Wiki Index All Recent Edit Bottom

Firefox and Thunderbird

1.   Introduction
2.   Firefox
2.1   Firefox Extensions
3.   Thunderbird
3.1   Thunderbird Extensions
3.2   Thunderbird Synchronisation
4.   CAcert.org
4.1   Firefox
4.2   Thunderbird

Introduction

I use Firefox for web browsing and Thunderbird for email, not surprising since they are both great :-) Here are my favourite extensions for both and some other related stuff.

Firefox

Firefox is installed by default.

Firefox Extensions

These are the Firefox extensions I can't live without.

Web Developer

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/60

Thunderbird

I much prefer Thunderbird to Evolution.

 sudo aptitude install thunderbird thunderbird-gnome-support

Thunderbird Extensions

In addition to the Thunderbird Extensions I need for syncing contacts etc (see bleow) these are the Thunderbird extension I can't live without.

Thunderbird Message Filter Import/Export

I use this so I can keep my message filters consistent between my various computers.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/2474

Gmail Account Setup

I have a Gmail account, who doesn't ;-) I use this extension to make adding an optimal Gmail account setup all the easier.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/6381

The references explain how to manually setup a Gmail account in Thunderbird.

References

• http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=77662
• http://lifehacker.com/software/geek-to-live/turn-thunderbird-into-the-ultimate-gmail-imap-client-314574.php

Thunderbird Check Sub Folders for Mail

There is a global option to enable checking of sub folders for new mail, although it is hidden away in the config editor.

• Open up the preferences dialog, either Tools -> Preferences or Edit -> Preferences.
• Click Advanced -> General -> Config Editor.
• In the filter box start typing mail.check and then double click on 'mail.check_all_imap_folders_for_new'. It should then change the value to true and will appear in bold since you’ve changed it.

References

• Checking IMAP Sub Folders with Thunderbird

Thunderbird Default Sort Order

The default Thunderbird sort order is not what I prefer. But it is easily changed using the Config Editor (see above).

• mailnews.default_sort_order
• mailnews.default_sort_type
• mailnews.default_view_flags
• mailnews.default_news_sort_order
• mailnews.default_news_sort_type
• mailnews.default_news_view_flags

*sort_order

  byNone        17         byPriority    23      byLocation    29 
  byDate        18         byStatus      24      byTags        30 
  bySubject     19         bySize        25      byJunkStatus  31 
  byAuthor      20         byFlagged     26      byAttachments 32 
  byId          21         byUnread      27      byAccount     33 
  byThread      22         byRecipient   28      byCustom      34 

*sort_type

  ascending   1
  descending  2

See the link in the references below for more details.

References

• https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=86845#c74

Thunderbird Synchronisation

I use Thunderbird and Lightning as my mail and calendar platform. We have a Zimbra server at work and I have an IMAP and iCal server at home.

FinchSync is a tool for synchronizing contacts, appointments and tasks from Thunderbird email Sunbird/Lightning calendar products with a Pocket PC or SmartPhone.

Thunderbird Extensions

In order to use Finchsync to sync Thunderbird/Lightning to my Windows Mobile device I need some Thunderbird extensions.

Lightning

I use Lightning to connect to my work calendar (on a Zimbra server) and my home calendar server. Download and install the latest version of Lightning from the URL below.

The Lightning 0.8 build on the Mozilla website is compiled against libcstd++5. Therefore you must install that package before install Lightning.

 sudo aptitude install libstdc++5

• http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/lightning/
• http://wiki.zimbra.com/index.php?title=Accessing_Zimbra_Collaboration_Suite_with_Thunderbird

Automatic Export

I use Automatic Export to automatically create a export of my calendars when I close Thunderbird. This is so FinchSync has local copies of my .ics calendar files to sync to my phone because FinchSync doesn't support syncing with remote calendars. Download and install the latest version of Automatic Export from the URL below.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/3740

Configure Automatic Export to export all your Calendars in .ics format.

Zindus

I use Zindus to sync my Thunderbird contacts with my Zimbra server at work. Zindus can also sync Google Contacts too. Download and install the latest version of Zindus from the URL below.

• http://www.zindus.com

Configure Zindus to sync your Zimbra/Google contacts.

I also find it useful to configure Thunderbird to store outgoing email address in the zindus/Emailed Contacts address book. You can do this from Edit -> Preferences -> Composition

Provider for Google Calendar

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/4631
• http://linux-blog.org/index.php?/archives/226-Zimbra-or-Google-Calendar-with-Thunderbird-and-Lightning.html

Finchsync Server

First download the Finchsync server to your workstation.

 cd
 mkdir -p ${HOME}/FinchSync
 wget http://www.finchsync.com/binaries/FinchSync.jar -O ${HOME}/FinchSync/FinchSync.jar

It is recommended that Finchsync should not be running while Thunderbird is running. Therefore I have created a simple shell script, with a splash of Zenity, as a wrapper to launch Finchsync and help prevent possible cock ups.

Finchsync Server Script

Copy the code below and save it same directory that FinchSync.jar is stored in.

Make sure the script is executable.

 chmod 755 FinchSync.sh

To start Finchsync just run FinchSync.sh. I add an icon for it to my menus.

Configuring the Fincysync server is an exercise for the reader ;-) Basically point the contacts at the Thunderbird .mab files and the calendar(s) at the .ics files that Automatic Export creates.

See the Finchsync Documentation for more details.

Finchsync Client

Now we need to download and install the FinchSync client on the Windows Mobile device.

 cd
 mkdir -p ${HOME}/FinchSync
 wget http://www.finchsync.com/binaries/FinchSync.cab -O ${HOME}/FinchSync/FinchSync.cab
 synce-install-cab ${HOME}/FinchSync/FinchSync.cab

Follow the installation instruction on the Windows Mobile device. You can now launch run the Finchsync client from Start -> Programs -> FinchSync.

Configuring the Fincysync client is also an exercise for the reader ;-) See the Finchsync Documentation.

References

• http://www.finchsync.com
• http://live.gnome.org/Zenity
• http://linux.byexamples.com/archives/259/a-complete-zenity-dialog-examples-1/
• http://linux.byexamples.com/archives/265/a-complete-zenity-dialog-examples-2/

GCALDaemon

GCALDaemon is an OS-independent Java program that offers two-way synchronization between Google Calendar and various iCalendar compatible calendar applications. GCALDaemon is primarily designed as a calendar synchronizer but it can also be used as a Gmail notifier, Address Book importer, Gmail terminal and RSS feed converter.

It sounds great, but I have not tried to setup it up yet. I've listed it here so I don't forget about it.

References

• http://gcaldaemon.sourceforge.net/index.html

CAcert.org

My server certificates are signed by CAcert.org, therefore I need import the CAcert.org root certificate into both Firefox and Thunderbird.

Firefox

Firefox uses it's own Certificate Manager. The following procedure tells you how to import the CAcert Root Certificate into your Firefox web browser.

• Go to the CAcert Root Certificate website:
• http://www.cacert.org/index.php?id=3
• Click on Root Certificate (PEM Format)

You'll get:

 You have been asked to trust a new Certificate Authority (CA).
 Do you want to trust "CA Cert Signing Authority" for the following purposes?
 [ ] Trust this CA to identify web sites.
 [ ] Trust this CA to identify email users.
 [ ] Trust this CA to identify software developers.
 Before trusting this CA for any purpose, you should examine its certificate
 and its policy and procedures (if available).
 [VIEW] Examine CA certificate

You should click on VIEW to check the certificate. Most important is that you check the fingerprints of the certificate, they should match the following:

 SHA1 Fingerprint: 135C EC36 F49C B8E9 3B1A B270 CD80 8846 76CE 8F33
 MD5  Fingerprint: A6:1B:37:5E:39:0D:9C:36:54:EE:BD:20:31:46:1F:6B

• Close the Certificate Viewer and tick at least the first box ('Trust this CA to identify web sites.').
• Press OK and that's it.

To install the CRL, click the 'Revocation Lists' button in Preferences->Advanced->Encryption to open the Manage CRL window. Once there, click the "Import" button, then enter the URL http://www.cacert.org/revoke.crl, click "OK", and set the automatic update preferences accordingly. Note: it may take a few moments to import the CRL after you click "OK".

If you want to check, modify, or delete the CAcert Root Certificate you can access it at any time via:

• Open Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced or Open Tools -> Options -> Advanced
• Certificates -> Manage Certificates
• Authorities
• The CAcert certificate is called Root CA (Scroll down to 'R'!)
• Here you can View, Edit and Delete it.

Thunderbird

Thunderbird uses it's own Certificate Manager. The following procedure tells you how to import the CAcert Root Certificate into your Thunderbird mail client.

• Go to the CAcert Root Certificate website:
• http://www.cacert.org/index.php?id=3
• Click on Root Certificate (PEM Format) with the RIGHT mouse-button, then save it to a convenient location.
• Open Thunderbird
• Edit->Preferences->Advanced->Encryption->View Certificates->Authorities
• Select "Import Certificate" or "Import..."

You'll get:

 You have been asked to trust a new Certificate Authority (CA).
 Do you want to trust "CA Cert Signing Authority" for the following purposes?
 [ ] Trust this CA to identify web sites.
 [ ] Trust this CA to identify email users.
 [ ] Trust this CA to identify software developers.
 Before trusting this CA for any purpose, you should examine its certificate
 and its policy and procedures (if available).
 [VIEW] Examine CA certificate

You should click on VIEW to check the certificate. Most important is that you check the fingerprints of the certificate. They should match the following:

 SHA1 Fingerprint: 135C EC36 F49C B8E9 3B1A B270 CD80 8846 76CE 8F33
 MD5  Fingerprint: A6:1B:37:5E:39:0D:9C:36:54:EE:BD:20:31:46:1F:6B

• Close the Certificate Viewer and tick at least the second box ('Trust this CA to identify email users.').
• Press OK and that's it!

Once you've installed the root into Thunderbird (and any other client applications you wish), you may delete the 'root.crt' file you downloaded earlier.

To install the CRL, click the 'Revocation Lists' button in Preferences->Advanced->Certificates to open the Manage CRL window. Once there, click the "Import" button, then enter the URL http://www.cacert.org/revoke.crl, click "OK", and set the automatic update preferences accordingly. Note: it may take a few moments to import the CRL after you click "OK".

References

• http://wiki.cacert.org/wiki/BrowserClients

$Id: FirefoxAndThunderbird,v 1.28 2008/08/08 10:43:29 martin Exp $

Wiki Index All Recent Edit Top