Thunderbird - Can't get the command symbolic link working

[hznteam]

Hello

I'm installing thunderbird on a Debian 7.4 PC. A very easy install with which I had never any issue .. but on Debian today

The installation is as simple as downloading the correct binaries and making a symbolink link to the main executable in /usr/bin

so I downloaded and extract the tarball

Code: Select all

sudo tar -xjf thunderbird-24.4.0.tar.bz2 -C /opt

Application stuff is located in /opt/thunderbird

Code: Select all

jeby6372@mercure:/opt/thunderbird$ ls
application.ini     libmozalloc.so    mozilla-xremote-client
blocklist.xml       libmozsqlite3.so  omni.ja
chrome              libnspr4.so       platform.ini
chrome.manifest     libnss3.so        plugin-container
components          libnssckbi.so     precomplete
crashreporter       libnssdbm3.chk    removed-files
crashreporter.ini   libnssdbm3.so     run-mozilla.sh
defaults            libnssutil3.so    searchplugins
dependentlibs.list  libplc4.so        Throbber-small.gif
extensions          libplds4.so       ***thunderbird***
icons               libprldap60.so    thunderbird-bin
isp                 libsmime3.so      updater
libfreebl3.chk      libsoftokn3.chk   updater.ini
libfreebl3.so       libsoftokn3.so    update-settings.ini
libldap60.so        libssl3.so
libldif60.so        libxul.so

And as required in the documentation I create the symbolic link

Code: Select all

sudo ln -s /opt/thunderbird/thunderbird /usr/bin/thunderbird

my PATH variable :

Code: Select all

jeby6372@mercure:/opt/thunderbird$ echo $PATH
/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/local/games:/usr/games:/usr/sbin:/sbin

When I issue the startup command, it fails

Code: Select all

jeby6372@mercure:~$ thunderbird
bash: /usr/bin/thunderbird: No such file or directory
jeby6372@mercure:~$ 

I don't understand what's wrong. The link seems correct too :

Code: Select all

jeby6372@mercure:~$ file /usr/bin/thunderbird
/usr/bin/thunderbird: symbolic link to `/opt/thunderbird/thunderbird'

Thanks for your help in advance

[sunrat]

Look closely at your ls output. There is no "thunderbird" there. Try linking to thunderbird-bin.
Or do what most Debian users do and install Icedove, which is Thunderbird under a different name to comply with dfsg. Much easier to install too, just

Code: Select all

aptitude install icedove

or you can use Synaptic.

[stevepusser]

There should be a thunderbird in /opt/thunderbird, since the Mozilla tarball ships with it. I'm going to assume that someone added the asterisks to ***thunderbird*** in the ls output; if not, there's the problem, and the file just needs to be renamed.

[sunrat]

There should be a thunderbird in /opt/thunderbird, since the Mozilla tarball ships with it. I'm going to assume that someone added the asterisks to ***thunderbird*** in the ls output; if not, there's the problem, and the file just needs to be renamed.

I thought it should be there too. Asterisks are wrong and confusing.

[hznteam]

You're right Sunrat, asterisks are confusing ... I wanted to point out the fact that the bin file was there. It was a bin file,
Unfortunately I've uninstalled thunderbird and tried claws-mail .. .interesting.

But tTHE solution I was lookink for I what you suggested : IceDove ... Thunderbird in fact

Thank you very much.

[Bernd]

Hi.
I cannot delete emails

[sunrat]

But tTHE solution I was lookink for I what you suggested : IceDove ... Thunderbird in fact
Thank you very much.

You are welcome. It is generally easier and less problematic to use programs from the Debian repos if they are available.

Hi.
I cannot delete emails

Not related to this topic. Start a new thread and include much more detail of your problem.