327108 - (no-copy-to-sent) Cannot save copies to Sent folder. Selections in Copies & Folders are not retained (any of POP3 or IMAP)

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Thunderbird :: General, defect)

Description

[Jerre Levy]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/416.11 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/416.12
Build Identifier: Thunderbird 1.0.6

Thunderbird was saving copies to Sent mail perfectly for the last 3 days (when I first started using it), but the function disappeared today. A selection to save copies to Sent mail in Tools > Account settings > Copies and Folders disappears as soon as the window closes, since it's not there when the window is re-opened immediately. Reinstallation of Thunderbird from Connectivity Packet 12.0 from the University of Chicago did not correct the problem.  

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Go to Copies & Folders and select "Place a copy" in "Sent folder" on [e-mail]
2. Write an email and send. 
3. 
Actual Results:  
No copies of Sent mail are saved. No selections made in Tools>Account Settings>Copies and Folders is retained. As soon as the window closes, the selections evidently disappear since when the window is immediately re-opened, there are no selections. 

Expected Results:  
Settings in Copies & Folders should be retained by Thunderbird. A copy of the sent email should been in the "Sent" folder.

Settings in Copies & Folders should have been  retained and copies of sent mail should be in the "Sent" folder.

Comment 1

[zug_treno]

Related to/duplicate of (bugs like) bug 303271, bug 312180, bug 274346, bug 273100 or Core bug 221386?

Comment 2

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

See also Bug 213300.
Check JavaScript console. Are there any error messages relate to problem?

See your prefs.js contents(If you use Tb 1.5, you can see it thru "config editor" in Tools/Options/Advanced).
Is there any hostname or realhostname entry related inconsistency? (Bug 213300)
Is there any realhostname value inconsistency in mail folder related URI? (Bug 303271)

Comment 3

[Jerre Levy]

Thank you for your response about my problem.

I selected JavaScript Console from Tools, which showed two errors as follows:

Error: GetThreadTree is not defined
Source File: chrome://messenger/content/mail3PaneWindowCommand.js      Line:713

Error: uncaught exception: [Exception..."Component returned failure code: Ox80004003
          (NS_ERROR_INVALID_POINTER) [nslMsgldentity.fccFolder]*nsresult: *Ox80004003
          (NS_ERROR_INVALID_POINTER)*location:*JS frame ::
          chrome://messenger/content/AccountManager.js ::getAccountValue :: line 906* data:no]
 
I don't know what these mean or what I should do  to correct the errors. I installed Thunderbird a second time, but the same problem was present.

My version of Thunderbird (supplied by  Connectivity Packet 12.0 from the University of Chicago) is Tb 1.0.6. How do I see prefs.js contents? 

Thank you.

Comment 4

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #3)
> (NS_ERROR_INVALID_POINTER) [nslMsgldentity.fccFolder]*nsresult:
Same error message as one in Bug 303271.
This issue was caused by anti-virus software in many cases.
  - Anti-virus software(mail scanner) changes "hostname" which is used in
    internal mail folder path name such as one in mail.identity.id3.fcc_folder.
  - This causes mismatch between mail.server.serverNN.hostname and
    mail.identity.idMM.fcc_folder.
  - Anti-virus software have to add/change realhostname instead of hostname
    change.
See Bug 213300 and bugs pointed in it for detail, and see Bug 213300 Comment #18 for recovery procedure if problem described in Bug 213300.

> How do I see prefs.js contents? 
Edit file named "prefs.js" in profile directry using UTF-8 capable text editor.
Since even "notepad.exe" of MS Win-2K/XP is UTF-8 capable, "SimpleText" of Mac OS X is UTF-8 capable needless to say, I believe. 

Comment 5

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 312180 ***

Comment 6

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to your personal mail to me.)

Jerre Levy, if you can see prefs.js contents and can explain about entry value, join in Bug 312180, with clear description(what error,when occurs,what anti-virus software is used, and so on), with evidence(which entry is replaced and so on).
If you can not, and if you need help, ask at MozillaZine forum, please.
Sorry but bugzilla.mozilla.org is not customer support center nor help center.

Comment 7

[Jerre Levy]

The second error report that I had gotten - the one that is the same as 312180 - has disappeared, but the first error <GetThreadTree is not defined> is still reported by JavaScript Console. I am still not able to copy to Sent and TB will not retain preferences of Account Settings/Copies and Folders.

I downloaded and installed Tb 1.5, but cannot see prefs.js content because I cannot reach "config editor" via Tools/Options/Advanced) - there is no Options selection on my Tools menu nor any Advanced option under JavaScript Console.

I do not have any anti-virus software on my G4 running Mac OS 10.4, but this evidently pertains to bug 312180 (one of 2 error messages I got running  TB 1.0.6),  )whereas the only error message I now get on TB 1.5 from my JavaScript Console is <GetThreadTree is not defined>. This is not a duplicate of 321180.

Comment 8

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #7)
> the first error <GetThreadTree is not defined> is still reported

Different problem from "Selections in Copies & Folders are not retained". "One problem per a bug" is bugzilla's rule. Open another bug, after searching bugzilla for already reported bugs well.

> the one that is the same as 312180 has disappeared, 
>  I am still not able to copy to Sent and TB will
> not retain preferences of Account Settings/Copies and Folders.

Closing as DUP of Bug 312180 again.

Bug 312180 is for "somehow Copies & Folders are not saved". The exception is merely an example of phenomenon when problem occured. Cause of prefs.js inconsistency is still unclear and anti-virus software is merely one of suspects. 
Jerre Levy, join in Bug 312180 after checking next entries in prefs.js.
 - mail.server.serverNN.hostname
 - mail.server.serverNN.realhostname.
 - mail.server.serverNN.userName
 - mail.server.serverNN.realuserName
 - mail.server.serverNN.spamActionTargetFolder
 - mail.identity.idMM.fcc_folder
And explain about your environment - especialy about proxy-type "mail scanner" software.
Comparison with other problem reporter is important.

> I cannot reach "config editor" via Tools/Options/Advanced) - there is no
> Options selection on my Tools menu nor any Advanced option under JavaScript
> Console.
Tools/Options menu -> Advanced in Tb's option panel -> General tab -> "Config Editor" button.
( Please search by yourself or read "help", please, please... ) 

Comment 9

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 312180 ***

Comment 10

[Jerre Levy]

The Config Editor is not found via Tools/Options/Advanced on my computer. I found the Config Editor via Thunderbird/Preferences -> General tab -> Config Editor button. 

Since I had one functional problem and one error message in JavaScript, I mistakenly assumed that the specified error was the cause of the problem. 

Nothing begins with prefs.js. In Config Editor. Names are simply listed under a heading called "Preference Name", their status, type, and value to the right on the same line.

None of the mail.server.server or mail.identity preferences are the same as those you list.  The closest I can find are preferences that replace your NN with a 2 or your MM with a 1. Perhaps this might be because my OS (Mac OS 10.4.3)  is different from yours.  

PREFERENCE NAME                                      STATUS   TYPE      VALUE
mail.server.server2.hostname                      user set   string     imap.uchicago.edu
mail.server.server2.realhostname                user set   string     imap.uchicago.edu
mail.server.server2.userName                      user set   string    Jerre
mail.server.server2.realUserName                user set   string    Jerre   
mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder                          user set   string     imap://[e-mail]/Sent

There was no mail.server.server preference with "spamActionTargetFolder". The University of Chicago server filters my mail for spam and discards it. The filter is set at the server, not by any of my email apps. 

Comment 11

[Jerre Levy]

Sorry, the values of preferences were cut off. Here they are:

mail.server.server2.hostname 
 IMAP.uchicago.edu

mail.server.server2.realhostname
 IMAP.uchicago.edu

mail.server.server2.userName
Jerre

mail.server.server2.realUserName
Jerre

mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder
imap://[e-mail]/Sent

Comment 12

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #11)
>  IMAP.uchicago.edu
Oh IMAP case...
Re-opening because IMAP case and POP3 case are better to be analized in different bug first, and because problem on IMAP and problem on POP3 are different in many cases.

> mail.server.server2.hostname     IMAP.uchicago.edu
> mail.server.server2.realhostname IMAP.uchicago.edu
Is changing "IMAP" to "imap"(lower case) a workaround?

> mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder imap://[e-mail]/Sent
When "IMAP" in hostname & realhostname is kept as uppercase, is changing to "[e-mail]/Sent" a workaround? (change "imap" to upper case)

Comment 13

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

Correction. Sorry for spam.

Change also mail.server.server2.userName and mail.server.server2.realUserName to
 "jerre"(lower case), when first case.
Change mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder to imap://[e-mail]/Sent when second case.

Additonal check.
I each case, see difference when folder name part of "Sent" is changed to "sent".
 (mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder = imap://.../sent)

Comment 14

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

Thunderbird sets mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder to imap://<uid>@<servername>/Sent where <uid> is value of mail.server.server2.userName and <servername> is value of mail.server.server2.hostname with keeping case, when account/identity creation.

Who changed mail.server.server2.userName from "jerre" to "Jerre"?
Who changed mail.server.server2.hostname from "imap.uchicago.edu" to "IMAP.uchicago.edu"?
If "Jerre" and "IMAP.uchicago.edu" are set from initial, who changed mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder from [e-mail] to [e-mail]?   

Please write down properly including case(editing prefs.js file is better, I think).

Comment 15

[David :Bienvenu]

OK, I know what's going on here, and I have a half fix that I'm not happy with yet. The basic problem is that the fcc (or draft or template) uri has an unknown server name, for whatever reason. That breaks the copies pane of the preferences dialog. For now, you can simply delete those lines from your prefs.js or remove them with the config editor, and then go into the copies pane and set them to what you want.

I'll attach the patch I have so far, but it has problems in that the user has to actually click on the drop down menu and change it for it to work.

Comment 16

[David :Bienvenu]

Attachment: fix that gets things limping along

Comment 17

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #15)
> OK, I know what's going on here
Oh, David, who is god for me, was fortunately watching this bug... :-)
Case related(then not found) issue?
(Sorry but I can not guess about your knowing of "what's going on", and I can not understand meaning of your patch...)

Comment 18

[David :Bienvenu]

This patch deals with the case where the pref (e.g. mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder) has a uri with a non-existent account - that breaks the copies & folder pane. I don't know how the pref is getting broken - I'm just trying to make it so the copies & folders pane works in this situation.

I don't know about the GetThreadTree issue - I suspect it's unrelated.

Comment 19

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #18)
> I'm just trying to make it so the copies & folders pane works in this
> situation.
Does it mean your patch is successor or replacement of patch for Bug 303271?

> I don't know how the pref is getting broken -
I'll continue to try to find who generated inconsistency in prefs.js with Jerre Levy.

Comment 20

[David :Bienvenu]

it's a successor - basically addresses the review comments. I'd still like a fix that didn't make the user have to pick another pref - hmm, maybe I can just delete the bogus pref!

Comment 21

[Jerre Levy]

The University of Chicago (UC) supplies a Connectivity Packet for off-campus computers. This automatically fills in the  imap information for the email apps  (Eudora and Thunderbird, included on the Connectivity Packet) when the user supplies his or her university password. TB 1.0.6 worked perfectly for a couple of days, then suddenly failed to copy to Sent. Evidently it had been working with mismatched letter cases. I set my username with UC as "jerre" many years ago, but on webmail, as soon as I enter "jerre", this is changed to "Jerre," so possibly the server is programmed to change an initial lower-case letter to upper-case letter. 

In my earlier posting, I copied exactly the cases of the preferences. I am sending a personal email to Wada with screen images of the preferences.

Comment 22

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to personal mail from Jerre Levy to me)
Jerre Levy, add comment to this bug(link of [reply]), instead of sending mail to me(mailto: link of comment poster's name).
If non-text data is to be viewed, or if long text data, attach file thru link of "Create a New Attachment", by specifying appropriate mime-type.

(In reply to comment #21)
> In my earlier posting, I copied exactly the cases of the preferences.
According to your comment #10,
> mail.server.server2.hostname       imap.uchicago.edu
> mail.server.server2.realhostname   imap.uchicago.edu
> mail.server.server2.userName       Jerre
> mail.server.server2.realUserName   Jerre   
> mail.identity.id1.fcc_folder       imap://[e-mail]/Sent

Inconsistency in your case is mismatch between "Jerre" in userName and "jerre" in fcc_folder.
Change mail.server.server2.userName from "Jerre" to "jerre". What will happen?

Since realhostname and realuserName is added and set correctly, your server management department looks to know Mozilla family's current spec, excluding that hostname and userName is case sensitive.
Jerre Levy, contact with server management department of your University, and let them know that hostname and userName is case sensitive, then ask them to put lower case in hostname and userName always.

Comment 23

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #20)
> - hmm, maybe I can just delete the bogus pref!
Since there is no way to change value of mail.server.serverN.hostname and  mail.server.serverN.userName from UI except "Config Editor", I can't imagine cause of incosistency other than modification by other software(software's bug), by editing prefs.js(user error) or thru "Config Editor"(also user error).
So it sounds nice idea for me.

Comment 24

[Jerre Levy]

Thank you for your comments. In addition to failing to copy to Sent, TB quit accessing the server a few days ago.

In Config Editor, I changed "Jerre" (uppercase J) to "jerre" (lower-case j), but it made no difference. I shall inform the UC networking people regarding case sensitivity of TB. They need to know about TB problems because they specifically recommend using TB, although both TB and Eudora are included on their Connectivity Packet.

Comment 25

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #24)
> TB quit accessing the server a few days ago.

Login to IMAP server fails?
Subscribing IMAP mail folders becomes impossible?
Receiving mail becomes impossible?

> In Config Editor, I changed "Jerre" (uppercase J) to "jerre" (lower-case j),
> but it made no difference.

No difference from when?
Still can not save "Copies and Folders" setting change" and "Exception"?
Or still can not save a copy of sent mail to "Sent" folder only?
Or still both?

Comment 26

[Jerre Levy]

Before I made the changes from upper- to lower-case, TB stopped retrieving male from the server and stopping sending mail to server (which means that I cannot check whether it copies to Sent)


After I made the changes, TB still had exactly the same problems. I deleted all TB files and plan to reinstall and enter any requested settings manually (copying from Eudora settings, since Eudora works perfectly). When I do this, will report outcomes, but it is now after 4 am and I have to go to bed. 

Comment 27

[Jerre Levy]

I discarded TB app and folders, reinstalled TB 1.5, got activated on DSL, changed outgoing server to DSL SMTP server and outgoing username to DSL username , changed the port setting for IMAP incoming server according to tech support at UC. Everything now works perfectly on TB - it retrieves mail from IMAP server, it sends mail, it copies mail to Sent.

The JavaScript Console shows the same error message:
Error: GetThreadTree is not defined
Source File: chrome://messenger/content/mail3PaneWindowCommands.js  Line:715

Comment 28

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #27)
> Everything now works perfectly on TB
> - it retrieves mail from IMAP server, it sends mail, it copies mail to Sent.
Are there any difference from prefs.js settings in your comment #10?
 
> Error: GetThreadTree is not defined
As I said in Comment #8, and as David Bienvenu said in Comment #18, and as you are thinking, it is different problem and no relation to this bug.
Open new bug, if no already reported bug is found even after searching bugzilla well. "One problem per bug" is rule of bugzilla.mozilla.org.

Comment 29

[Jerre Levy]

Attachment: TB mail.identity.id preferences

This is a screen image of mail.identity.id preferences.

Comment 30

[Jerre Levy]

Attachment: TB mail.server.server2 preferences

This is a screen image of the relevant mail.server.server.2 preferences.

Comment 31

[David :Bienvenu]

Attachment: proposed fix

this changes the backend to just use the default setting if the server doesn't exist, so at least we'll have some sort of fallback, and the UI won't be broken.

Comment 32

[WADA:World Anti-bad-Duping Agency]

(In reply to comment #31)
> proposed fix

Your "server" in "if the server doesn't exist, fall back to the default pref" looks to be "hostname".
But this bug's case seems to be "userName" only corruption, inconsistency between userName and fcc_folder(See comment #10).
David, will fallback work(or required) even when userName only corruption?
Already covered by patch for Bug 303271?
Or no problem in UI from initial when "userName" only corruption? 
(problem of "folder not found when try to put a mail" only) 

Comment 33

[David :Bienvenu]

Yes, it will handle "username" corruption. The server comes from the account, and we get the account from the combination of the user name and host. So if either the user name or the host are messed up, this will handle it.

Comment 34

[David :Bienvenu]

Comment on attachment 212657 [details] [diff] [review]
proposed fix

probably too late for 1.8.0.2 but getting on the radar...

Comment 35

[Scott MacGregor]

Comment on attachment 212657 [details] [diff] [review]
proposed fix

approving after discussing this issue with David.

Comment 36

[Scott MacGregor]

Jerre, can you help verify that this is fixed?

you can try one of these builds now:

ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/nightly/latest-mozilla1.8

Comment 37

[David :Bienvenu]

*** Bug 303271 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 38

[David :Bienvenu]

*** Bug 312674 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Comment 39

[Marcia Knous [:marcia]]

verified fixed on the 1.8 branch using the Tbird cand build, version 2.0.0.0 (20070326). I tested on Intel Mac running 10.4.9. I sent several emails using my Zimbra IMAP account, and in all cases copies were preserved in my sent folder. Adding branch verified keyword.

Comment 40

[Marcia Knous [:marcia]]

Forgot to add that I tested on POP as well, with the same results.

(In reply to comment #39)
> verified fixed on the 1.8 branch using the Tbird cand build, version 2.0.0.0
> (20070326). I tested on Intel Mac running 10.4.9. I sent several emails using
> my Zimbra IMAP account, and in all cases copies were preserved in my sent
> folder. Adding branch verified keyword.
>