Thunderbird text links not working

[CraigPaleo]

Hello,

I chose Kubuntu because it was the only distribution that would install on my "new" computer. I'm running Kubuntu 8.04 with KDE 4.05. I love this distribution but I like using Thunderbird for mail and Firefox for my browser. The problem is that when I'm sent an email with a link. Clicking on the link does nothing. Can this be fixed or should I be using the Gnome version Ubuntu?

I decided to give Kmail a try but Adept says its already installed but I've searched for it and it's nowhere to be found.

Thanks,

Craig

________________
Raw Paleolithic Diet

[Qqmike]

Re: Thunderbird text links not working

Fixing your Thunderbird so links in email open in your browser
Link:
Ubuntuzilla: Mozilla Software Installer
http://ubuntuzilla.wiki.sourceforge.net/
(see Help section on right sidebar)
- - - - -

[Thunderbird] Links in emails don't open in browser
Add the following lines to your user.js file inside your .thunderbird profile (if user.js file doesn't exist yet, just create a new file with this content).

user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.ftp","/usr/bin/firefox");
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http","/usr/bin/firefox");
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.https","/usr/bin/firefox");
Restart Thunderbird for this change to take effect.
If you want to use some browser other than Firefox, then put in the full path for that browser, instead of /usr/bin/firefox, in the above lines.
- - - - -
For me, it seems it has to take place in the .thunderbird folder.
Open Konqueror. Open your /home/your_name. On the menu across the top, View – Show hidden files. In that list, find and click on the folder .mozilla-thunderbird.
Then, inside .mozilla-thunderbird, Open the folder RRRRRRRR.default
where RRRRRRRR is a string of eight random alphanumeric characters (that may look rather odd to you).

Find or create the file user.js in RRRRRRRR.default.
(To create it if it's not there, as was my case: In that folder, Right-click on an empty place, Create New - Text file , and call it user.js)

Copy these lines into user.js:
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.ftp","/usr/bin/firefox");
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http","/usr/bin/firefox");
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.https","/usr/bin/firefox");

File-Save, File Quit
Restart Thunderbird to test it.

[CraigPaleo]

Re: Thunderbird text links not working

Thanks Qqmike!

[CraigPaleo]

Re: Thunderbird text links not working

I couldn't get it to work at first so I looked in the usr/bin and discovered that "firefox" is actually called "firefox-2"
I edited it and it's now working fine! Thank again!!! That was a very quick response!

You might want to suggest an update from where you got that info.

I'm sure there will be a day when these things become automatic. I think Kubuntu is very easy to use for non-techy people like me but having to go iin and edit things like this is probable what turns people away. My father tried Linux back in 2000. I'm trying to get him to use it again but he was so turned off he refuses, even though I've told him how far it's come in eight years.

[Qqmike]

Re: Thunderbird text links not working

Yes, you are right about having to use
firefox-2
(or whatever else it might be)

And it's probably true that Kubuntu is not yet plugin-and-play as an OS. I think Xandros and Linspire might fit that bill. But I do agree that this "fixing links in T-Bird" thingy should be a NOT.

Glad you got it!