Apparently, backward compatibility will become very important with the release of Thunderbird 78, downgrading will loose your contacts. They will be converted on update to the new version and the old product will be unable to read the new format.

However, you seem to have the opposite, the update did not convert to new format.

I'm trying to get some info on this.

It does explain why you cannot import the older LDIF into 78 and see contacts.

Does this mean in emails the TO and FROM info is not showing 'Display Name' - are these header fields empty?

As far as the "downgrade", I saved the profile and the (folder) executables in the Program Files directory. When I noted the problem I deleted the new folders for TB and copied in the old ones to restore what I had. When I exported the ldif for the address book I was able to import it in 78. Seemed all was successful, but the address book was still empty. Opening the address book I had nothing showing. Composing and email, in the past if i put a few letters in it would pull in the entry. After the change and import there was nothing coming up when I started typing letters of a known past contact.

Paul

You should file a bug report.

Also the old address books are still there, I think as .bak files. Have a look in your profile, rename them and I think it will reattempt the conversion.

Created a bug report: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1653234

Wayne:

I tried renaming the .bak file, but after opening it was blank. I also copied the abook.sqlite file from my backup into 78b4 and again blank.

paul

@techman3, please create an account at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1295073 and subscribe yourself to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1295073

Already have an account here Paul

Can you report on what (if any) messages appear on the 'Error Console' when opening the address book window.

I know the address book is not working, but I'm trying to gather info for the bug report. Thanks for your assistance.

I see no error messages. Is there a specific "error console" to find error messages ? Paul

Tools > Developer Tools > Error Console

Click on 'Bin' icon to clear

Then click on 'Address Book' to open it and see what gets put into the Error Console.

See attached

Another try

My experience is you can rename the bak files, but only abook and history remain in the address book when you downgrade. I assume the links to the extra books are replaced in the update with their Sqlite replacements in the prefs file.

@techman3, please create an account at https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1295073 and subscribe yourself to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1295073

I think Wayne meant for you to Create an account at https://bugzilla.mozilla.org and subscribe yourself/ follow https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1653234

The developer there is asking questions that you are best positioned to answer.

This will be fixed in 78.1.0 in a couple days

80b1 has solved my bookmark problem. Thanks for everyone who killed this bug. paul