Ubuntu
thunderbird package

Cannot select .wav files to setup email alert sounds in Thunderbird.

Asked by Tony Brown

Hello - I have had unbuntu 12.04 installed and I am using the latest Thunderbird version for my emails.

Everything is working ok, but I can't browse any .wav files on my computer, to install email alert sounds in Thunderbird.

I use the settings in Preferences/General, select 'use the following sound file', the Browse and Play buttons are active, but the field to insert the .wav file is all 'greyed' out, and I can't browse my computer to select a .wav file.

The default sounds are working ok and my speakers play all the default sounds in Thunderbird and ubuntu.

Does anyone know how I can solve this problem please?

Thanks in advance.

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Answered
For:
Ubuntu thunderbird Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Warren Hill (warren-hill) said : 		#1

Ubuntu does not play ".wav" files by default but can be made to by installing the restricted extras

You can check if they are installed by opening a terminal CTRL+ALT+T and entering

------------------------------------------------
dpkg -l | grep 'restricted'
------------------------------------------------

If they are you should see something similar to this

------------------------------------------------
$ dpkg -l | grep 'restricted'
ii ubuntu-restricted-addons 12 Commonly used restricted packages for Ubuntu
ii ubuntu-restricted-extras 57 Commonly used restricted packages for Ubuntu
------------------------------------------------

if not see here

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats

Revision history for this message
Tony Brown (tonybrown) said : 		#2

Hello - thanks for taking the time to respond. The restricted extras are installed. I typed the code into the terminal, and the text you suggested did appear, exactly as follows:

$ dpkg -l | grep 'restricted'
ii ubuntu-restricted-addons 12 Commonly used restricted packages for Ubuntu
ii ubuntu-restricted-extras 57 Commonly used restricted packages for Ubuntu

From what you say, if the restricted extras are installed, then I should be able to play .wav files. Are you aware of any other reason why I can't browse my computer for .wav files, in view of this? Thanks again for taking the time to send your information.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

Are there any bugs reported? What is the output of:

lsb_release -a; uname -a; apt-cache policy thunderbird

Thanks

Revision history for this message
Tony Brown (tonybrown) said : 		#4

Hello - thanks for your response. Not sure what to do. Do I copy: lsb_release -a; uname -a; apt-cache policy thunderbird
into the Terminal? Sorry but I'm a newbie to Ubuntu/Thunderbird. Thanks.

Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Yes, copy the command and press CTRL+ALT+T. Paste the command into the terminal and hit ENTER. Copy the output and paste here as an update.

Thanks

Revision history for this message