Re-enable Message Preview

[Former user]

On my system TB 78.2.2 (32 bit) the app (2.2) only works if I re-enable it every time I start TB.. After restarting TB, the preview column is not displayed and cannot be ticked on from the list of available column items. Only after switching to the addons page and first dis- and then re-enabling Message Preview can I get the column item displayed once again.

[alta88]

What is your OS?

If you move the column to another order and restart, is it still missing? Did you get the update for 2.2 automatically? If so, please download the xpi and install from file and see if that helps.

[Andreas Lieven]

OS: Windows 10Pro, Build 19041

I installed Message Preview with the xpi file downloaded from this site.

If I restore column order the problem persist. I have to dis- re-enable MessagePreview every time I restart TB.

[Andreas Lieven]

For good order’s sake I should add that I have removed the MessagePreview Extension and re-installed it with the provided xpi file.

To met it looks as if TB simply does not save the column list once the MessagePreview column has been added and does not even remember that the extension is enabled when TB is restarted.

[alta88]

Thanks for the report. Unfortunately, I can’t reproduce it (win8, 78.3.1). It updated and on shutdown/startup, restored the position (both when in default location and when moved to first column).

Try contextmenu Properties and Repair Folder on that folder. Perhaps also rename the xulstore directory in your profile.

[Andreas Lieven]

Thank you very much for trying. Unfortunately the problem persists even after applying the suggested remedies. It would be a very nice addon ...

[alta88]

Do you have other extensions? I’d be interested in seeing what happens if you only enable MP.

[Andreas Lieven]

For a test I disabled all other addons. No change, same problem.

I find it interesting that after a restart MP does not even show up on the drop-down column choice list and only reappears after I have first disabled and then re-enabled MP in the add-on window.

[alta88]

Do you see anything in the error console? There should be an info MessagePreview on startup (and on disable, enable, install). Any other errors?

When you re-enable, you just run the MP startup code, but at obviously a later point in Tb’s initialization. You can also try to select an Account folder, instead of a content folder, and see what happens if you then select a folder.

When this (actually AttachmentCount on which MP is based) was ported from an xul overlay, there were definitely issues of startup timing for custom columns. I wonder if AC also shows this issue on startup.

[Andreas Lieven]

I am not quite sure whether I fully understand your comments.

There are no pop-ups appearing when dis- or enabling MP. No other errors either. If I chose other columns from the drop-down menu they stay and are correctly displayed after I shutdown and reopen TB. This also holds true for the attachment column. Is this what you mean by Attachment Count?

Your observation that MP is probably not integrated into TB's start-up routine looks quite convinicng to me.

Sorry for being a bit slow. By now I have almost gotten used to switching MP on immediately after starting TB. Jut two more clicks.

[alta88]

I mean, right after startup, open Tools-Developer Tools-Error Console. Is there an info entry MessagePreview (or other errors).

AttachmentCount is different, the project/extension is here under alta88, the column is called Attachment Counts.

I wonder if it’s a win10 v. win8 issue, which would be unfortunate as I don’t have win10 (or use win daily).

Two more clicks is terrible!

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[Andreas Lieven]

I attach the error code messages showing up right after start-up in TB with only MP enabled and all other extensions disabled. As mentioned before, the MP column does not show up after starting TB

[David]

Can confirm this issue on Win7 x64, TBird 78.3.1. 32bit.

I installed 2.2 from your xpi file.

TBird is pushing 78.3.2, will report back if issue changes after update.

[David]

Issue remains after update to 78.3.2. I find I must turn the extension off and back on, go to column selection, and re-check “message preview.” It does remain in the same position I set it for previously, however if I do not turn off and turn on extension, there is No “message preview” in the column selector.

[David]

Error messages and logs after a clean startup of TB 78.3.2

[Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsIXPCComponents_Utils.readUTF8URI]" nsresult: "0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH)" location: "JS frame :: resource://gre/modules/L10nRegistry.jsm :: L10nRegistry.loadSync :: line 658" data: no] L10nRegistry.jsm:658:19

[Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsIXPCComponents_Utils.readUTF8URI]" nsresult: "0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH)" location: "JS frame :: resource://gre/modules/L10nRegistry.jsm :: L10nRegistry.loadSync :: line 658" data: no] L10nRegistry.jsm:658:19

1602104269113 addons.webextension.<unknown> WARN Loading extension 'null': Reading manifest: Warning processing legacy: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

1602104269118 addons.webextension.<unknown> WARN Loading extension 'null': Reading manifest: Warning processing legacy: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

1602104269121 addons.webextension.<unknown> WARN Loading extension 'null': Reading manifest: Warning processing legacy: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

1602104269124 addons.webextension.<unknown> WARN Loading extension 'null': Reading manifest: Warning processing legacy: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

1602104269136 addons.webextension.<unknown> WARN Loading extension 'null': Reading manifest: Warning processing legacy: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

1602104269189 addons.webextension.<unknown> WARN Loading extension 'null': Reading manifest: Warning processing legacy: An unexpected property was found in the WebExtension manifest.

[Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsIXPCComponents_Utils.readUTF8URI]" nsresult: "0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH)" location: "JS frame :: resource://gre/modules/L10nRegistry.jsm :: L10nRegistry.loadSync :: line 658" data: no] L10nRegistry.jsm:658:19

[Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsIXPCComponents_Utils.readUTF8URI]" nsresult: "0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH)" location: "JS frame :: resource://gre/modules/L10nRegistry.jsm :: L10nRegistry.loadSync :: line 658" data: no] L10nRegistry.jsm:658:19

[Exception... "Component returned failure code: 0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH) [nsIXPCComponents_Utils.readUTF8URI]" nsresult: "0x80520001 (NS_ERROR_FILE_UNRECOGNIZED_PATH)" location: "JS frame :: resource://gre/modules/L10nRegistry.jsm :: L10nRegistry.loadSync :: line 658" data: no]

INFO: background.js:32:9

Click that and console.info(browser.i18n.getMessage("extensionName"));

is hilighted.

Sorry if there is a way to attach error messages.

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[alta88]

@Dave - you seem to have some other extensions installed.

1. Could one or both reporters try installing MP on a new profile and report back.
2. Could you try installing AttachmentCount and see if the same problem occurs.
3. Could you try closing Tb, backing up the profile, renaming a folder’s .msf file, restarting, adding the column to the folder, restarting.

I can’t reproduce this on either win7 or win8 or linux. The next step would be to create a debug .xpi and ask you to post the console logs (a link to a pastebin is the best way to post files). Thanks for your help.

[Andreas Lieven]

Installing MP on a virgin profile works fine.
What surprises me against this background is the fact that MP continues to malfunction if I disable all extensions installed on my system and only enable MP.
Furthermore, I would be surprised if users interested in MP do not have quite a few other extensions installed on their systems.

I am not sure how to install AttachmentCount. It is not an extension offered to me.

Renaming a folder and the corresponding .msf file does not impact in any way on the problems with MP.

In between, many thanks for the time you spend with us on trying to solve the problem.

‌

[David]

Clean profile:

With no changes, message preview was available and working.

---

Message preview is working correctly.
____________________________
Now to add my extensions 
one at a time, all downloaded 
from Moz/addons, 
all checked on install and restart.
Hard restarts, ie exit, start 
from profile manager. I find it 
interesting that TBird can run 
multiple profiles simultaneously.
I also open a mail in a tab and 
close it to see if that affects MPreview.

AutoArchive Reloaded-OK
Restart Button-OK
Compact Headers-OK
Config Button-OK
Emoji-OK
Preferences Button-OK
Remove Duplicate Messages-OK
XPunge-OK
QuickText-OK
---
Full Address Column-OK individually 
without Sender Domain
Sender Domain-OK individually without 
Full Address Column
Both of above together-OK

So far it's still working.
At this point all I have are 
extensions that are either 
disabled or 
incompatible (waiting for updates.) 
Adding these and enabling: 
All extensions enabled.
Browse In Tab-OK
Copy Sent To Current-OK
Edit Email Subject MX-OK
Import Export Tools NG-OK
At this point changing to 
dark theme and changing display colors.
Manually Sort Folders-OK

Ok at this point I'm seriously 
thinking of migrating my profile. 
I'm going to uninstall incompatibles 
and clean up my pref.js

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[alta88]

The migration from old extension infra to new has been very poor, some due to Fx and some to Tb. Try this in the old profile:

1. Back it up.
2. Rename any directory or file that starts with extension* or addon*.
3. Reinstall the extensions you want.

Probably easier than copying mail and prefs and other things (certs etc.) to a fresh profile.

If you use gloda search indexing, it’s good to rename global-messages-db.sqlite and let it reindex (low cpu state while it’s working; can take quite a while but worth it every year or so).

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[alta88]

PS: BrowseInTab on ATN is old due to their inability to upgrade the validation linter, so you can get the latest v2.2 from this site.

[David]

Taking your advice on old profile renames/re-installs. Cleaning up my pref.js didn’t change anything.

Will report back later.

Thank you for all your help and quick response, /respect

[alta88]

Closing, as apparently the Tb extension init code flailing about on legacy records changes the startup timing. Not going to try to adapt to this.