enricomemo
Level 1 (4 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Mailboxes column width in Sierra Mail app

Hallo everyone,

 

after upgrading to Sierra, everything went ok, but a strange, annoying defect in Mail app: I activated the three columns view (Mailboxes, Message List, Message content). Well, the mailboxes column does not maintain its width, continuously restoring a stretched width, anytime I close the app window.

If I enlarge the column to see the full name of my multiple mail accounts, this preference is lost anytime I close the window. Strangely, if I exit the app without closing the window and then I relaunch it, the width is maintained, but it's ready to be resettled the next time I simply close the window ... is there any way to make it permanent? The other two columns do not present this problem and their width is however maintained even if I close the window or exit the app ...

 

Thank you for your any suggestion,

 

Enrico

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Late 2013), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 30, 2016 11:17 PM

Close
enricomemo

Q: Mailboxes column width in Sierra Mail app

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by norm123,Helpful

    norm123 norm123 Oct 2, 2016 8:45 AM in response to enricomemo
    Community Specialists
    Oct 2, 2016 8:45 AM in response to enricomemo
    Hi Enrico,


    I understand that you are having issues with the Mailbox column width staying the same size when you close the Mail app window. I use the Mail app all the time so I can understand your concern. Let's se what we can do. 

    Since this issue occurs in your main user account, please boot the Mac into safe mode, sign in as your main user and then add in your mail account and then test it out. Once you have tested it out, please simply restart your computer to get back into your main desktop.

    Try safe mode if your Mac doesn‘t finish starting up

    If the issue persists in safe mode, please test this out in another user account. This will help determine if the issue is system wide or user specific. 

    How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac

    Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a great day. 

  • by enricomemo,

    enricomemo enricomemo Oct 2, 2016 8:48 AM in response to norm123
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 8:48 AM in response to norm123

    Dear norm123,

     

    thank you for your answer. I tried your suggestions, here you are the results:

     

    - safe mode: the problem is still there

    - new user (administrator), setting up mail from zero: problem solved ...

     

    So, probably the problem is related to the Time Machine import of my previous settings ... how can I setup mail from zero while maintaining or recovering my old messages and accounts?

  • by Starr.C,

    Starr.C Starr.C Oct 2, 2016 10:10 AM in response to enricomemo
    Community Specialists
    Oct 2, 2016 10:10 AM in response to enricomemo
    Thanks for getting back to us Enrico. Since it has been narrowed down to your main user account that is experiencing this issue, what we'd like to have you do is to remove and re-add the mail accounts, as long as they are IMAP accounts only. This article goes over how to remove and add back in the mail accounts. 

    Mail for Mac: Set up Mail with your email accounts

    Cheers!

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 2, 2016 10:54 AM in response to enricomemo
    Level 5 (5,753 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 2, 2016 10:54 AM in response to enricomemo

    Most likely it's a .plist file that's corrupted.

     

    With Mail quit, go to the User's Library

    Scroll to Containers

    Drag the com.apple.plist folder to the Trash.

    Log out/in

    Open Mail and try resetting columns.

    Quit Mail then restart.

    Do the setting stick? If no, then it could be a plist in Preferences.

     

    Show User's Library

    The User's Library folder is hidden by default. To unhide: Select the Finder in the Dock. Under Go in the Menu bar > hold down the Option key and you’ll see the Library.

     

    Finding the User Library Folder

    http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/resources/0167/site/chap11.html#FindingtheUserLi braryFolder

  • by enricomemo,

    enricomemo enricomemo Oct 4, 2016 7:19 AM in response to dianeoforegon
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 4, 2016 7:19 AM in response to dianeoforegon

    Dear Dianeoforegon,

     

    I tried to find a mail.app plist file, but I wasn't able to find it in my user library.

    So I browsed better and found a Containers.plist in the following path: \User\Library\Containers\com.apple.mail

    I renamed it as Containers.plist.old and when I relaunched Mail it has been re-created bringing to mail a default view solving my problem!!!

    So this is the solution: exit mail.app, delete Containers.plist in com.apple.mail directory, relaunch mail and set your preferred view, it'll be maintained!

     

    Thank you all for your help!

  • by dianeoforegon,

    dianeoforegon dianeoforegon Oct 4, 2016 2:04 PM in response to enricomemo
    Level 5 (5,753 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 4, 2016 2:04 PM in response to enricomemo

    The Containers folder is a 'cousin' of Preferences.

     

    It's often hard to find where a preference is stored. I'll book mark this one. Thanks!!