Thunderbird displays a blue vertical bar called a quote bar instead of a '>' in quoted text in HTML messages. The '>' is still stored in the message, its just displayed differently by Thunderbird.

Are you using Plain Text ?

I have removed all lines and >> from my html replies, but cannot remove from plain text emails.

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
• 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:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Show_hidden_files_and_folders

In Thunderbird:

• Help > Troubleshooting Information
• click on 'Open 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.

blockquote[type=cite] {

  padding-bottom: 0 !important;
  padding-top: 0 !important;
  padding-left: 0 !important;
  border-left: none !important;
  border-right: none !important;

}

• Save the document as filename userContent.css in the 'chrome' folder. Note the spelling all lower case except for the 'C'.

Start Thunderbird

Sorry forget to include image:

Thanks for quick answers. Answer to your question "Are you using Plain Text ?" I use on both Plain Text and HTML, depending on computer I happen to use, and depending whom I am trying to help (e.g. helping neighbours). And, the computers have either Windows or Linux Mint as the operating system. Mostly Linux.

The method described sounds very coplicated, and I might be able to do it, but certainly not any of my 70+ years old friends.

Doesn't Thunderbird just have a single parameter, indent on or off, to either use or not to use that blue vertical bar, quote bar? Or any Add-on to do this safely?

The use of > and indenting is required by an internet standard.

https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3676#page-9

That's why Thunderbird does it.

re :The method described sounds very complicated,

It may seem a bit daunting, but it isn't that difficult.

If you can do the following then it should be no problem

• Follow instructions.
• Create folders.
• Copy and paste text.
• Save files.

You are not required to write any code.

The RFC 3676 is describing how to use indent and > in case those are used. I do not see that any RFC is requiring or mandating the usage.

I was reading only recently this very good wikipedia article Posting style https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style

So, In fact I am after possibility to use Top-posting in Thunderbird. I just did not know the correct terminology.

And the choise should be by just one parameter so that anyone can use it if so desired.

Top-posting is about where you insert your reply. It doesn't say anything about how prior text is handled. In Thunderbird, it will still be indented, following the RFC.

You want to do that ugly thing that Microsoft advocates.

Please, whatever you do, follow whatever has been done previously, particularly in places like newsgroups. If everyone else is top-posting, fine, use top-posting. But if they are intelligent, enlightened people who bottom-post or interleave, so as to maintain chronological and logical order, please don't buck the trend; just follow suit. Either system (top-posting or bottom-posting) works, but a combination of both in one conversation is a recipe for disaster.

You should look at the add-ons QuoteAndComposeManager and ChangeQuoteAndReply. One or the other of these should allow you to quote without indents, aping the ugly and IMHO illogical Microsoft way of doing things.

https://freeshell.de/~kaosmos/realborders-en.html https://freeshell.de/~kaosmos/changequote-en.html

It seems to me that the wikipedia article is very much focused on how to quote appropriately, and recommends indentation throughout.

I interleave when it's appropriate, which is more often than not. If all before has been top-posted, I do so too, albeit with some regret. I am frequently amused by the byzantine and contrived methods employed by habitual top-posters when they recognize a necessity to answer point by point, using colours or font changes to differentiate their new text from the otherwise indistinguishable previous text. None of this faffing about is necessary if you simply use the tools provided, and recommended by the standard.

The add-on (extension) QuoteAndComposeManager fullfills my needs. QuoteAndComposeManager