Closed Bug 242940 Opened 20 years ago Closed 20 years ago

No way to specify alternative SMTP server(s) as prefs.js changes are ignored

Categories

(MailNews Core :: Networking: SMTP, defect)

Other
AIX
defect
Not set
critical

Tracking

(Not tracked)

VERIFIED INVALID

People

(Reporter: david, Assigned: sspitzer)

Details

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; AIX 000F2B4C4C00; en-US; rv:1.8a) Gecko/20040506
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; AIX 000F2B4C4C00; en-US; rv:1.8a) Gecko/20040506

No way to effect SMTP server/port for different identities.

Stopped Mozilla.

Changed prefs.js from:

   user_pref("mail.identity.id1.smtpServer", "smtp1");

to:

   user_pref("mail.identity.id1.smtpServer", "smtp3");

Added:

   user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp3.hostname", "aasc24.austin.ibm.com:10025");
   user_pref("mail.smtpserver.smtp3.try_ssl", 0);
   user_pref("mail.smtpservers", "smtp1,smtp2,smtp3");

Restarted Mozilla. Under Advanced -> SMTP Servers there is no entry for
the smtp3 definition.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1.
2.
3.
Further work shows these changes do work. It's just the dialog box which
gives no indication of the changes. The 'Default Server' should contain
the server:port out of prefs.js so it's apparent what the real value is.
Even better would be to fix the dialog box so these values could be entered,
rather than having to hand edit prefs.js.
I'm sorry, but I can't see what you wanna do with your changes. Could you please
describe it more clearly?
Recommended changes:

1) On SMTP dialog for "Default" change to "Default ($server:$port)"
   so it's evident what "Default" means. Currently only "Default Server"
   is shown with no indication what $server:$port is being referred to.

2) Change SMTP Dialog so additional $server:$port pairs may be entered
   and a new one selected for a given identity. Currently this must be
   done by hand editing prefs.js which is error prone.
I think you're missing something.
Tools -> Account Setttings... -> Outgoing Server (SMTP)

From there you can edit the default server and click the Advanced button to edit
the other servers, and set the default.

No need to edit prefs.js by hand.

Now, perhaps we need a better UI for this, including what is mentioned in
comment 3. If we're going to do that, lets open a fresh bug, as this bug begins
with some rather confusing (and incorrect) information.
David, I still can't see where we display "Default Server". I only know "Always
use default server" and your first point doesn't apply to this.

Alec, right, the whole SMTP config needs to be overhauled, see bug 202468.
Alec suggested:

   Tools -> Account Setttings... -> Outgoing Server (SMTP)

There is no "Account Settings" menu path under Tools, off the main mail
client window. There is:

   View Account Settings -> Account Settings -> Server Settings

IMAP settings, but no "Outgoing Server". Under "Advanced" there is
a tab which allows editing IMAP details. There is also an SMTP tab
which only shows "Default" or "locahost".

Tell me the exact menu selections you're using to edit the outgoing
SMTP details. Thanks.
Christian, the SMTP server info is shown here:

   View Settings -> Account Settings -> Server Settings -> Advanced -> SMTP

which shows two options:

   1) Always use default server

   2) localhost

No place to edit the SMTP $server:$port no any indication of what:

   "Always use default server" means

In other words, what $server:$port is being used.
if you've got the account settings dialog open, scroll down the the very bottom
line, below all the servers, it says "Outgoing Server (SMTP)" - admittedly not
the easiest thing to find, but it is there, and it means you don't have to edit
prefs.js
I see now. Very confusing. So the only way to specify different outgoing
servers for different identities is by way of prefs.js and then... it
appears this is overwritten for all identities if the global outgoing
server is set in the future.

Perhaps it's time for a rewrite of the dialogs.
what?! ok, I agree these dialogs are confusing, but you're completely wrong now.
The dialog boxes allow you to set the default SMTP server, which sets the
default for any identities that are set to "Use the default" - any of the
identities that have specific SMTP servers set, will retain their settings.

Don't edit prefs.js by hand. You don't need to. The UI, while confusing, gives
you complete control. Use the dialog boxes.

Please file a new bug about the UI. There's no bug to fix here, sorry.
Status: UNCONFIRMED → RESOLVED
Closed: 20 years ago
Resolution: --- → INVALID
Status: RESOLVED → VERIFIED
Product: MailNews → Core
Product: Core → MailNews Core
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