Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Apple mail (high sierra) - reading pane

Hi,

I accidentally hid the reading pane in Apple Mail (11.1, High Sierra (10.13.1)) and now I cannot get it back. I have tried to drag it back, both in classic view and in normal view, but no luck.

I have also deleted the com.apple.mail-shared.plist file (and the com.apple.mail.plist file).


Any thoughts on this?


Eystein

MacBook Air, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on Nov 17, 2017 10:43 AM

Reply
Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Nov 20, 2017 12:26 AM

Well, eysteinm, I did what I think you did: I dragged the splitter between the list of messages and the preview pane all the way to the right, and exactly the same thing happened to me: I couldn't drag it back to the left again. The cursor (vertical line with left-pointing arrow) didn't seem to 'grab' the splitter.


After 20 minutes or so of utter frustration I turned to AppleScript.


First, launch System Preferences - Security and Privacy - Privacy, and make sure that Script Editor can control your computer:


User uploaded file


Launch Mail and make sure you're in normal, "non-classic" view mode.


Now, launch Script Editor. Copy the following and paste it into a new window:


tell application "System Events"

tell process "Mail"

set {{vert, hori}} to position of splitter of splitter group 1 of splitter group 1 of window 1

set position of splitter of splitter group 1 of splitter group 1 of window 1 to {vert, (hori - 200)}

end tell

end tell


There was no immediate change to the Mail window, but after running this script, I was able to grab the splitter and move it over to the left again, and even after dragging it all the way to the right I could still grab it and drag it back without running the script again.


I can't promise it will work for you, but I hope it helps.


H

2 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Nov 20, 2017 12:26 AM in response to eysteinm

Well, eysteinm, I did what I think you did: I dragged the splitter between the list of messages and the preview pane all the way to the right, and exactly the same thing happened to me: I couldn't drag it back to the left again. The cursor (vertical line with left-pointing arrow) didn't seem to 'grab' the splitter.


After 20 minutes or so of utter frustration I turned to AppleScript.


First, launch System Preferences - Security and Privacy - Privacy, and make sure that Script Editor can control your computer:


User uploaded file


Launch Mail and make sure you're in normal, "non-classic" view mode.


Now, launch Script Editor. Copy the following and paste it into a new window:


tell application "System Events"

tell process "Mail"

set {{vert, hori}} to position of splitter of splitter group 1 of splitter group 1 of window 1

set position of splitter of splitter group 1 of splitter group 1 of window 1 to {vert, (hori - 200)}

end tell

end tell


There was no immediate change to the Mail window, but after running this script, I was able to grab the splitter and move it over to the left again, and even after dragging it all the way to the right I could still grab it and drag it back without running the script again.


I can't promise it will work for you, but I hope it helps.


H

Apple mail (high sierra) - reading pane

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.