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Script: Adding a Signature to Emails (Thunderbird)

Overview

This screencast with audio demonstrates how to add a so-called "signature" to outgoing Emails in Mozilla Thunderbird.

Demonstrated are two examples: A simple plain text signature, and a rich-text (HTML) signature that also includes an image (a company logo).

Audio Script

Simple plain-text signature

1. Create a plain-text file using a text editor, or „Save As...“ text from a word processor
   
   • You can use Thunderbird to create the Text
   • (demonstrate)
   • Warning: you cannot edit any files thus created in Thunderbird, but have to use an editor
2. Go to Tools -> Account Settings
3. Go to the Account Settings section, and there look at the Default Identity section
   We look at Identity Management and its subtle issues in another courselet.
4. Enable „Attach this signature:“ and choose the text file you just created
5. OK

Now compose a new message.

Rich text signature with an image

1. Create a rich-text signature: Any editor from which you can save an HTML file.
   Make sure any included images are referenced using absolute filesystem paths.
   
   • You can use Thunderbird to create the Rich Text
   • (demonstrate)
   • Warning: you cannot edit any files thus created in Thunderbird, but have to use an editor
2. Go to Tools -> Account Settings
3. Under „Composition & Addressing“ for this account „Compose messages in HTML format“ must be enabled, or the rich-text (HTML) signature file is inserted as plain-text file, i.e. after all formatting and all included images have been removed!
   
   1. Note: When composing a new message Thunderbird looks at this flag of the Default Identity for this account. Switching identities in the composition window does NOT change if that window is for writing rich- or plain-text messages!
   2. OR
   3. Compose new messages using SHIFT+Click on New Message (explain SHIFT-Click)
4. Go to the Account Settings section, and there look at the Default Identity section
   We look at Identity Management and its subtle issues in another courselet.
5. Enable „Attach this signature:“ and choose the text file you just created
6. OK
7. Now compose a new message.

BOTH

The signature file has been inserted into the composition window.

POINT OUT: Just on top of the inserted signature two dashes followed by a space have been inserted. That is a universally agreed upon standard – this way the signature is separated from the rest of the message. All important email clients recognize this separator.
Purpose of these dashes: quickly demonstrate A) how a message is displayed in Th. and in Outlook, B) how „Reply“ removes the signature when quoting

POINT OUT: Sometimes you'll see just two dashes WITHOUT a following space. That is NOT a valid separator and a sign that someone with „half-baked“ knowledge wrote the signature – someone who knows about the existence of this separator but know that there is to be a space character at the end.

POINT OUT: You can edit the signature in the message composition window.