522861 - In "Search Messages" result grid, cannot choose certain columns (like attachment) for display (missing customization options, column picker select)

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Thunderbird :: Search, enhancement)

Description

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

Attachment: Screenshot: Column pickers compared ("Search Messages" result grid vs. folder display grid)

In the "Search Messages" search result window, user cannot choose to display certain columns (like attachment) in the result grid (to see more properties of the found messages). This unnecessarily limits the functionality of the result grid.

Actual behaviour:
The columns you cannot choose for display in the result grid are:
- Attachments, Read, Received, Account (these can never be shown as they are missing in the column picker)
- Location (we are currently forcing the user to have this column displayed, but we shouldn't. Depending on the search, user might NOT want to see this column, e.g. if you only search within single folders like inbox. Note that we are NOT forcing the user to display this column in a saved search grid, which is the same thing. Tell me if you want this as a separate bug.)

Expected behaviour:
- let user pick whichever column (out of 18, currently) he wants to see in result grid, like we do in folder display

In a normal folder or even saved search display grid, user can select any property of a msg to be displayed as a column in the grid (see attached screenshot which compares the two).

Comment 1

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

(In reply to comment #0)
> Actual behaviour:
> The columns you cannot choose for display in the result grid are:
> - Attachments, Read, Received, Account
Sorry, it's just
- Attachments, Received, and Account

Comment 3

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

true. always been that way.

xref:  bug 297251, bug 468673

Comment 5

[Michelle]

I care only about attachment. Not sure what Account refers to. I guess I never use it :  )

Thanks


Michelle

Comment 7

[pitpawten]

I would add that not only is the Attachment column not available as an option to display in the Search Results view, but more importantly you cannot select it as a field to search against.

Presumably the "Search Messages" feature is the comprehensive search option in the product, however it does not provide all the same data points that can be searched using the "Quick Search" feature (attachment status in this case).

I suppose that this needs to be a distinct bug (RFE?) as I could not see it mentioned elsewhere.

Comment 8

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

(In reply to pitpawten from comment #7)

Thanks for feedback!

> I would add that not only is the Attachment column not available as an
> option to display in the Search Results view, but more importantly you
> cannot select it as a field to search against.

You can, but only for pop accounts, not for imap (existing bug).

> Presumably the "Search Messages" feature is the comprehensive search option
> in the product, however it does not provide all the same data points that
> can be searched using the "Quick Search" feature (attachment status in this
> case).
> 
> I suppose that this needs to be a distinct bug (RFE?) as I could not see it
> mentioned elsewhere.

No, I'm sure we have bugs filed for that already, try this list:

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=%3Athun%2Cmailn%20attachment%20search%2Cfilter&list_id=12717224

Comment 9

[pitpawten]

(In reply to Thomas D. (currently busy elsewhere; needinfo?me) from comment #8)

> You can, but only for pop accounts, not for imap (existing bug).

Ok, I am using IMAP accounts exclusively. I'll see if I can find this bug since I know TB knows how to filter on attachments in IMAP messages (can do it in quick filters).

Thanks for the quick reply :)

Comment 10

[klaus]

this is a workaround for attachment column: https://addons.thunderbird.net/de/thunderbird/addon/show-attachment-in-search/?src=search

Comment 11

[Michelle]

(In reply to klaus from comment #10)

this is a workaround for attachment column: https://addons.thunderbird.net/de/thunderbird/addon/show-attachment-in-search/?src=search

Thank you. After 10 years & it still hasn't been solved. WOW.

And I was JUST thinking about this yesterday as I had to search for e-mails with ONLY attachements, which is probably why you responded here.

I'll see if it does what I need.

I guess I never read this bug thread b/c I had no idea you should search for e-mails with just attachments, but I'm not sure that's what I wanted really, although it would make do I think.

I never look at that first column as I usually only search for from, subject & body.

Not sure what attachment status means. Shouldn't it just say attachments?

Thanks again.

Comment 12

[alta88]

to be fixed in Bug 297251.