Open Bug 578017 Opened 14 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Reply/compose window opens in background (behind other windows)

Categories

(Thunderbird :: Message Compose Window, defect)

Product:
Thunderbird
Component:
Message Compose Window
Type:
defect

Tracking

(blocking-thunderbird3.1 ?)

Tracking Flags:
Tracking Status
blocking-thunderbird3.1 --- ?

People

(Reporter: bjl, Unassigned)

References

(
URL
)

Details

(Whiteboard: [gs]) 

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.2.6) Gecko/20100625 Firefox/3.6.6 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729)
Build Identifier: 3.1

Started with 3.1. I have mail set to open in new windows rather than tabs. If I clicked Reply on an open message the Reply compose window opens behind the message window. (Actually the first time I do this it's OK. But the second time onwards I get the problem until I close and restart TB). Can't see any advanced config settings for this.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open a message in a new window.
2. Click on Reply.
3. Close both windows and repeat stepss 1 and 2
Actual Results:  
Reply compose window opens behind message window.

Expected Results:  
Always used to open on top of the message window.

I do use Accessibility s/w (MAGic from Freedom Scientific) but I get this problem without MAGic running so I don't think it's associated.
Version: unspecified → 3.1
Exactly the same here. Also, changing "send from" account adds a signature instead of replacing it.

Thanks.
Heck. I've just noticed that all the reply windows I've opened and closed have remained there in tabs even though I closed them! (I have TB configured to open in windows not tabs)
(In reply to comment #2)
> Heck. I've just noticed that all the reply windows I've opened and closed have
> remained there in tabs even though I closed them! (I have TB configured to open
> in windows not tabs)

TB doesn't let you compose replies in tabs (at all) - so this doesn't make much sense to me, can you expand/explain in more detail please?
Sorry. I couldn't reporduce the tabs on demand so I think I was wrong there. But I do get a bunch of tabs opening from time to time and I have no idea why. Just now I found half a dozen mail folder open in tabs - folders I haven't used today.

Earlier today I found the same but also a number of incoming messages and some reply windows.

I don't like using tabs in TB and have done my best to turn them off in the option settings. Of course, that doesn't mean keyboard or mouse presses wont do so. So I guess I've had finger trouble today but I can't think when.

I have bad eyesight so I don't spot when the tabs open. I look from time to time and for hours today I had none. Then just now I found all those open folders.
I am seeing this also on Windows IMAP install. Let me know what you need to know and I'll be glad to provide information. This is a pretty annoying bug if you run into every time you reply or reply all or forward email that has been opened (by preference) in a new window. Let me know what other information I can provide. Thanks.... Pierce

Version details:
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.2.8) Gecko/20100802 Lightning/1.0b2 Thunderbird/3.1.2
I use IMAP too.
Same here.  Using 3.1.2.  Clicking Reply button opens window in background.  Ctrl+R opens reply window in foreground, as does choosing reply from Message menu drop down.  It only the Reply button that seems to be malfunctioning.
Confirming:
Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; en-US; rv:1.9.2.8) Gecko/20100802 Thunderbird/3.1.2

Only extension is "Add-on Compatibility Reporter 0.5.1".  I had not noticed this behavior because I'd always used the "hotkey".  Tried the button, and the reply window appeared in the background.  Restarted in Safe Mode, selected same message, used "ReplyAll" button, problem did not occur.  Restarted in "normal" mode, problem gone.  Same original message used in all 3 tries.

Simple workaround appears to be to restart in Safe Mode -- once.
URL: http://gsfn.us/t/1c2cs
Whiteboard: [gs]
Status: UNCONFIRMED → NEW
Ever confirmed: true
Michael had my hopes up (Comment 8), so I followed his steps to the letter. And the same message I used for all the tests did work as described. As soon as I tried to reply to a different message, though, the same problem described in this bug resurfaced.

So, restarting in Safe Mode once does not resolve the problem in my testing.
(In reply to comment #9)
> So, restarting in Safe Mode once does not resolve the problem in my testing.

Excellent observation (and poor testing on my part --  I'd only tried a single message).  

I just tried this on a different message, and the reply window appeared on the background.  Restarting in Safe Mode, used Reply All button, no problem.  Restarted normal mode, now reply window is in foreground for that message.  Tried the first message (Comment #8), and got the drop-down menu -- and then the window went to the background when I released the button (I think -- I don't want to restart in Safe Mode again to verify, but I DID see the drop-down menu).  While new reply window is in background for any particular message, hitting "Reply All" button again will open a new reply window -- in the foreground.
(In reply to comment #10)
> While new reply window is in background for any particular message,
> hitting "Reply All" button again will open a new reply window -- in the
> foreground.

This is true, Reply All will open the window in the foreground, as does Forward.  However, routine use of Reply All is hardly a solution as the button only appears when there was more than one recipient on the original e-mail.  Even if Reply All is available, the user would then need to remember to delete all the extra recipients if Reply to Sender Only is what is really wanted (and that's a recipe for accidentally telling the world what you think of it, eh?).

The only real work around I've found so far is to train my fingers to use Ctrl+R, or to use the Message drop-down menu.
> However, routine use of Reply All [...]

I didn't mean to suggest that as a workaround; I was only noting that a second press of the button causes the window to (correctly) open in the foreground.  Same goes for the "Reply" button. I fIgured it might help whoever decides to look into this....

> The only real work around I've found so far is to train my fingers to use
> Ctrl+R, or to use the Message drop-down menu.

Roger that.
You have to remember that the pronlem does not occur the first time you use the reply button after starting TB. So to test properly you need to open the same message twice after starting in Safe Mode. And then again after a normal start.

As pointed out. The best workaround is to use ctrl-r.
Same here, started as soon as I upgraded to 3.1.2 (direction from 3.0.x).  Also seems to affect the "reply all" button sometimes.  I tried disabling all my extensions, and still get the behavior.
(In reply to comment #13)
> You have to remember that the pronlem does not occur the first time you use the
> reply button after starting TB. So to test properly you need to open the same
> message twice after starting in Safe Mode. And then again after a normal start.
> 
> As pointed out. The best workaround is to use ctrl-r.

WFM with Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; rv:2.0b5pre) Gecko/20100827 Thunderbird/3.2a1pre
(In reply to comment #15)
> WFM with Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10.5; rv:2.0b5pre)
> Gecko/20100827 Thunderbird/3.2a1pre

It's definitely broken at 3.1.2; can anyone identify the change in 3.2a1pre that makes this work correctly, or the change that broke it ?  This looks to have been a regression from 1.9.1 branch (see Comment #14).
The bug is still there in 3.1.4, for both POP and IMAP.
Agreed, the bug is still in 3.1.4.  I believe another workaround would be to select open messages in a new tab in advanced options.  Personally I detest tabs so this workaround isn't for me...  I hope this bug will be resolved in the near future.
I just upgraded to 3.1.5 today on 32-bit Windows Vista.  The bug is still in 3.1.5.  This is a very visible and annoying bug.
Per comment #21, changed OS related to All
OS: Windows XP → All
Hardware: x86 → All
blocking-thunderbird3.1: --- → ?
I've been able to reproduce on trunk with this STR:
1. Start Thunderbird with Local Folders open.
2. Double-click on a message in Local Folders.
3. Click on Reply.
4. Close the window.
5. Click on Reply again.
The bug still exists in 3.1.6, which just came out today.  I've done some additional tests and I believe the following to be true:  If I hit the "reply" button on the main app toolbar area with a message highlighted, but not already open, it will correctly open a reply window on top every time.  However, if I hit the "reply" button on the message window toolbar of an open message, the reply window will open on the background.  Since this bug isn't assigned to anyone it doesn't seem likely to be addressed anytime soon...
Yeah, the bug still exists.  I have, however, accidentally stumbled across THE EASIEST WORK AROUND YET:  Double click the Reply button in the message window and -- lo and behold -- the reply window is on top.  Now, technically, the first click opens it behind and the second click brings it forward.  OK.  I can live with that (and Ctrl+R still works as well).  I just wish one of the folks writing code for Thunderbird had chimed in about this way back when I first posted the bug.  We could all have saved a lot of time.  Ah, me.
(In reply to comment #25)
>  Double click the Reply button in the message window
> and -- lo and behold -- the reply window is on top.  Now, technically, the
> first click opens it behind and the second click brings it forward.  

Not quite (v3.1.3) it opens one behind and one in front. I'll go and update and see what happens. Ctrl+R is my only solution so far, but it's hard to remember to do it for some reason; I just keep clicking that "Reply" button!
Still seeing this issue in 3.1.9 on OS X.  Exactly as posters describe.
Testing with Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.0; rv:5.0a2) Gecko/20110507 Thunderbird/3.3a4pre ID:20110507030316

Refining the steps to reproduce:
This only happens if you are replying from a standalone window
Happens first time (every time) when replying to a newsgroup post
Only occurs for me if you use the reply icon in the message reader ui

Mail toolbar reply, or message drop-down, or ctrl+R does not show the symptom.
(changing component as per that observation)
Component: Message Compose Window → Message Reader UI
QA Contact: message-compose → message-reader
Still happens in version 5.0 on a Windows XP x64. Same as always...
I do see it too in TB9, Linux.
Component: Message Reader UI → Message Compose Window
QA Contact: message-reader → message-compose
Summary: Reply window opens in background → Reply/compose window opens in background (behind other windows)
We have a user who prefers to open messages in new windows. When clicking on reply it opens the reply window behind the message window.

I have confirmed this is the case in 10.0.5 (esr channel) and also 16.0.1 (release channel).

To replicate (notes from my user):

Open an email in a new Window
Click Reply
You should find it's not possible to compose your reply without clicking 
on the reply window to make it active.

If you click reply again another email composition window appears and 
this time it is active. The bug seems to be the first time you click 
reply.
Richard (last commenter) has linked this bug to bug 632568, whose status is "unconfirmed". That bug should probably be set to confirmed and one of these two bugs should be a duplicate of the other.

I've observed this bug for a while and am seeing it now with TB 16.0.1 under Windows 7.
I forgot to add that the CompactHeader add-on <https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/thunderbird/addon/compactheader/> fixes this problem for the Reply button, but not for Smart Reply (any of these button's functions).
I have more information on reproducing this bug, and on a functional workaround.

1. I first experienced this bug in Thunderbird 24.2.0; previously I was using Thunderbird 17, the previous major update, and I had never experienced the problem with windows opening behind the current one, until the Thunderbird 24.2.0 update.

2. The problem only occurs when using the buttons in the toolbar on the upper-right-hand side of a message window, that are vertically at the same height as the message From+Subject lines.  The problem does not occur with the toolbar on the upper-left-hand side of a message window, above the From line.

3. The functional workaround is to edit both of the toolbars mentioned in point 2, adding Reply/Forward/etc buttons to the upper-left toolbar, and in order to prevent accidental clicks, removing them from the upper-right toolbar.

4. The buggy behaviour seems consistent with the event listener for the mouse click event being applied twice when Reply/etc on the upper-right toolbar being clicked, where the first one correctly presses the button and the second one brings the current window into focus after it had blurred but before the new window was created over top.

The behaviour has been reproduced both on Mac OS X 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) and 10.9.1 (Mavericks) and seems invariant to the OS.

My Thunderbird is configured so messages always open in new windows, not in third pane of "Mail and Newsgroups".

I hope I have given enough info here to track down and fix the bug, which seems longstanding and affecting a lot of people.  I don't know why this didn't affect me prior to Thunderbird 24 when it affected others as far back as Thunderbird 3.  Let me know if you need more info from my environment.
I have a similar issue but when doing send (file) to email - or when using HP scanner and scan file to email - the compose email widow opens with the file attached - but the window is always in the back (behind the main Thunderbird window) so it looks like absolutely nothing has happened - unless you minimize the main T-bird window - then you can see the new compose email window that popped up.  I don't know the Thunderbird version but it was installed on April 2, 2014 - downloaded as the latest version from Mozilla.org website.

Any help, comments, suggestions - would be appreciated!
Very Very Annoying Bug - ain it is still there from Thunderbird 3.x to 24.6.0

If You Click on an mailto: link, the windows opens in Background.

Please Fix...
I had this for the first time today.  I think it may have been caused by a recent update.

When clicking the "Reply" button or the "Write" button the composer window is behind the main window.  Clicking on the task bar does not show the window.   

OS is windows 8.1

I restarted Thunderbird and then the computer.  I then looked at the about box to see the version number (prior to googling for a previous bug report).  The about box said Thunderbird was updating by the time I looked at it.  

The version is now 31.1.1

Using the option "Restart with Add-ons disabled" allows the composer window to be shown.  Setting all add ons to "Never active" didn't help.
Windows 7, Thunderbird <latest> (as of this writing).  External mailto: function from Adobe Reader opens Write window behind main Window.  VERY frustrating for my Dad who barely understands how all this stuff works in the first place!  Please resolve.
Cannot reproduce. I think the placement strategy of new windows is dependent of and controlled by the operating system / windows manager and other tools that control/influence the window placement strategy.
Here's how I can partially reproduce the problem:

1. Windows 7 (x64), Thunderbird Portable, current version, fresh profile

2. Configure to open messages in a new window

3. Configure an existing IMAP account (no synchronization, although that probably doesn't matter)

4. Open an existing message, press Reply or Smart Reply (any option)

You should notice that the composition window is behind the message window for a short moment, then probably due to some kind of delayed correction routine it is moved to the front. This should not be necessary, the new window should be in front in the first place. Whether this routine always works is not easy to say, and this will likely depend on the individual situation (add-ons, button configuration perhaps).

I was able to see the problem at least for this:

5. Configure a Usenet account: server nntp.olduse.net (an open archive of very early Usenet postings, not too much content, good for tests like this), subscribe to group "general" (an example that contains five messages at the time I tested)

6. Open a message, press Followup (which is the state of the Smart Reply button now)

The composition window now appears behind the message window.

The main point is that there was obviously a problem once that was fixed in a way that seems more like some workaround than finding and fixing the root problem. Hence the observable delay in getting the composition window to the front and the possibility that this might not work.

It would be great if this could be looked at by new developers such as those in the PEP project. (Greetings from Bielefeld.)
Hard fix solution for windows 10 Thunderbirds ...


when you attach and send a file from explorer right mouse button menu then press [Alt+Shift+Tab] and email window will climb up to the front :)

I dont belive that we have waited this solution for 8 years.
Severity: normal → S3
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