How to add Thunderbird to the Ubuntu messaging menu

By , Published May 2, 2010

This method is now out-dated. See omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/02/thunderbird-messaging-menu-integration-ready-for-wider-testing/

–

Many Ubuntu users don't use the default Ubuntu mail application Evolution and prefer to swap it out with popular alternative Mozilla Thunderbird.

Sadly, for Ubuntu 10.04 users, this means that you lose functionality in the Ubuntu Messaging Menu as Thunderbird doesn't show up there.

Thankfully x-shane-x over on the Ubuntu forums has hacked around a near-perfect working solution: you can now add Thunderbird to the Ubuntu messaging menu! Hurrah!

How to add Thunderbird to the Ubuntu Messaging Menu (version #1)

First we need to add a few things to the thunderbird.desktop file contained within /usr/share/applications.

Press ALT+F2 and in the window that pops up type the following carefully: -

  • gksu nautilus /usr/share/applications

You'll be asked to enter your password. Do so and then relevant location will then open in nautilus.

Now locate the thunderbird.desktop file, right click on it and choose 'open with gedit'. Once open replace the contents with the following: -

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Thunderbird Mail
GenericName=Mail Client
Comment=Manage your email and contacts
Exec=thunderbird %u
Icon=evolution
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;Network;Email;
StartupNotify=true

X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=Compose;Contacts

Name[en_GB]=thunderbird.desktop

[Compose Shortcut Group]
Name=Compose New Message
Exec=thunderbird mailto:
OnlyShowIn=Messaging Menu

[Contacts Shortcut Group]
Name=Contacts
Exec=thunderbird -addressbook
OnlyShowIn=Messaging Menu
Save and exit.

Next we need to add a text file in /usr/share/indicators/messages/applications named 'thunderbird'.

Create a text file (Applications > Accessories > Text Editor) with the following inside: -

  • /usr/share/applications/thunderbird.desktop

Save the file as 'thunderbird' and exit the text editing application. Place this in the messages/applications folder. To get to it press ALT+F2 and enter the following carefully: -

  • gksu nautilus /usr/share/indicators/messages/applications

Now log out of Ubuntu and log back in.

How to add Ubuntu to the messaging menu (version #2)

Alternatively, if you're feeling brave, there is an experimental plug-in available for Thunderbird which does all of the above for you.

To get it you will need to use bzr €“ a distributed revision control system.

  • sudo apt-get install bzr notify-send python-indicate
  • bzr branch lp:libnotify-mozilla/experimental-indicator
  • cd experimental-indicator

You can now proceed to install the add-on as per any other.

Using Thunderbird 2? You may also want to€¦

Sadly, as Shane points out in the forum post with this tip in, this doesn't inform you of new messages. One way to stay notified of new messages is to install the Thunderbird Ubuntu Notification Bubble Extension (that's not the extensions real name but it saves an extra sentence explaining that's what it does!)

You can get that @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/11530

Related posts:

  1. Messaging Menu Adds running application indicators
  2. Display Thunderbird Unread Count On Docky
  3. Add-on Lets Thunderbird Use Ubuntu Notification System
Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
  • vinod

    Hey nice work!

    Which font you are using in the screenshot?

  • Andy

    I installed version #1 and it comes up in the menu fine, though it does not show the other menu items “Compose Message” and “Contacts” , do you know why this wouldnt show up?

    thanks
    andy

  • Andy

    I installed version #1 and it comes up in the menu fine, though it does not show the other menu items “Compose Message” and “Contacts” , do you know why this wouldnt show up?

    thanks
    andy

    • Mithereal

      i am having the same issue could you plz advise a fix
      ubuntu 10.4

    • http://www.facebook.com/lilylnx Tiến Nguyễn

      Edit file thunderbird.desktop, replace “OnlyShowIn=Messaging Menu” to “TargetEnvironment=Messaging Menu;Unity”.

      Save and log out.

  • erick

    i think this one should be change
    “Icon=evolution” to “Icon=thunderbird”

  • http://twitter.com/geoffroym Geoffroy Menard

    This guide looks like it’s written by a neophyte. It has too many unnecessary steps. Why would you want to use a command line to open nautilus, if it’s just to go open a file with gedit?you have to read 2 paragraphs to figure out that all you need to do is open /usr/share/applications/thunderbird.desktopwhich can be done with the single command:gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/thunderbird.desktopthen why would you want to create a file named thunderbird somewhere, run sudo nautilus and go to the folder and copy the file, instead of creating it straight where it needs to be? I had to read that part three times to understand that all you need to do is create a file with that single line in it, which again could be done more directly by running gksudo gedit again, copying the text in it and saving it straight to /usr/share/indicators/messages/applications/thunderbird

  • http://twitter.com/geoffroym Geoffroy Menard

    This guide looks like it’s written by a neophyte. It has too many unnecessary steps. Why would you want to use a command line to open nautilus, if it’s just to go open a file with gedit?you have to read 2 paragraphs to figure out that all you need to do is open /usr/share/applications/thunderbird.desktopwhich can be done with the single command:gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/thunderbird.desktopthen why would you want to create a file named thunderbird somewhere, run sudo nautilus and go to the folder and copy the file, instead of creating it straight where it needs to be? I had to read that part three times to understand that all you need to do is create a file with that single line in it, which again could be done more directly by running gksudo gedit again, copying the text in it and saving it straight to /usr/share/indicators/messages/applications/thunderbird

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LLOAGVN4PEQIJ7LDJYTMIS6L2A War4PeacE

    Nice article, thanks, but it doesn’t fully work for Ubuntu 10.10.
    I have a Thunderbird entry added to that menu entry, but I also still have the default Evolution icon there. All the article did in the end was adding a new menu entry for Thunderbird. Which I don’t care about, I have a gazillion places from which I can run it.
    Is there a method to make this work for Ubuntu 10.10?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LLOAGVN4PEQIJ7LDJYTMIS6L2A War4PeacE

    Nice article, thanks, but it doesn’t fully work for Ubuntu 10.10.
    I have a Thunderbird entry added to that menu entry, but I also still have the default Evolution icon there. All the article did in the end was adding a new menu entry for Thunderbird. Which I don’t care about, I have a gazillion places from which I can run it.
    Is there a method to make this work for Ubuntu 10.10?

  • http://twitter.com/SamEXDZ Santiago Burgos

    One question

  • http://twitter.com/SamEXDZ Santiago Burgos

    Sorry for the last comment, i put it incomplete. My question is, how are we supposed to receive messages using Thunderbird Ubuntu Notification Bubble Extension (lets asume this name for now as you say) once we put the notification icon? Because we would like to receive our updates the way we want

  • Anonymous

    “that’s not the extensions real name but it saves an extra sentence explaining that’s what it does”? What is the point of saving a sentence if you need another to explain your reasoning?

    Joey, to be honest, you should just save all of your sentences and quit writing. You have very little talent for it anyway.

  • Anonymous

    The above didn’t work for me… however i found this that does: https://launchpad.net/~ruben-verweij/+archive/thunderbird-indicator?field.series_filter=natty

    Just add the PPA as normal

 
News