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Thunderbird portable - 2 buttons needed

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Dreamer8
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Thunderbird portable - 2 buttons needed

Hello,

I've been using Thunderbird Portable for many years, 32-bit version, now I tried the beta version for bug fix.

I downloaded ThunderbirdPortableTest_128.0_Beta_1_English.paf.exe portable version (64-bit) from PortableApps.com, created backup of my Thunderbird folder, installed portable version over the existing portable 32-bit version, it was started correctly, window positions and sizes are preserved, all settings and accounts are preserved, even though it's a 64-bit version, I updated it to beta 4 successfully.

Anyway, when I start it using ThunderbirdPortable.exe, new beta version is opened, custom settings are used, but another taskbar button "Thunderbird beta" is created, I can't minimize TB with the Thunderbird portable button, just with the TB beta button, so I have to use 2 taskbar buttons for 1 TB program.

When I pin the direct TB beta button to taskbar and I start it using this button (`Mozilla Thunderbird\App\Thunderbird64\thunderbird.exe`), TB is opened with default settings.

I found 2 files with the name ThunderbirdPortableSettings.ini, I had correct path for my profile in one of them:

`LastProfileDirectory=C:\Programs\Mozilla Thunderbird\Data\profile`

In the other one was `NONE`, I changed that to my real profile path, but it's still the same.

Everything else is working good, the only problem is, that I need to use 2 taskbar buttons now, but it was working good before, so perhaps I just need to edit 1 ini file, or copy or move some folder.

Could anyone help me, please?

Thunderbird 128.0b4 (64-bit) portable, Windows 10 22H2 64-bit.

---

I found, that 2nd button with BETA overlay, which can minimize and restore correct TB window, opens wrong instance, if TB is closed.

1st button for ThunderbirdPortable.exe opens correct TB and correct profile, accounts, setting, but also 2nd TB button/item in taskbar is opened, with overlay BETA and this button opens wrong TB window with default settings, also when using right click and "Write new message" or "Open address book" opens wrong instance.

Anyway, main TB window works good and it's a new 64-bit version, just the 2nd taskbar button opens wrong instance.

Something is wrong, profile and settings are in wrong folder, or info for a correct path is missing in some file.

EDIT2: I think I need the path for profile for 32-bit version and path for profile for 64-bit version, then I could perhaps copy profile from 32 to 64-bit version within the same TB install folder and it would be working with the same icon/button.

John T. Haller
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Use PortableApps.com Platform

Apps that have one EXE launching another need a custom taskbar icon created. The PortableApps.com Platform can do this for you. Right-click on Thunderbird Portable Beta and select Pin to Taskbar and it'll handle it for you.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Dreamer8
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Thanks for the reply, I tried

Thanks for the reply, I tried it, but it was installed to PortableApps subfolder, I tried to copy profile folder to this folder, but it's not working, no custom settings, no custom accounts, so it's unusable for me.

I don't want to setup everything, settings, accounts and emails would be probably not loaded either, because they are only in my Thunderbird portable folder.

I think the problem is, that I installed 64-bit version over 32-bit version and paths are changed, I just need to set the path for my profile in some ini file, or copy or move my profile and settings folder to other path, just don't know where.

Currently my existing installation folder works good, 64-bit new beta version and all my settings and profiles, the problem is just the taskbar buttons, I need to have 2 instead of 1, because button for ThunderbirdPortable.exe can't minimize the program.

EDIT: Perhaps I need just some command line parameters for exe, so it will be working good, with just 1 taskbar button.

Dreamer

John T. Haller
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Specially Constructed Shortcut

You can only pin one EXE that launches another and have it show up as a single working taskbar icon using a specially constructed shortcut. The PA.c Platform creates this and pins it for you when you right-click Thunderbird Portable in the PA.c Platform and select Pin to Taskbar. If you Pin to Taskbar in Windows, it won't work. No command line or shortcut adjustment you can make in Windows properties for that shortcut will fix it.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Dreamer8
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Thanks, it works that way, I

Thanks, it works that way, I had to copy my installation to PortableApps subfolder.

Do I need to run PortableApps at Windows start?

Can I re-install Thunderbird to other folder than PortableApps?

EDIT: OK, so it's not working good, single taskbar button works, but after right click taskbar button/icon and selecting "Write new message" or "Open address book" wrong instance is opened, when I do it from TB, it works good.

So it's not working even this way. Why is it so complicated? I have 100+ portable programs and they work good, even Firefox, even Thunderbird was working with 1 icon for about 15 years.

It is still usable, with or without PortableApps, but it's not 100% OK.

Dreamer

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