1343230 - "Default startup directory in the address book window" shows wrong option if selected address book got deleted

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Thunderbird :: Address Book, defect)

Description

[Sebastian Hengst [:aryx] (needinfo me if it's about an intermittent or backout)]

Latest Thunderbird 54.0a1 + 53.0a2 on Windows 8.1

1. Open the Address Book.
2. Create a new address book.
3. In Options > Compose > Addressing, set the address book from 2. as the default one.
4. Open the Address Book.
5. Delete the default address book.
6. Close the Address Book.
7. Open Options > Compose > Addressing.

Actual result:
"Last used directory" is the option shown.
Opening the address book will always use 'All Address Books'.

Expected result:
Option display matches behavior.

Comment 1

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

This is a bug in Options. We can't fall back to "Last used directory" because in either mode, we won't know the last used directory. So falling back to "All Address Books" seems like the safe and right thing to do.

Comment 2

[Thomas D. (:thomas8)]

Falling back to "All Address Books" *silently* is by design and looks ok to me, no reason to nag. User certainly won't delete his default startup AB without reason (unless by mistake), and nothing bad will happen to him when we default to "All Address Books". If that's not the right choice, picking a new default directory is just two clicks away, in the context menu of any directory.

Having said which, having a more explicit warning when *deleting* the current (stable) default startup directory would make sense, as it's a bit unlikely for user to delete his favorite directory.
Similar to the current confirmation warning for deleting the collecting AB (which is possible only for user-defined collecting ABs).

Comment 3

[:aceman]

So what should we default to here?

Comment 4

[Richard Marti (:Paenglab)]

"All Address Books" is okay. Then the user can directly access all contacts and doesn't suddenly end on a AB with maybe only some seldom used contacts.

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

wontfix based on prior coments