Thunderbird Calendars Nightmare in Windows or Ubuntu, the Lightning BUGGY plug in.
First off I would like to congratulate the Mozzila boys for all their free software, specially Firefox "rules". But, for the past year I have been trying to run a stable email and calendar sharing solution with Thunderbird. My requirements are not complicated:
1. Windows machines running Outlook or Thunderbird
2. Ubuntu machines running Thunderbird
3. Shared Ical calendars, network, http Google or http groupdav
Untill now it's been mission impossible and I'm sorry to say, Thunderbird is not an email client for a more professional use. If it's basic use, email client and one private calendar hosted in the client, then I guess it works most of the time.
Thunderbird current version 2.0.0.23, Version 3.0 beta 3 and beta 4... How long have we been in version 2???? way to long. After downloading the Lightning 0.8, 0.9 and pre 1.0 plug in we can start adding and testing network and http(s) calendars:
a) Basically you immediately find this bug in all calendars. MODIFICATION_FAILED which means that after you added the calendar and it shows all the events, if you try to add, change or delete an event you get bumped with this error message and the calendar turns to read-only mode. Therefore renders the calendars useless in the client.
b) Another bug is related to https hosted calendars. In these cases we need to add a (signed or not) security certificate from the server. Thunderbird keeps forgeting or does not store the certificate, so each time you start Thunderbird you get this annoying and time consuming certificate pop-op. After you accept the certificate you get the error message :) MODIFICATION_FAILED. This bug seems to be fixed in beta versions 3.0
c) It's very hard to add a network calendar file://, the browse button is non existent which means you have to memorize the address. Another problem is that it does not accept other type or network paths like smb:// or just \\ or user@ip
d) Event reminders keep popping up and crashing, this means you can't snooze or dismiss the reminder, the pop up window just crashes. This problem gets fixed by updating the lightning plug in to an intermediate version. But right now I'm using Thunderbird version 3.0 beta 4 with lightning plug in version 1.0 pre and the problem returned :) uffffffffff. e) Event reminders keep popping up after you dismiss them or snoozed them. Basically each time Thunderbird checks the calendar remotely 5 or 10 minutes, the reminder will pop up regardless if you select dismiss or snooze for a day.
UBUNTU 9.10 Karmic Koala How to upgrade Thunderbird in Ububtu form version 2 to version 3.0 Beta 3 and Beta 4:
a. Backup you version 2 configuration "profile"
$sudo cp -r ~/.mozilla-thunderbird/ ~/thunderbird_backup
b. Download Thunderbird version 3.0 Beta 3 or Beta 4. If you download beta 3 you can use the Check for updates to download beta 4 (Help »»» Check for Updates...)
$wget -O - http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/releases/3.0b3/linux-i686/en-US/thunderbird-3.0b3.tar.bz2 | tar xj -C ~
c. Run Thunderbird for the first time by
$cd /home/your user name/thunderbird
~/thunderbird$ ./thunderbird
d. Restore your version 2 profile into version 3
Edit the the new profile.ini file in /home/your user name/.thunderbird
modify the PATH line:
xxxxxx.default to the path of the profile you want to restore, in this case the backup I did previously Path=/home/your user name/thunderbird_backup/xxxxxxx.default
In profile.ini also change:
IsRelative=1 to IsRelative=0.
Save the profile.ini
How to Install lignhtning 1.0 pre and google pre:
You will also notice that most of your previously installed plug ins will not work with the latest beat versions, also if you use the ad-dons feature you wont find them available to download. To solve this you will need to manually download them from the ftp mozzila site:
ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/
select pub folder »»» calendar folder »»» lightning folder »»» nightly folder »»» latest-com«1.9.1 »»» next select the folder according to your operating system »»» inside your op. sys. folder you will find the lightning.xpi and gdata-provider.xpi (google connector)
Also useful is the Lightning Nightly Updater, this ad-don can be use directly from Thunderbird »»» Help »»» Check for Latest Lightning Nightly Builds ...
- Comments
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|75.207.87.xxx |2009-10-19 16:04:26 Dan - I've had the same problem with Sunbird - it justI've had the same problem with Sunbird on XP. All the google calendars just turned to junk. MODIFICATION_FAILED for creating events, dismissing alarms, calendars turning to read only, the warning signs on other calendars.
There should be a giant warning on the website that something is f**ked up with these programs.
For know, I just use the google calendars in the browser, which sucks.
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|205.158.69.xxx |2009-10-19 16:21:35 Mike - Had the same issueI had the same issue with my calendar when I upgraded from Jaunty to Karmic. I fixed the problems by using the lightning and google calendar packages in synaptic NOT the add-ons from the Mozilla site.
Can't speak to the issues with Windows XP though
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|166.214.57.xxx |2009-10-19 23:30:46 rich3800 - Thunderbird calendar nightmareSuggestion: try www.rememberthemilk.com .
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|220.233.37.xxx |2009-10-21 09:35:19 thebeast - Why not more intergrationI simply do not get Thunderbirds extreme use of modules or why they don't even have a pre-packaged version for the basics like Calendar and Spelling.
I mean they are making setting up Thunderbird almost impossible for non tech people (%97) for what? Save download bandwidth for %2 of Internet users with extreme slow as well connections?
It is OK to have a more complete package and still leave them as modules so that 0.0001% can disable the module if they want but allow the software to be easy for everyone else.
It would be just such a more popular project if they could just think at least a bit more practical and think just a tiny bit outside the box.
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|89.240.54.xxx |2009-10-22 17:17:46 DartMan - Thunderbird on XP & UbuntuI have one machine running XP Pro on the C drive and Ubunto on a different drive with Thunderbird installed on each.
Can you advise if it is possible to use a common profile, or whatever its called, so that I can access Thunderbird when in either OS?
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I think you can.
Read this post in Ubuntu forums, thread n.4
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=8124643#post8124643
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|89.240.54.xxx |2009-10-22 19:19:00 DartMan - Thunderbird on XP & UbuntuThanks for the pointer - I'll have a look at the weekend.
Regards
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|69.111.127.xxx |2009-11-18 23:19:09 Don Morse - TBird Calendar errorsI would have to guess you've got other issues going on... I've been using Lightning for a couple of years now, sharing multiple online Google calendars, personal and business, creating and accepting meetings from Outbreak users, and managing my more than 15 email accounts, let alone the over 200 filters I've got set... Heck, I've even got Lightning set to remind me to do the company and technicians payrolls.
I've got probably around 45 or 50 pop up reminders set per month, and some set for for bi monthly, quarterly, etc...
I've yet to have a crash I can attribute to Tbird or Lightning... the worst issue I've got is the "folder currently being processed" popup, but even that's no big deal...
BTW, I've got this running on Ubuntu 9.10 on my Sony Vaio Laptop and my homebuilt desktop, as well as my office desktop running winbloze seLen. Calendars shared among them all as well as the Google calendars...
