This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Mulongo oyo etiyamaki na archive. Tuna motuna mosusu soki osengeli na lisalisi

How can I avoid the vertical lines T-bird inserts on replies?

  • 7 biyano
  • 1 eza na nkokoso oyo
  • 1 view
  • Eyano yasuka ya Toad-Hall

more options

When I reply or reply to all with Thunderbird the original message is automatically indented and vertical lines are inserted. This is in my experience unnecessary and just adds complexity to otherwise simple correspondence, especially if several messages are appended, some bearing lines, some with <<<<, etc. Is there a way to instruct my T-bird to cease appending lines and indenting on replies?

When I reply or reply to all with Thunderbird the original message is automatically indented and vertical lines are inserted. This is in my experience unnecessary and just adds complexity to otherwise simple correspondence, especially if several messages are appended, some bearing lines, some with <<<<, etc. Is there a way to instruct my T-bird to cease appending lines and indenting on replies?

Solution eye eponami

'chrome' folder is in correct location and spelt correctly. 'userContent.css' file is in correct location and spelt correctly.

In the 'userContent.css' file there is a difference in the content and what you needed to copy paste. The !important; is missing after each 'padding' line.

You have: blockquote[type=cite] { padding-bottom: 0 ; padding-top: 0 ; padding-left: 0 ; border-left: none ; border-right: none ; }


but you should have this:

blockquote[type=cite] { padding-bottom: 0 !important; padding-top: 0 !important; padding-left: 0 !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: none !important; }

Tanga eyano oyo ndenge esengeli 👍 0

All Replies (7)

more options

I know how to do it this way. Two parts..first to add some user preferences and then create a userContent.css file.

In Thunderbird

  • 'Menu icon' > 'Options' > 'Options' > 'Advanced' > 'General' tab
  • click on 'Config Editor' button - it will tell you to be careful :)
  • In top 'Search' type : quote
  • Right click in a blank area and select 'New' > 'Boolean'
  • Enter the preference name: mail.quoted_graphical and click on OK
  • Enter the Value of 'False' and click on OK
  • Right click in a blank area and select 'New' > 'Boolean'
  • Enter the preference name: mail.quoteasblock and click on OK
  • Enter the Value of 'False' and click on OK
  • Right click in a blank area and select 'New' > 'Boolean'
  • Enter the preference name: mailnews.display.disable_format_flowed_support and click on OK
  • Enter the Value of 'True' and click on OK
  • close window - top right X
  • click on 'OK'


Make Hidden files and folder visible:

In Thunderbird:

  • Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • click on 'show folder' button
  • a new window opens showing the contents of your Profile Name folder.
  • Close Thunderbird now - this is important.
  • Create a new folder and call it chrome note the spelling - use a lower case 'c' It should be in the same place as the 'Mail' folder.

see image below showing location.

  • open Notepad: usually located under All Programs > Accessories > Notepad
  • Copy everything between lines below and paste it into the Notepad document.
  • Save the document as filename userContent.css in the chrome folder. Note the spelling all lower case except for the 'C'.

See second image below.


blockquote[type=cite] {
   padding-bottom: 0 !important;
   padding-top: 0 !important;
   padding-left: 0 !important;
   border-left: none !important;
   border-right: none !important;
} 

Start Thunderbird

Ezalaki modifié na Toad-Hall

more options

Thanks for the quick response. Unfortunately, no joy. The recommended changes made no difference in the response of T-Bird

more options

Then something is amiss because this has been the standard fix for years and is currently working on my system.

Please make sure your computer shows all file extensions.

Uncheck.... 'hide extensions for known file types' click on OK


Then please show me images of the following.

  • the chrome folder location.
  • the userContent.css file location
  • the contents of the userContent.css file

Ezalaki modifié na Toad-Hall

more options

Thanks for your continuing support. Here the requested images

more options

Solution eye oponami

'chrome' folder is in correct location and spelt correctly. 'userContent.css' file is in correct location and spelt correctly.

In the 'userContent.css' file there is a difference in the content and what you needed to copy paste. The !important; is missing after each 'padding' line.

You have: blockquote[type=cite] { padding-bottom: 0 ; padding-top: 0 ; padding-left: 0 ; border-left: none ; border-right: none ; }


but you should have this:

blockquote[type=cite] { padding-bottom: 0 !important; padding-top: 0 !important; padding-left: 0 !important; border-left: none !important; border-right: none !important; }

more options

Now it works. Strangely, the !important did not appear in the email alerts I received regarding the responses from you. Because I was working from those alerts and not from the web source I missed them. Now, after comparing all, I finally get it, and the solution works fine. Many thanks

more options

Good to hear all is now ok.