Currently, I'm using mutt...

But when come cross to view html attachment/url, it's pretty awful..

Then I consider switch to Thunderbird, but it seems to not providing any configuration for other MTA except its own.

Does Thunderbird support the following,
1. MTA - Posffix + fetchmail
2. MDA - Procmail
3. `maildir' format, instead `mbox'

IamDaniel

The way I understand it is that Thunderbird has no say in whether you use `maildir' or `mbox' that's done by your MTA and procmail

Your MTA delivers incoming mail so that needs to be aware of your mailbox format

Procmail filters mail between your MTA and chosen mailbox format so that needs to be configured for either `maildir' or `mbox'

Fetchmail does exactly as the name suggests it collects mail then passes it to your MTA so again it plays no part in your mailbox format

So

Outgoing mail
Thunderbird passes it to your MTA which then delivers it to your chosen destination

Incoming mail
Mail arrives at your MTA either directly from the net or via fetchmail, your MTA processes it then passes it either directly to your mailbox or to procmail

If you use procmail, which isn't necessary, then mail is filtered between your MTA and mailbox

You then have to use pop3 or imap to collect the mail and pass it to Thunderbird where hopefully you can read your html attachment

Thunderbird then stores the mail in local folders

Hope all that makes sense

Pete

Sorry for stupid questions,

How to tell Thunderbird read mail from my local folder, typically $HOME/Mail

and how to tell Thunderbird post mail via my MTA (Postfix)?

Thanks...a lot.

Hi again IamDaniel

All I do is set up an account in Thunderbird

You have to list:

Your email address
Outgoing mailserver
Incoming mailserver

Email address is obvious

Outgoing mailserver will be Postfix, assuming you don't have any local name resolution just list the IP of your box, in my case 192.168.0.11, leave the port as default

Incoming mailserver, I run uw-imap as a pop3 server, there are others such as dovecot the choice is yours, once this is up and running, you may have to do a little configuration
In Thunderbird list the IP of your box, default port

Now when you click "Get Mail" your pop3 server will collect the mail from your mailbox and pass it to Thunderbird

When you send mail this will be passed directly to postfix

Hope this helps and makes sense to you

Pete

No luck...

Sorry, I'm so rely on mutt-like configurations...

Do I really have to running a POP3 server? Doesn't the fetchmail able to delivery to my local mail dir?

Do you have a documentation / howto regarding this ?

IamDaniel

Mail collected by fetchmail should end up in your mail dir

But to be able to read the mail in thunderbird you will need pop3

Pete

Thunderbird won't read your local mailbox you need to either setup pop3 or imap, imap is preferable as all your mail will stay in your unix mailbox

A little off topic questions, does this mean thunderbird handle the mail format on it own format which is incompatible with other MUA (mbox or maildir)?

Then, how do I convert maildir to thunderbird readable format and vice versa? or it's able to read other format as well?

I use PINE all the time and MUTT sometimes so I brushed against what you are experiencing.

I believe if you use POP3 with Thunderbird, then Thunderbird removes your messages from your mbox file and stores it in Thunderbirds format wherever Thunderbird stores it's stuff.

If you use IMAP with Thunderbird, then Thunderbird will leave INBOX messages in your mbox format, but if you sort mail into new sub-folders, it got weird when I'd flip back to PINE.

For me, I didn't like the idea of my mail changing formats because I flip between GUI / non-GUI on the same day.

So I enabled Apache and then installed neomail http://neocodesolutions.com/software/neomail/
to read those HTML messages people send me. Neomail uses mail spool formats so it cohabitates well with PINE or MUTT and gives you a GUI interface via your browser.

With neomail I also gained the possibility of SSH redirecting my neomail sessions so now I have somewhat secure Internet enabled webmail when I travel.

awesome...but alternative...

I'm running on a notebook, need a light-wave solutions.

If you're currently using mutt, then how are you getting the mail onto your laptop?

Account Type: gmail.com
MTA: Postfix, fetchmail + procmail
MUA: mutt

Incoming server: pop.gmail.com:995
Outgoing server: smtp.gmail.com:587

Delivery through Postfix mail server, and retrieve mail by fetchmail to local folder $HOME/Mail...

Try http://freshmeat.net with search criteria of mbox and/or maildir.

There doesn't seem to be many GUI's that interact with what it sounds like you're trying to do but maybe something will spark your interest? That's how I first got turned on to neomail and it works great for me!

Good luck!

First off let me say this post is hilarious! Only because you have 2 guys here that are used to a FAR superior method to use mail who are trying to figure out the way the average joe has used mail for years! Priceless

On to the fat:

The reason you're confused you two is that your linux people. You're used to running local mail servers. Most people don't so the way they use mail is gonna seem a little odd.

Basically they use Thunderbird to either get mail thru pop3 (the mail is deleted from the server and sent to the users client, to be stored in whatever godawful format each client uses). Few have any worthwhile export methods as well, be warned.

Or they use imap, which is closer to something you will be used to. Now the client is just a viewer of the servers contents. THRU imap it interacts with your mbox/maildir. Therefore your changes follow you no matter what client you are using. New mail received thru pop3 will NOT be visible on the server anymore because the mail is transferred to the user. This is more like a postal system, where a "letter" travels to a destination. IMAP is more keeping all mail at one place you goto check on from time to time.

I therefore recommend running postfix/courier-imap-ssl (it will use port 993). Courier-imap is maildir-capable AND can service ANY gui client/webmail app you will find.



Weed made me reply to this.

He said he's using postfix to send his outbound and fetchmail as a pop3 inbound pull but wanted Thunderbird to read his maildir which ain't gonna happen... which part of that does average joe do again?

And now you're throwing IMAP with SSL at him when all he really wants is just a light-wave solution.

I think we can talk him into the new car, what do you think?