Is there a star to the right of the address? Click that star to add to the address book. An unfilled star indicates the address is not in any of your address books. A star filled with color indicates the address is already in one of your books. Clicking a color filled star opens the edit dialog for that contact.

This is NOT the same star to the left of a message header in the Inbox or other folders.

There are no stars, filled or unfilled.

I'm in the main correspondence file. I know I've gotten email from the chap so I start to fill in his name in a search. Sure enough, "Jim J" produces a list of about 10 emails with his name in the upper right corner. They are emails from an email list we both belong to. Thus, his address is not the address of the sender. How do I capture his name/email address for the address book.

You can select and copy most text. Then File|New|Address Book Contact will open the editor to set up a new Contact card in your Address Book, and you can paste in the copied email address.

Alternatively, if Thunderbird has recognized it as an email address as it appears in the email message text, right-clicking on it may be useful.

Well, it isn't solved but it isn't likely to be.\

I'm working in the search engine and find several messages that are from my friend. The addresses on those messages are not "copyable" as an email address. However, if I designate a message as needing to be fully seen, the message pops up in yet another window and the address is starred and can be placed in the address book.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Eric