How to specify fixed column width in message pane
I often have to change screen resolution because of multiple monitors and or attaching/detaching laptops to docking stations etc. I use Thunderbird in maximized window state. So each time the resolution changes all columns containing text are resized, sometimes to the point where I cannot see the content anymore. So I constantly end up manually resizing the columns.
Now I am looking for a way to specify a fixed or minimum size for the "date" and "from" column and only have the subject column auto shrink/expand.
All Replies (2)
Font Size is measured in pixels. If you are changing the size of the pixel via 'screen resolution' then it effects everything on the screen.
Other than manually resetting the width of the column... You could try the 'View' > 'Reduce font size' Repeated clicks on that option reduce font size in increments. This reduces the font size generically in UI, so more can be seen.
'View' > 'Density' > 'Compact' offers the smallest setting for the spaces between lines.
Things such as Window size, which toolbars are enabled, which columns are selected to be seen and Column widths etc are set by your choices and stored in the profile in the xulstore.json file. The xulstore.json file will be updated by the settings you have selected in the current session in the session.json file when you exit Thunderbird. The settings in the xulstore.json file get used when you start Thunderbird, so it remembers and displays your choices.
So your 'Subject' column data would be something like this: "subjectCol":{"ordinal":"15","width":"221"} That 'width' is number of pixels. Thunderbird has no knowledge about your OS screen resolution which determines the size of a pixel. It only knows the number of pixels you set when you manually move the column width.
Your best alternative is to always use a wider width for the Subject column so it can accomodate any increases you apply to a pixel size.
Modified by Toad-Hall
re :all columns containing text are resized
It is only a visual alteration due to modified screen resolution. The number of pixels the column is using does not change - it has not been resized, but the Screen resolution has changed the pixel size.