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How do I remove additional (blank) lines above my html signature?

  • 13 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 120 views
  • Last reply by chameleon22

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I've created my html signature for email following the instructions on the Thunderbird support pages (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/signatures)

Two related issues:

1. Two blank lines also appear - in a different font - above my html signature, even though what I created definitely doesn't have either of these included.

So, is it possible to remove these unneeded lines?

2. One of these unwanted blank lines is in a different font. The result is that one of these blank lines is in one font (the same as my signature), but the other blank line has a completely different font (it is the default font) - not ideal for a professional looking email!

So, if I have to have these additional lines, is there a way to at least make them match the font I'd actually like to use to compose my emails?

I've gone back and redone my signature several times, so I'm pretty certain I've done that according to instructions so far.

Any help or wisdom much appreciated!

P.S. I'm using the Mac desktop version

I've created my html signature for email following the instructions on the Thunderbird support pages (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/signatures) Two related issues: 1. Two blank lines also appear - in a different font - above my html signature, even though what I created definitely doesn't have either of these included. So, is it possible to remove these unneeded lines? 2. One of these unwanted blank lines is in a different font. The result is that one of these blank lines is in one font (the same as my signature), but the other blank line has a completely different font (it is the default font) - not ideal for a professional looking email! So, if I have to have these additional lines, is there a way to at least make them match the font I'd actually like to use to compose my emails? I've gone back and redone my signature several times, so I'm pretty certain I've done that according to instructions so far. Any help or wisdom much appreciated! P.S. I'm using the Mac desktop version

Chosen solution

This info should help you to create the signature html file. Do the following to create a signature HTML file.

How to create signature with image.

  • click on 'Write' to open new write message and make sure it is completely empty of all content.
  • Using 'Formatting Bar'.....Select all required formatting - even if already auto selected by default settings.
  • Type signature eg: Grace and Peace
  • Press Enter/Return key and type name eg: Alex
  • Press Enter/Return key

To insert an image:

  • 'Insert' > 'Image'
  • Select: 'Attach this image to the message'
  • click on 'Choose file' button
  • locate an image you created that has been saved in a folder on your computer eg: Documents Folder - not saved in any Thunderbird folder.
  • Click on 'Open' - Image should be shown in the small 'Image preview' box.
  • Select: 'Don't use alternate text' or type in 'alternate text'

Options to Adjust the dimensions of image to suit note: if image is too wide and you want to set as a clickable link, you may discover it wants to use zoom in/out instead of the link.

  • Click on 'Dimensions' tab
  • Select: 'Custom size' and 'Constrain'
  • Change width to eg: 150 pixels - Height is auto adjusted

Option to Set image to be a clickable link: Click on 'Link' tab Enter url which in your case would be: http://www.dandelionresourcing.com

when finished...

  • Click on 'OK' to insert the image.

Or as you seemed to be doing in last signature...you can add a new line and add a link after inserting the image:

  • select any required formatting from Formatting Bar
  • In your case type: Check out some great resources at
  • 'Insert' > 'Link'
  • Enter the text thats the url http://www. etc
  • Enter link location - thats the url http://www. etc
  • click on OK


  • Save file to a folder on computer.

You will need to select "HTML Files" in the "Save as type" list box. It must be saved as HTML file.

  • Close the Write window.

Attach the HTML signature file: 'Tools' > 'Account Settings' of mail account or 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Account Settings' of mail account

  • Select : 'Attach the signature from a file instead'
  • Click on 'Choose' button
  • locate the html signature file and click on 'Open'
  • Click on 'OK'
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All Replies (13)

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Hello!

I will start by saying I probably cannot help, as I do not use thunderbird myself. It may be helpful for other contributors though, if you could post a screenshot and/or the html signature so the problem is visible? The only thing I can think of is maybe a typo in the code? Html tends to be very sensitive to typos..

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Hi Laura,

I actually put the signature together using the process outlined in the link I posted above - I never actually typed any html (partly because I don't have that knowledge!). Really it is just some lines of plain text and my logo image.

But if I'm missing something here, please just walk me through what you need from me!

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re: I actually put the signature together using the process outlined in the link I posted above

It would be helpful if you could say what you have done. The link describes different methods, so which did you use?

Did you write it in the small signature text box in account settings or did you use 'Write' to create the signature, save it as a html file and then tell Thunderbird to use that html file as your signature?

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Hi Toad-Hall,

Apologies, good question.

I used the method under the heading, "Signatures stored in files", because that gave me the option to include my business logo and a hyperlink to my blog.

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Locate the saved signature .html file open with 'Notepad' Post image of that window, so I can see what is written.

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Thanks Toad-Hall - here is the screenshot:

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What precisely is the "different font" that applies to the mysterious blank lines? (If they are blank, how do you know or why do you care if the font is different?)

Where do the blank lines appear in relation to the intended signature?

Be aware that some correspondents will have neither Futura-Light nor Didot, so they won't see it as you see it, but will have the default fonts of the same broad family, specifically, their default serif and sans-serif fonts.

Your signature is a mess in that there are three nested declarations of the. Mozilla signature style.

Something else has been used here. I see a reference to webkit, and the styling is rather more complex than you'd get by using Thunderbird itself to generate the signature.

I notice there is also a greeting, and also some html/head/body stuff that is not required in a signature - these would all be provided by the html compositor when writing a message and so don't need to be in the signature itself. So I am unclear what we are seeing here.

Has this signature worked? Do your correspondents get the image? If we were seeing the entire message (and not just the signature) I'd expect to see a reference to the encoded inline image data.

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Well you certainly did not follow instructions. A signature should not contain a greeting. It should use commonly used fonts that are generally available on most computers baring in mind different OS. You should not be copy pasting anything into a signature. All formatting should be done using the 'Formatting bar' in Thunderbird.

the lines to do with the 'Hi' greeting should not be in a signature as they are a greeting which would normally be entered in the email at the time of writing the email. I notice you are also choosing to use a font 'Futura-Light' that is not commonly used, so would not appear as you would expect in many other Operating Systems. I use Windows Vista and it is not in my list.


After the sections to do with 'Grace and peace and Alex, also using 'Futura-Light', you insert an image with a designated height and width.

then there is a section starting:

i style="color: rgb

it then mentions a change of font to 'Didot' - again a font that not even on my computer. It also mentions 'webkit-text-stroke-width' ..... all of this section looks like it was created in something else entirely and copy pasted into the compose area of a Write message. Webkit is something owned by Apple.inc.

Modified by Toad-Hall

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Chosen Solution

This info should help you to create the signature html file. Do the following to create a signature HTML file.

How to create signature with image.

  • click on 'Write' to open new write message and make sure it is completely empty of all content.
  • Using 'Formatting Bar'.....Select all required formatting - even if already auto selected by default settings.
  • Type signature eg: Grace and Peace
  • Press Enter/Return key and type name eg: Alex
  • Press Enter/Return key

To insert an image:

  • 'Insert' > 'Image'
  • Select: 'Attach this image to the message'
  • click on 'Choose file' button
  • locate an image you created that has been saved in a folder on your computer eg: Documents Folder - not saved in any Thunderbird folder.
  • Click on 'Open' - Image should be shown in the small 'Image preview' box.
  • Select: 'Don't use alternate text' or type in 'alternate text'

Options to Adjust the dimensions of image to suit note: if image is too wide and you want to set as a clickable link, you may discover it wants to use zoom in/out instead of the link.

  • Click on 'Dimensions' tab
  • Select: 'Custom size' and 'Constrain'
  • Change width to eg: 150 pixels - Height is auto adjusted

Option to Set image to be a clickable link: Click on 'Link' tab Enter url which in your case would be: http://www.dandelionresourcing.com

when finished...

  • Click on 'OK' to insert the image.

Or as you seemed to be doing in last signature...you can add a new line and add a link after inserting the image:

  • select any required formatting from Formatting Bar
  • In your case type: Check out some great resources at
  • 'Insert' > 'Link'
  • Enter the text thats the url http://www. etc
  • Enter link location - thats the url http://www. etc
  • click on OK


  • Save file to a folder on computer.

You will need to select "HTML Files" in the "Save as type" list box. It must be saved as HTML file.

  • Close the Write window.

Attach the HTML signature file: 'Tools' > 'Account Settings' of mail account or 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Account Settings' of mail account

  • Select : 'Attach the signature from a file instead'
  • Click on 'Choose' button
  • locate the html signature file and click on 'Open'
  • Click on 'OK'
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Thank you so much Toad-Hall, this is excellent.

And thank you for your patience with my low-level of knowledge!

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Hi, I also get two lines on top of my signature (created with instructions, starting a new email, adding my text and image, then saved as HTML).

I get one empty line and under it a line with "--" (that is 2 - next to each other). Then follows my signature just fine.

The only thing I am not sure I got right from instructions is: "Using 'Formatting Bar'.....Select all required formatting - even if already auto selected by default settings.".

Where exactly is Formating bar and what should I do at this point exactly?

Thank you in advance.

Modified by chameleon22

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hi chameleon22

re : I get one empty line and under it a line with "--" Then follows my signature just fine.

You need one empty line otherwise where would you start to type your email.

You have the " -- " because this is a signature delimiter.

This link will tell you more about the signature delimiter.


RE: Where exactly is Formating bar The Formatting Bar is displayed below the 'Subject' and allows formatting in emails using html. It is not available when composing in Plain Text. Formatting refers to choosing font, font colour, font size, bold, italics, inserting images, tables etc. See image below as example.

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Thanks a lot! That was the solution.

I changed the delimiter (in Thunderbird config made the Boolean True, as per instructions) and voila... no "--" anymore!