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Under Format/Paragraph - how do I set Body Text as the default?

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Whenever I create a message to send, after the first line of text, hitting enter skips a line, i.e., double spaces. I then have to go into Format/Paragraph and change "Paragraph" to "Body Text". I want "Body Text" and single spacing to be the default. Thank you.

Whenever I create a message to send, after the first line of text, hitting enter skips a line, i.e., double spaces. I then have to go into Format/Paragraph and change "Paragraph" to "Body Text". I want "Body Text" and single spacing to be the default. Thank you.

Chosen solution

There is a setting for this in Thunderbird's Options (Preferences) dialog. In that dialog, click the icon for Composition, then there is a checkbox in the HTML section for what the Enter key does (create paragraph vs. create line break).

Some users have found it difficult to open the Options (Preferences) dialog because the menus vary. Please try here:

  • "3-bar" menu button also known as the Application button:
    • Windows: Options > Options
    • Mac and Linux: Preferences > Preferences
  • Class menu bar:
    • Windows: Tools > Options -- tap the Alt key or press F10 to activate the menu bar if you do not keep it displayed all the time
    • Mac: Thunderbird > Preferences
    • Linux: Edit > Preferences

Can you find it? Does that fix it?

Read this answer in context 👍 6

All Replies (3)

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Chosen Solution

There is a setting for this in Thunderbird's Options (Preferences) dialog. In that dialog, click the icon for Composition, then there is a checkbox in the HTML section for what the Enter key does (create paragraph vs. create line break).

Some users have found it difficult to open the Options (Preferences) dialog because the menus vary. Please try here:

  • "3-bar" menu button also known as the Application button:
    • Windows: Options > Options
    • Mac and Linux: Preferences > Preferences
  • Class menu bar:
    • Windows: Tools > Options -- tap the Alt key or press F10 to activate the menu bar if you do not keep it displayed all the time
    • Mac: Thunderbird > Preferences
    • Linux: Edit > Preferences

Can you find it? Does that fix it?

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My T'Bird 52.1.1 does not have that line in the Tools > Options > Composition > General tab so I don't know how to fix this.

See attached image.

Thanks,

Allen

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Hi Allen, the wording of the textbox label has changed, but it's the same meaning. Yours is set to use body text (box is unchecked). But you get paragraphs when you press Enter (extra blank link). As a workaround until someone figures that out, you can use Shift+Enter to create a link break within a paragraph.