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How can I open up an attachment without saving it every time I open up an attachment

  • 4 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by Toad-Hall

kenisha_anderson
kenisha_anderson
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Every time I open an attachment, the attachment saves to my computer and I have to delete it at the end of the day. Is there another way to view the attachment without saving it?

Every time I open an attachment, the attachment saves to my computer and I have to delete it at the end of the day. Is there another way to view the attachment without saving it?

All Replies (4)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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In Thunderbird,

  • select the email with attachment,
  • right click on the attachment and choose 'Open'.
  • A small window opens asking what to do with the file.
  • choose 'Open with' and select ' the appropriate program from the list'
  • if it is not in the list, click on 'Browse' to allow you select the correct .exe program.
  • select to 'do this automatically for files like this from now on'
  • click on OK
kenisha_anderson
kenisha_anderson Question owner
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I'm using a mac, I'm holding the control key and it is continuing to download the attachment. Is there a way to preview the document without it downloading on to my computer.

finitarry
finitarry
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Mac OS automatically downloads anything you open into the download directory anyway. I have not seen any way to stop it (even if I wanted to).

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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There is an addon called 'Conversations' which can allow a preview of a pdf document.

In my windows version there is the Option to choose where to save files. In Windows: Tools > Options > Attachments > Incoming tab

In a Mac, I believe there is a slight menu difference, so they would be here: Thunderbird > Preferences > Attachments > Incoming tab either: Save files to...and select a common directory for all. or  : Always ask me where to save files

RE: MAC Located some info on choosing where the file is saved, which will offer you some control. I've not tested this as I do not have a Mac. The default behavior for Thunderbird is to use the Desktop when “opening” attachments. There’s a preference which determines how Thunderbird chooses the download directory.

The values for this are 0, 1, or 2 which respectively correspond to the Desktop, the Downloads, or a Custom folder.

  • browser.download.folderList

If you set the preference to 2, then Thunderbird will try and use the folder that is defined in the preference:

  • browser.download.dir

Thunderbird > Preferences > Advanced > General tab click on 'config Editor' button. it will say be careful :) In top search type: download Look for these lines:

  • browser.download.folderList=2
  • browser.download.dir=/path/to/folder/to/save/attachments/in

double click on the line to open an editing window.