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HTML signature in Mozilla Thunderbird Mailer?

Dave - How do I add an HTML signature to my Thunderbird mail account? I installed Thunderbird and now I find that it doesn't have an apparent sig file handler??


Dave's Answer:

Actually, Thunderbird does support HTML - and plain text - signatures, but the way you configure and install it is a bit more tricky than with mainstream mail programs:

First off, you need to create a signature file. A signature file may be formatted or unformatted. Confusingly, Mozilla states (incorrectly) that formatted signature files will only be visible to those who can view HTML files and recommend the use of an unformatted signature if possible. My experience is that if they can't see HTML, they'll still see your signature file, it'll just be formatted incorrectly.

For an unformatted signature file, create a new file in Notepad or your favorite text-only editing program. For example, you could create the file in MS Word and then select File / Save As and select type Text Only.

For a formatted signature file, create a new file in MS Word. Then select File / Save as Web Page. This will create a *.htm file. Or, if you have some experience with HTML, you can create this signature file directly. Just remember that any graphics you include will have to be hosted somewhere on the Internet, and that they'll force your recipients to access the 'net every time they read your email.

Once you have a file containing the signature you want, you'll need to activate the signature file, and this is the step that's a bit tricky:

  1. Click on Tools --> Account Settings
  2. Click on the email account in the top left corner of the screen that is your active account.
  3. Check the box on the right side of the screen labeled Attach this signature then select the new signature file you've just created.
  4. Click OK.

That should do it, and you should be ready to go with your new Thunderbird signature on your email messages!



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Comments

Dave, why use MS Word to create a web page? Not only will it spit out ugly legacy code, that would actually put out an entire web page, not just the few lines or markup and text needed for a signature.

I would suggest the HTML begginner to visit W3Schools to learn some basics - http://www.w3schools.com/web/web_html.asp

Posted by: Matthew Poer at May 10, 2006 3:48 PM

Dave, If you make explicit (i.e. "file=//") references to graphics files within your html signature, you can embed graphics in a Thunderbird sig which actually get included in the mail and don't need online access to (re)read. There's also a neat addon for Thunderbird called signature switch which makes sig handling a tad easier. Thanks for the page - helped a lot!

Posted by: Martin Sydenham at September 7, 2006 5:07 PM

Hi Dave, Thanks for helping out new people like me. I tried your instructions and when my boss opens emails from me on outlook, he gets a funny line break of some sort between the greater than and lesser than symbols between my signature info and the graphic logo. But it is all in the same html. Why is that? Did I do something wrong? Thanks again.....

Posted by: Joe at January 6, 2007 1:30 PM

Hi Dave
Thunderbird sends it out the images as an attachment. It there anyway to send the html embedded so it does not show as an attachment?

Thanks
-houston

Posted by: Houston berry at April 19, 2007 4:12 PM

Hi Dave,
My inbox messages in Mozilla Thunderbird displays as HTML text which i dont understand. How can i switch back to plain text as in any other mail. I tried through 'composition & addressing' under tools menu but it didnt work.

regards
Doch

Posted by: dochu at March 19, 2008 5:58 AM

I am using Thunderbird 2.0.0.16
I am tasked with setting up signatures for our entire company and want to use signatures stored on our server. That way I can change them quickly without having to send out a lot of confusing instructions to the team each time we need to change an image in the signature code.

Each time I use TOOLS > ACCOUNT SETTINGS to change the signature to a network address, Thunderbird forgets that address as soon as I exit TBird and reload.

If I point to the network address via a shortcut on my desktop and then reference that as my file location, all is well until I change the file on my server. Then the shortcut has to be re-referenced or TBird keeps remembering the old (cached??) link.

I am lost! Help!

-Dean

Posted by: Dean at August 3, 2008 11:20 PM

(I have the same problem as Dean)

I am using Thunderbird 2.0.0.17

I am tasked with setting up signatures for our entire company and want to use signatures stored on our server. That way I can change them quickly without having to send out a lot of confusing instructions to the team each time we need to change an image in the signature code.

Each time I use TOOLS > ACCOUNT SETTINGS to change the signature to a network address, Thunderbird forgets that address as soon as I exit TBird and reload.

If I point to the network address via a shortcut on my desktop and then reference that as my file location, all is well until I change the file on my server. Then the shortcut has to be re-referenced or TBird keeps remembering the old (cached??) link.

I am lost! Help!
Brandon

Posted by: Brandon at October 16, 2008 1:39 PM

Hi. When I put a Jpg logo in my electronic signature, it shows up as a square outline the the little "X" box in the corner. I think I'm set for HTML... Why won't the logo display??? thanks. Kevin

Posted by: Kevin at October 21, 2009 4:50 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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