276762 - automated/assisted mail account generation format: .prf file with mime-type application/pics-rules

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Thunderbird :: Account Manager, enhancement)

Description

[Ralf Hauser]

Many users who are not particularly literate struggle with configuring smtp/pop
accounts. It would be great to have a configuration file method that could be
generated by the ISP one already has an account for webmail already, i.e. the
ISP would offer a file to (http-/web-)download (possibly with a
configuration-management-related MIME type) and then a new, personalized
smtp-account would be configured with only a few mouse-clicks.
I contend having such a configuration-assistance-format would greatly facilitate
the promotion of Thunderbird by ISPs!

Best would be if the format were ASCII based such that everybody could easily
inspect it and the risk for misuse e.g. for viruses/other mal-doing would be
reduced.  ==> Thus this RFE is intentionally not filed under component "Installer"

Some ideas for how to do this could be found with the MS-PRF files
http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/assistance/HA011402581033.aspx 
and (white paper)
http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/6/2/462196eb-fa7c-4c9b-a233-53e67a4a3ebf/PRFWhtepaper.exe

Comment 1

[Ralf Hauser]

i.e. "Tools -  import - settings" should also offer "from Config file (PRF)"

Comment 2

[Ralf Hauser]

the provider-independent standard for this appears to be
http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-PICSRules-971229 and the Mime-Type application/pics-rules

Comment 3

[Gervase Markham [:gerv]]

This is an automated message, with ID "auto-resolve01".

This bug has had no comments for a long time. Statistically, we have found that
bug reports that have not been confirmed by a second user after three months are
highly unlikely to be the source of a fix to the code.

While your input is very important to us, our resources are limited and so we
are asking for your help in focussing our efforts. If you can still reproduce
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you still believe we should implement it, please visit the URL of this bug
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If it is not a problem any longer, you need take no action. If this bug is not
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Thank you for your help in this matter.

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Comment 4

[Gervase Markham [:gerv]]

This bug has been automatically resolved after a period of inactivity (see above
comment). If anyone thinks this is incorrect, they should feel free to reopen it.

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

sounds like autoconfig