for your patience.

What version of Thunderbird are you using?

What are the exact steps to produce the problem?
For example,
1. Start Thunderbird
2. Have "threads for unread" turned on
...

Is it only with duplicate emails?

Thanks
:)
G

[Bryn Hughes (linux-nashira)]

Running version 52.9.1 (from Ubuntu 18.04 repository)

I have looked through the past several threads which have this issue and there do appear to be duplicate messages in all of the "stuck" cases on my system

[Bryn Hughes (linux-nashira)]

Steps to reproduce:

1. Start Thunderbird
2. Set view to "Threads with Unread"
3. Attempt to read through messages (bug most easily triggered with busy mailing lists, for instance the zfs-discuss list)
4. Some message threads cannot be expanded, appears to be related to threads with duplicate messages

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

OK, thanks for the update, Bryn. I think there is enough information in this report now that it can be send to the programmers. For their ease, I will add a summary here. Please feel free to add any corrections.

-----------------------
SUMMARY:
Ubuntu version 18.04
Thunderbird 52.9.1 (from Ubuntu 18.04 repository)
Problem is reproducible by the bug reporter.
Problem is evident when there are duplicate messages.

Steps to reproduce:
1. Start Thunderbird
2. Set view to "Threads with Unread"
3. Attempt to read through messages (bug most easily triggered with busy mailing lists, for instance the zfs-discuss list)
4. Some message threads cannot be expanded, appears to be related to threads with duplicate messages

Expected behaviour: all expansion “arrowheads” should expand the thread when clicked.

Actual behaviour: the expansion “arrowheads” for duplicate messages will not expand the thread when clicked.

Additional notes:

-----------------------
Bug triager is unable to reproduce the bug.
Bug triager searched for dups - none found.

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Bryn,
Do you mind if we change the title of this bug report to this:

"Message threads with duplicate messages cannot be expanded"

Thanks
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hi Bryn,
In preparing to add a bug report on this issue at the Mozilla bug reporting site, I found this other bug report that might be the same issue.
Can you look at it and see if it is your same issue?

Thanks
G

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=558303

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Thanks for changing this to Triaged and Low, Simon.
:)
G

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Changed title of this bug
from: "View by Threads with Unread" results in no ability to read some messages"
to: "Message threads with duplicate messages cannot be expanded"
Thanks
G