Thunderbird How-To Guide

Composing messages

  1. Click the Write icon in the toolbar. The Compose window will open.
  2. In the To field, enter the recipient's e-mail address.
  3. In the Subject field, enter a subject.
  4. In the large box, compose the message.
  5. When you are ready to send the message, click the Send icon in the toolbar.
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Creating attachments

  1. Follow steps 1 through 4 above.
  2. Click the Attach icon in the toolbar. The Attach Files(s) window will open.
  3. Browse to the desire file, and select it. Click Open.
  4. The Attachments panel, with the file you selected, will appear on the right side of the Compose window.
  5. When you are ready to send the message, click the Send icon in the toolbar.
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Setting up a sent mail folder

  1. To set up a folder to automatically archive e-mails you send, select Tools > Account Settings. The Account Settings screen will open.
  2. Under Duke IMAP account in the left menu, select Copies & Folders.
  3. Under When sending message, automatically, check the box next to Place a copy in.
  4. Select Other. From the drop-down menu, select sent-mail on Duke IMAP account.
  5. Click OK.
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Creating a signature

  1. To create a signature in Thunderbird, you must first create a signature file. The easiest way to do this is to create a simple text document using Notepad (or TextEdit on a Mac).
  2. On your desktop, go to Start > Run. In the Open field, type notepad. Click OK.
  3. When Notepad opens, create a brief signature.
  4. Select File > Save as.
  5. Choose a filename and location to save the document. For instance, choose My Documents as the location and sig.txt as the file name.
  6. Return to Thunderbird. Select Tools > Account Settings. The Account Settings screen will open.
  7. In the left panel, select Duke IMAP.
  8. Check the box next to Attach this signature.
  9. Click Choose. Browse to and select the file you created earlier.
  10. Click OK.
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Creating an address book entry

  1. From the menu bar, select Tools > Address Book.
  2. Click New Card.
  3. Complete the card with the new contact's information.
  4. Click OK.
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Selecting a recipient from your address book

  1. In the Compose screen, select the Contacts icon. An additional panel on the left will open displaying your address book information.
  2. Select the desired receipient. Click Add to To:
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Creating a new folder

  1. In the left-hand panel, right-click Inbox under your Duke account.
  2. Select New Folder. The New Folder screen will open.
  3. In the Name field, enter a name for the new folder.
  4. In the Create a subfolder or field, select Inbox on Duke IMAP account.
  5. Click OK.
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Creating additional identities

  1. From the menu bar, select Tools > Account Settings. The Account Settings screen will appear.
  2. In the left-hand panel, select your Duke account.
  3. Click the Manage Identities button on the lower right-hand section of the window. The Identities screen will open.
  4. Click Add.
  5. Enter information for an additional identity.
  6. Click OK.
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Configuring LDAP

  1. Click the Address Book icon.
  2. From the Address Book window, select File > New > LDAP Directory. The Directory Server Properties window will appear.
  3. In the Name field, enter Duke LDAP.
  4. In the Hostname field, enter ldap.duke.edu.
  5. In the Base DN field, enter ou=People,dc=duke,dc=edu. NOTE: This field is case sensitive and should be entered exactly as shown.
  6. Click OK and close the Address Book.
  7. In the main Inbox window, select Tools > Account Settings. The Account Settings window will open.
  8. From the left-hand panel, select Composition & Addressing under your Duke account.
  9. In the main part of the window, go to Addressing. Select Use my global LDAP server preferences for this account.
  10. Click OK.
  11. In the main Inbox window, select Tools > Options. The Options window will open.
  12. Select Composition - Addressing.
  13. Check the box next to Directory Server and select Duke LDAP from the drop-down menu.
  14. Click OK.
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