Workarounds needed for Tbird's rigid class assumptions in HTML signature block
Is there a way to write my own HTML signature block without having to contend with T-bird's moz-class wrappers' rigid assumptions in order to display what I need?
Yes, I can do what I want using T-bird templates, but I'd rather be able to simply press "Write" or "Reply" and have my signature block(s) appear the way I need them to.
Here's what I have:
In Account Settings ->Manage Identities -> Composition & Addressing I've set -Automatically quote the original message when replying -When quoting "start my reply above the quote" -And "place my signature below my reply (above the quote)"
(This is the aesthetic I want, whether or not it's a "standard email convention" hard-coded into T-bird)
The existing moz-class behaviors are:
1. When initiating a message with "Write": The "-- " appears as the first line the signature block text The signature block text follows as expected. (This is OK) Adding a "BR" tag at the end created a blank line between the signature block and the quoted text worked as expected. (OK)
2. Replying to a message using "Reply": The signature block appears _WITHOUT_ the "-- " and the quoted text follows my signature block as expected. (NOT OK)
Adding a "-- " to the HTML code cause the "-- " to appear _as expected_ as the first line of the signature block. (This worked as expected: The "-- " was put back as the first line of the signature block). (OK)
The added "BR" tag (as above) continued to work as expected to create a blank line between the signature block and the quoted message text. (OK)
4. BUT-- when creating a message with "Write" button, using the _same_ signature file as above produced two lines of "-- " before the signature block text. (NOT OK)
The "BR" tag at the end continued to work as expected.
What I Want:
I'd like to disable T-bird's wrapper HTML/CSS code and simply be able to create my own simple HTML instead. I'd also like to still be able to add the active email and URL link of to my signature block without having to contend with all T-bird's hidden assumptions.
At least in MS Word one can turn off Microsoft's annoying assumptions of what users want. The same should be possible in T-birds HTML signature block.
Attached: JPEG image of one of my active html/t-bird signature files.
Possible?
Thank you for your help!
All Replies (7)
PS: I am not a CSS programmer.
This may not be what you want, but from your text, it appears that letting you control the -- may be the solution. This URL gives info on having it removed. That would then allow you to include, as desired, in your signature. This may not be what you want, but that was my interpretation. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Signatures_-_Thunderbird#Removing_the_signature_separator
Thank you. That _should_ work, allowing me to explicitly put in "-- " where I want it.
BTW, does T-Bird still need the "-- " to find the signature block, so that when you change identities it can find it?
I don't know. You would need to test it to confirm.
Thank you! The link was helpful! I changed "mail.identity.default.suppress_signature_separator" from false to true and now the "-- " appears where I wanted it for both compose and reply.
I then decided to stretch my luck and see if I could insert a jpeg at the top of my message (+ a few blank lines) before the "-- " and text portion of my signature block. I could have made reference to a URL, but instead decided I wanted the jpeg (it's small) embedded in my messages.
Method: I opened a new message and dragged my logo file to the top of the message. Then, using the HTML editor add-on, I discovered one could embed an image (in base 64) using the code you see below.
The trick is
- img src="data:image/jpeg;filename=logo.jpg;base64,image-bits..."#
where the #'s are the usual HTML open and closing greater-than and less-than symbols. Yes, the image bits begin immediately after the comma.
(Perhaps you could tell me how to escape HTML code in these postings in your next post, so I wouldn't have to resort to to these contortions.)
The result is _almost_ what I wanted: Turns out T-bird insists on adding an initial "br" tag, so the message opens with a blank line above my logo. I can live with it...
Again. Thank you for all your help.
I don't know where the "1." came from in the above message. Just enclose the code in opening and closing greater-than and less-than symbols.
Thanks for the update. I'm glad it all worked out for you.