I have some questions about updating to version 115:

1. If I were to update to version 115 (a major paradigm change from what
I've read), am I going to have to -yet again- spend
hours replacing installed extensions or giving up on them altogether?

2. Is there a way to totally turn off the "Calendar" feature (which I
don't use)?

3. Is there an easy way to revert back to the previous version if I
don't like 115?

TIA

--
John C.

On 12/17/23 08:27 AM, this is what John C. wrote:
> 3. Is there an easy way to revert back to the previous version if I
> don't like 115?
Easy way is to backup the entire Thunderbird profile folder.
C:\users\name\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird (win)
/home/name/.thunderbird (Linux)

Then do the upgrade. To go back, just remove the thunderbird folder and put the old one back, delete thunderbird with
something like Revo Uninstaller, and reload with the current version you have now that matched your profile. On
Windows it's not that hard. I had a bit more issue with Linux.

Personally I had no issues with it. I don't have many extensions (5). I don't remember if some got dumped or what.
I'm past that an it's all forgotten. I've spent more time trying to get a good userChrome.css because of all the code
changes.

Oddly I found in Betterbird's documentation of FAQ's they had a userChrome.css and it was kinda sparse and worked good.
I put a few of my tweaks in and it's looking great. They even had a simple gray theme to download.
--
Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon
Al

Big Al wrote:
> On 12/17/23 08:27 AM, this is what John C. wrote:
>> 3. Is there an easy way to revert back to the previous version if I
>> don't like 115?
> Easy way is to backup the entire Thunderbird profile folder.
> C:\users\name\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird (win)
> /home/name/.thunderbird (Linux)
>
> Then do the upgrade.  To go back, just remove the thunderbird folder and
> put the old one back, delete thunderbird with something like Revo
> Uninstaller, and reload with the current version you have now that
> matched your profile.   On Windows it's not that hard.   I had a bit
> more issue with Linux.
>
> Personally I had no issues with it.  I don't have many extensions (5). 
> I don't remember if some got dumped or what. I'm past that an it's all
> forgotten.  I've spent more time trying to get a good userChrome.css
> because of all the code changes.
>
> Oddly I found in Betterbird's documentation of FAQ's they had a
> userChrome.css and it was kinda sparse and worked good. I put a few of
> my tweaks in and it's looking great.  They even had a simple gray theme
> to download.

Thanks for replying, Big Al. I did the update and the first thing I
noticed was that I was blinded by all the white in the background. Is
there a way to set the background to the system default (which is light
gray) other than using another theme?

TIA

--
John C.

John C. wrote:

> I have some questions about updating to version 115:
>
> 1. If I were to update to version 115 (a major paradigm change from what
> I've read)

if you upgrade and don't like some of the look/behaviour then see the
history of this group for suggested css and about:config tweaks

> am I going to have to -yet again- spend
> hours replacing installed extensions or giving up on them altogether?

only you know what extensions you're using, it took a few weeks, but
all the ones that I use nare avail now,

> 2. Is there a way to totally turn off the "Calendar" feature (which I
> don't use)?

you can toggle off the today pane with F11, and if you never open the
calendar tab with Alt-3, it'll stay closed.

> 3. Is there an easy way to revert back to the previous version if I
> don't like 115?

Backup your profile folder first

John C. wrote:

> Is there a way to set the background to the system default
tools / settings / fonts & colours
[colours...]
tick use system colours
set override colours to never

Andy Burns wrote:
> John C. wrote:
>
>> Is there a way to set the background to the system default
> tools / settings / fonts & colours
> [colours...]
> tick use system colours
> set override colours to never

Thanks, Andy. Those are the settings I always use, but for some reason
they're not making the folder and message list panes change from
blinding white to a more acceptable gray.

Also, sorry, but I previously referred to the message list pane as the
message pane.

--
John C.

John C. wrote:

> Those are the settings I always use, but for some reason
> they're not making the folder and message list panes change from
> blinding white to a more acceptable gray.

You're probably down to finding a theme, or tinkering with
userChrome.css then ...

On 12/17/23 09:33 AM, this is what Andy Burns wrote:
> John C. wrote:
>
>> Those are the settings I always use, but for some reason
>> they're not making the folder and message list panes change from
>> blinding white to a more acceptable gray.
>
> You're probably down to finding a theme, or tinkering with userChrome.css then ...
>
>
Do you like dark or light themes?
--
Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon
Al

Big Al wrote:
> Andy Burns wrote:
>> John C. wrote:
>>>
>>> Those are the settings I always use, but for some reason
>>> they're not making the folder and message list panes change from
>>> blinding white to a more acceptable gray.
>>
>> You're probably down to finding a theme, or tinkering with
>> userChrome.css then ...

To Andy, yeah, you're probably right and I did just find a theme that
kind of works (see below). Don't like having to resort to userChrome.css
because updating TB might render such settings disabled.

> Do you like dark or light themes?

Gray (AKA gray) themes. Just found one that kind of works called
"Nu-grey", but the message list pane is still a blinding white. At least
my composition windows don't burn my retinas out.

--
John C.

On 12/17/23 09:44 AM, this is what John C. wrote:
> Big Al wrote:
>> Andy Burns wrote:
>>> John C. wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Those are the settings I always use, but for some reason
>>>> they're not making the folder and message list panes change from
>>>> blinding white to a more acceptable gray.
>>>
>>> You're probably down to finding a theme, or tinkering with
>>> userChrome.css then ...
>
> To Andy, yeah, you're probably right and I did just find a theme that
> kind of works (see below). Don't like having to resort to userChrome.css
> because updating TB might render such settings disabled.
>
>> Do you like dark or light themes?
>
> Gray (AKA gray) themes. Just found one that kind of works called
> "Nu-grey", but the message list pane is still a blinding white. At least
> my composition windows don't burn my retinas out.
>
https://www.betterbird.eu/expert-tips/index.html
In the line just above the 'Preferences' section pretty far down the page, there is a link to a theme. Simple gray. You
can try that.
--
Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon
Al

On 12/17/23 11:06 AM, this is what Big Al wrote:
> On 12/17/23 09:44 AM, this is what John C. wrote:
>> Big Al wrote:
>>> Andy Burns wrote:
>>>> John C. wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Those are the settings I always use, but for some reason
>>>>> they're not making the folder and message list panes change from
>>>>> blinding white to a more acceptable gray.
>>>>
>>>> You're probably down to finding a theme, or tinkering with
>>>> userChrome.css then ...
>>
>> To Andy, yeah, you're probably right and I did just find a theme that
>> kind of works (see below). Don't like having to resort to userChrome.css
>> because updating TB might render such settings disabled.
>>
>>> Do you like dark or light themes?
>>
>> Gray (AKA gray) themes. Just found one that kind of works called
>> "Nu-grey", but the message list pane is still a blinding white. At least
>> my composition windows don't burn my retinas out.
>>
> https://www.betterbird.eu/expert-tips/index.html
> In the line just above the 'Preferences' section pretty far down the page, there is a link to a theme. Simple gray.  You
> can try that.
I think you have to right-click and save link as, then manually add it to thunderbird.
--
Linux Mint 21.2 Cinnamon
Al