175502 - Configurable default setting for grouping, and order for all accounts and folders

Status: NEW

(Thunderbird :: Folder and Message Lists, enhancement)

Description

[Vaclav Dvorak]

I'm not particularly happy that bug 17074 (RFE "Sort per folder and keep through
exit") is fixed. I want all my folders sorted in the same order. And
furthermore, I don't even want the persistence: sometimes I may re-sort for the
moment, for finding a particular message, but then I want my usual order back on
the next startup. This is exactly opposite to what was requested (and done) in
bug 17074, so obviously not everyone will agree with me. On the other hand, I'm
not alone - see bug 86845 comment 13. In fact, bug 86845 requests a configurable
"default sort order", which makes little sense when every folder remembers its
individual sort order.

Therefore, I propose two new checkboxes in Preferences -> Mail & Newsgroups:
"Remember message sort order across sessions" (default on) and "Message sort
order applies to all folders" (default off). The group could be labeled "Message
Sorting", and could be placed at the bottom, shrinking the "Select the
buttons..." group which is unnecessarily large.

I've observed that it is difficult to persuade Mozilla's UI experts to add new
preferences (I don't see why), but what better proof you want that these are
needed, than two RFE bugs that go straight against each other?

Comment 1

[Vaclav Dvorak]

Not sure about the selected component, but confirming.

Comment 2

[Agustín Fernández]

From my experience there is no use to have different sort settings for different
folders, in fact I think that the behavior described by the reporter is, by far,
 the most common one (having the same order for every folder, and only change it
temporarily). I wonder what real-world uses are there in the default behavior
(perhaps somebody could tell). I think that, since when I am looking for
something sorting (for example) by sender I commonly look in more than one
folder, it would be better/easier for all the folders to share the order, which
is just specified as you click in the headers (without any option). In the case
that per folder sort is considered more useful than harmful then the only
necessary option would be "Message sort order applies to all folders".

Comment 3

[Pratik]

I think there is a need/use. I have filters which separate out my mailing list
emails to their repective folders. Typically I like viewing my Inbox in a order
received fashion but for the mailing list folders, I prefer sorted by thread. I
prefer the current behaviour.

Comment 4

[Prognathous]

-> to default owner and QA contact.

Prog.

Comment 5

[(not reading, please use [e-mail] instead)]

sorry for the spam.  making bugzilla reflect reality as I'm not working on these bugs.  filter on FOOBARCHEESE to remove these in bulk.

Comment 7

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

wontfix?

This more of a discussion point than a request. Given where we are today with v3 folder control and column sort capabilities, is this request still needed, and is it even reasonable to expect it would be accepted in core functionality?

Comment 11

[Jozsi]

It's annoying that after every install of Thunderbird the config editor must be opened to change the default sort order!
An option to change the default sort order is needed for simple users.

Comment 12

[WaltS48 [:walts48]]

(In reply to Jozsi from comment #11)

It's annoying that after every install of Thunderbird the config editor must be opened to change the default sort order!
An option to change the default sort order is needed for simple users.

View > Sort By > Descending isn't good enough?

A user can select all folders in an account and use it.

It wouldn't be a default if users had a way to change a default. Not in my way of thinking anyway.

Comment 13

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

I've borrowed the title from one of the other bugs - which seems like a reasonable request.
It may not be exactly what the author requested - but I think it's what we mostly likely might be interested in implementing.

Comment 14

[Dave Miller [:justdave]]

(In reply to WaltS48 [:walts48] from comment #12)

(In reply to Jozsi from comment #11)

It's annoying that after every install of Thunderbird the config editor must be opened to change the default sort order!
An option to change the default sort order is needed for simple users.

View > Sort By > Descending isn't good enough?

A user can select all folders in an account and use it.

Except that doesn't work. It appears to only operate on the first folder selected, not on all of them.
Using Thunderbird 103.0b4 on Mac.

Comment 15

[Dave Miller [:justdave]]

If it did work, that would be perfect for my purposes.