Thunderbird 115 Search is HORRIBLE.
Just updated to Thunderbird 115 a few days ago and today, searched for messages in a folder with the new version only to find that new search is USELESS.
I don't remember my previous version number, maybe 112? but I could limit search to just name, just subject line, body, etc. Now it's searching and it's showing me "Messages mentioning Heard" but ONLY showing me e-mail addresses, and names, not subject lines, not body of e-mail, nor do I see the ability to choose any of those options readily available, like before. Also, the ability to toggle results relevance, or by date, seems to be lost as well, so finding the most recent response, with "Heard" in the subject line, in a specific folder - Does. Not. Work. even though it worked in the previous version quite easily.
I will be looking to downgrade, if possible. God, I hope it's possible.
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Also, why is there another connect.mozilla.org forum nearly identical to this, but not the same?
Chosen solution
Thanks for the quick reply.
> So if it is suddenly terrible it is not a change in Thunderbird that makes it so.
Well, I use the search in the toolbar at the top. If it was QuickSearch in the past and now it's Global Search And I have not changed the fact that I use the search window in the toolbar, then it is indeed a change in Thunderbird that makes it so.
The search I'm using is in the very top bar (with Apple's three dots) and has two icons in it that I can't even make out on my 4K display, the pixels are too small. Redesign and smaller pixel icons are also a change in Thunderbird.
Your suggestion of what to toggle id not work. But With your description of where I might find it, and the use of the word "Quick" I found the "Quick Filter" which you called Search, and I toggled that on (it was not visible by default) - possibly another change in Thunderbird.
And there I found the ability to again hone the search by Sender Recipients, Subject and Body.
Interesting that the button is a Quick "Filter" but the modification button next to it lets me "Sort" by: So the new version of Thunderbird is not consistent in terms. It should be "Quick Search" or "Filter By" for those two parts of the same task to be unified in name. Perhaps this happened with the change in Thunderbird to 115.
I am thankful that I can still hit Enter to continue the search across all folders, just as before.
So, thank you again for your help because you provided key clues that enabled me to track down the tool I was looking for. I hope future revisions make it the default tool, as it was in the past, because I find it more intuitive and delivering better results than the Global Search which appears now to be default. I hope also that the development team correct the names of the features to make it clear that they are two parts of the same function, not two different functions.
Thanks also for the information about "Connect.mozilla" A simple byline would help differentiate the two more clearly.
I will carry over some of this response to Connect as that is where the developers are and I think they need to be made aware of it.
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vidpro said
Just updated to Thunderbird 115 a few days ago and today, searched for messages in a folder with the new version only to find that new search is USELESS.
Search is something that has remained substantially unchanged for many many years. Decades perhaps. So if it is suddenly terrible it is not a change in Thunderbird that makes it so.
I don't remember my previous version number, maybe 112? but I could limit search to just name, just subject line, body, etc.
I am not going to go through all the interface changes, but it sounds to me like you were using the quick search (Ctrl+Shift+K) in the past and now you are using the global search (Ctrl+K) which has some serious limitations of it's own and a completely different interface once you type in your term.
This is the quick search bar in my copy of Thunderbird 115.
Note the location of the icon for quick search on the "message list header" bar.
If you don't have this you can still access the quick search using the shortcut. Or you can turn the list header on by using the 
> view > layout menu.
I will be looking to downgrade, if possible. God, I hope it's possible.
I think that is best describe as overkill.
Also, why is there another connect.mozilla.org forum nearly identical to this, but not the same? https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/bd-p/discussions
You posted this topic in Support.mozilla.org. As in you actually asked for some help, in a support forum. The connect forums are for sharing feedback and ideas with the development team.
Unfortunately I find myself in the connect forums because most of the "ideas" are people are asking for are already existing features or extensions that can be downloaded and installed.
Some 25 years ago Microsoft suggested that 80% of the requests for enhancement to their word product came requesting already existing features. Nothing much has changed. So some support folk go to the ideas forums and try and point folks to the existing features and addons they have requested.
vidpro said
Also, why is there another connect.mozilla.org forum nearly identical to this, but not the same? https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/discussions/bd-p/discussions
What the Mozilla Connect site is used for. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-mozilla-connect
Chosen Solution
Thanks for the quick reply.
> So if it is suddenly terrible it is not a change in Thunderbird that makes it so.
Well, I use the search in the toolbar at the top. If it was QuickSearch in the past and now it's Global Search And I have not changed the fact that I use the search window in the toolbar, then it is indeed a change in Thunderbird that makes it so.
The search I'm using is in the very top bar (with Apple's three dots) and has two icons in it that I can't even make out on my 4K display, the pixels are too small. Redesign and smaller pixel icons are also a change in Thunderbird.
Your suggestion of what to toggle id not work. But With your description of where I might find it, and the use of the word "Quick" I found the "Quick Filter" which you called Search, and I toggled that on (it was not visible by default) - possibly another change in Thunderbird.
And there I found the ability to again hone the search by Sender Recipients, Subject and Body.
Interesting that the button is a Quick "Filter" but the modification button next to it lets me "Sort" by: So the new version of Thunderbird is not consistent in terms. It should be "Quick Search" or "Filter By" for those two parts of the same task to be unified in name. Perhaps this happened with the change in Thunderbird to 115.
I am thankful that I can still hit Enter to continue the search across all folders, just as before.
So, thank you again for your help because you provided key clues that enabled me to track down the tool I was looking for. I hope future revisions make it the default tool, as it was in the past, because I find it more intuitive and delivering better results than the Global Search which appears now to be default. I hope also that the development team correct the names of the features to make it clear that they are two parts of the same function, not two different functions.
Thanks also for the information about "Connect.mozilla" A simple byline would help differentiate the two more clearly.
I will carry over some of this response to Connect as that is where the developers are and I think they need to be made aware of it.