In the past, I have found that Thunderbird "forgets" to name the font in use, leaving it to the recipient's client to use its own default font. That is often Times New Roman in OE (but I don't know where it is set.) Just as you report.

However, today, I am unable to create an email message lacking a font declaration. I don't know what's changed. I would note that the font it is declaring isn't the one that appears in the formatting box in the composition window. (My message internally states Arial/Tahoma/sans-serif, but the default in Thunderbird's composition window is Liberation Sans.) So it's still operating strangely, though in a roundabout way it's applying a sans-serif font as wished for.

You could try saving an HTML-formatted message in Drafts, then view its source using ctrl+u and see if you can spot any font declaration. And you could see if explicitly applying a font makes any difference.

Zenos said

. . .You could try saving an HTML-formatted message in Drafts, then view its source using ctrl+u and see if you can spot any font declaration. And you could see if explicitly applying a font makes any difference.

Thank-you for your interest, and for looking into this yourself, Zenos -- I appreciate it! (But I wonder how an important feature such as this hasn't been addressed, after all these years. . . It's a serious flaw.)

I've looked at the source info, but I only understand a bit of it. It looks, to me, like there is no font declaration in the source. There's also a strange reference to "text/plain", even tho' it's all html.

Would you mind if I were to send it to you as a private message? (Not sure if this forum permits that, tho'). Or, if it's better to upload it so that everyone can see it, please tell me which parts of the source code you need -- I can then omit the stuff that shouldn't be out on its own in big, bad cyberspace.

I think first things first... you mention sizes in points. Thunderbird uses pixels, not points so fonts will be about 30% smaller than you would otherwise expect.

Matt said

I think first things first... you mention sizes in points. Thunderbird uses pixels, not points so fonts will be about 30% smaller than you would otherwise expect.

Thanks, Matt. I realized that, having seen the TBird page that gives a rough co-relation between points and pixels (px = 1.5pt, approximately, it said).

BTW: I just tried to post a non-related question, and was blocked from posting it by an "Access Denied" page. Was it something I said? Too many questions?

My new question asked if anyone knows of a free, online, email client preview service, where I could test how my TBird setup looks in other email clients.

As far as I'm aware and this is how it works on my computer.

If you set the default font in Options, then when composing, it will appear to use that font. But if you check the source of a sent mesage you will see that no font is mentioned which means the recipients personal choice of how they want to see the message will prevail.

However, if you compose the message, then highlight the text and choose a font from the drop down available, then a defined font is specified. If the recipient is allowing messages to use other fonts and that font is available on their computer, then it will be display.

Test: I set Tools > Options > Display > Formatting default font 'courier new'. I set the 'Advanced' to 'Allow messages to use other fonts'

Write new message. In first composed line of text I used whatever was auto selected when I started typing, which was Courier new.

I wrote a second line and then highlighted text and selected 'Times new roman'. Sent the email to myself.

When it arrived, the first line was courier because that is the chosen default display font, but because I allow other fonts that the sender set, I see the second line using Times new roman.

If I then go back into Tools > Options > Display > Formatting and click on 'Advanced' then uncheck 'Allow mesages to use other fonts'. Low and behold - all the text in the received message has now changed to my default display setting - Courier New.

So, it depends upon where you are specifically setting a font using the Formatting Bar and also it depends upon whether the recipient is allowing the use of other fonts. It will of course depend upon whether the recipient actually has the font available otherwise it will use what is available.

If I then reset the default to another font eg: Arial, and allow other users fonts, in my received message, the first line will change to display in Arial and the second line will display as times new roman. If I remove the option/ uncheck 'Allow messages to use other fonts'. then all the displayed font in received message is now Arial, eventhough I wrote it using courier new and Times new roman.

So, the recipient can choose to have full control over what they see. This is useful because:

• some people choose fonts that are not easy to read
• recipient may need clear choice of font, colour and size due to eye sight reasons
• the font is not installed on receipients computer.

btw I can also change the colour used.

Ok this has been tested using Thunderbird, but I would expect this facilty on other email clients.

Very clear explanation, Mr. Hall, and useful to keep in mind, should I encounter any future problems. Thank-you!