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Sent email w/ lots of recipients, and the email under "Sent Items" looks wonky. What's wrong?

  • 7 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 12 views
  • Last reply by christ1

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I sent an email with several "bcc" recipients (from 2 separate email groups) - I'd say 20 emails on one group, and 30 on the other group. I also sent a copy to my email address (at a "To:" recipient).

I received the email ok. Others have received the email ok (they have responded to me).

However- in the sent items, the email doesn't have have a subject or a correspondents. Within the sent item, it shows the members of only 1 group in the bcc. It doesn't show my email address (even though I got a copy). In the body of the email, it shows a completely different group (one that the message wasn't sent to).

What happened and how do I prevent it from happening going forward?

I sent an email with several "bcc" recipients (from 2 separate email groups) - I'd say 20 emails on one group, and 30 on the other group. I also sent a copy to my email address (at a "To:" recipient). I received the email ok. Others have received the email ok (they have responded to me). However- in the sent items, the email doesn't have have a subject or a correspondents. Within the sent item, it shows the members of only 1 group in the bcc. It doesn't show my email address (even though I got a copy). In the body of the email, it shows a completely different group (one that the message wasn't sent to). What happened and how do I prevent it from happening going forward?
Attached screenshots

All Replies (7)

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The usual behaviour has always been to fill in a blank To: field with the words "Undisclosed recipients:".

The current release of Thunderbird has a bug in that it has stopped doing this. I think that's all that's "wonky" with your Thunderbird.

A common workaround is to use your own email address in the To: field.

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Z- thanks for the quick response.

I did put my own email into the "to:" field. I also had something in the subject field.

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Try to rebuild the index file of the troubled folder. Right-click the folder - Properties - Repair Folder

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That didn't work. Also- I've been getting lots of comments when I send messages (see attached). Also- I was able to repeat the error.

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That didn't work.

What didn't work? Please explain in detail

  • what you did
  • what happened
  • what you expect to happen
Also- I've been getting lots of comments when I send messages (see attached).

This is completely unrelated to the problem mentioned in your OP. It's easier to address one problem per topic. Please start a new topic for your problem with sending messages.

Also- I was able to repeat the error.

Which error? What does this mean?

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Fair point. Sorry I didn't give more detail.

I did a rebuild on the file where the problem was- the "Sent Items" file per recommendation from christ1 on 12/10/16.

I had never used this function and was expecting it to work like a magical wand. My expectation was that the corrupted email in the "Sent Item" folder would get repaired. I would get the true "sent" list, and the email would accurately reflect what was sent.

That didn't happen. Instead, the email in my "sent items" hasn't really changed.

Furthermore, I tried emailing another email to the same distribution list. It had a group on "bcc", and my email as a "to". There was a subject.

After it sends, the email in the sent items looks wrong. The subject line is blank. There is nothing in the "to" or "bcc" list. The font in the message changes to a plain font (no bold or italics). The message includes a group that isn't related to the message.

The reason I included the comments I've received when I send other items is because I thought the root problem may become clear when all the issues are seen.

thanks, Jim

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My expectation was that the corrupted email in the "Sent Item" folder would get repaired.

That's a reasonable expectation. The problem as you described it typically indicates mail index file corruption. When rebuilding the index didn't fix the problem, it either didn't fix the corruption, or the problem is caused by something else.

Before anything else make sure you do have a full backup of your Thunderbird profile. https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profiles-tb#w_backing-up-a-profile

Assuming the former, right-click 'Sent Items' - Compact.

Is there any effect?