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New Mail Composition Window Background Color

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  • Last reply by david

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I am attempting to transition to Thunderbird. I have become quickly familiar with the HTML/CSS underlying the UI, and with the older userChrome.css structure for personal customization.

However, I can not figure out how to change the default background color of the message composition window -- which exists in a separate window from the main message viewer window -- from #2a2a2e to basic white.

Cracking open a copy of omni.ja in the app package, the only ID that I can find that seem to possibly be relevant is #messageArea, found in the following .css files:

chrome/classic/skin/classic/messenger/messageQuotes.css chrome/classic/skin/classic/messenger/shared/editorContent.css chrome/classic/skin/classic/messenger/shared/messengercompose.css

I have tried to override the default #2a2a2e color of the message composition area in my userChrome.css file, but to no success. (By contrast, it was easy to change the background color of the message viewing area with #messagePane)

I have tried the obvious step of changing the background color to white in the color settings option. Even after multiple app restarts, this setting does not affect the dark grey default background of the composition window.

Is there a name to this window div and a class or ID that i could access and customize through my userChrome.css file?

Thanks!

I am attempting to transition to Thunderbird. I have become quickly familiar with the HTML/CSS underlying the UI, and with the older userChrome.css structure for personal customization. However, I '''can not''' figure out how to change the default background color of the message composition window -- which exists in a separate window from the main message viewer window -- from #2a2a2e to basic white. Cracking open a copy of omni.ja in the app package, the only ID that I can find that seem to possibly be relevant is #messageArea, found in the following .css files: chrome/classic/skin/classic/messenger/messageQuotes.css chrome/classic/skin/classic/messenger/shared/editorContent.css chrome/classic/skin/classic/messenger/shared/messengercompose.css I have tried to override the default #2a2a2e color of the message '''composition''' area in my userChrome.css file, but to no success. (By contrast, it was easy to change the background color of the message '''viewing''' area with #messagePane) I have tried the obvious step of changing the background color to white in the color settings option. Even after multiple app restarts, this setting does not affect the dark grey default background of the composition window. Is there a name to this window div and a class or ID that i could access and customize through my userChrome.css file? Thanks!

All Replies (4)

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I may not be fully grasping your issue. For me, all it took was going to settings>general and clicking the 'color's button and changing background color. I Untick 'use systems colors' - In settings>composition, I DO tick 'use reader's default colors' - I am using the light theme.

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Hi David,

Thanks for replying. I should clarify a few things. First, I am using Thunderbird 115, on OSX. From what I can tell, the default theme is dark, and there is no obvious, available way to change to a light theme.

Next, I have done just as you advise, unticking 'Use system colors,' and setting text to black and background to white. It simply does not affect anything, even after relaunching the app. Screenshot is attached, just so you know I am not making this up.

Any advise from here? Thanks!

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Oh. My. God.

The setting is in 'Composition,' not in 'General.' I could have just saved myself a few hours of research. Evidence that it sometimes it is better to not know how to look under the hood. I'll mark it up to learning about the underlying workings of a great app. Thanks so much for this!

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You're welcome, but for Windows at least, the tick boxes about system color and reader's default colors are paramount. The colors set in settings>general apply to reading and to composition, plain text or HTML. The settings>Composition colors are specific to HTML composition.