> Hi all
> 
> I have just joined the list  :-)
> 
> Here is my problem,
> 
> I am newbie running Slackware10.2 with KDE desktop.
> 
> I have long since upgraded to "mozilla-thunderbird-1.5-i686-1jim" which
> I downloaded from <linuxpackges.net>
> 
> I want to change the date format of thunderbird to the default format
> that I have configured for KDE (SHORTWEEKDAY-DD-SHORTMONTH-YY). My dates
> show up as Tue-07-Jun-06. Basically I get confused between date & month
> so I at lest like to keep one of them in words.
> 
> I did a bit of searching & found this site
> 
> kb.mozillazine.org/Date_display_format
> 
> My first question is why did all the pages that I came across, referred
> to this (user.js) file? I did not find any such file, but I did  find
> something called "prefs.js" /in/my/home/.thunderbird which seems to have
> the same function.
> 
> So I added a line to the file (prefs.js) as per the instruction on
> the page
> 
> user_pref("mail.ui.display.dateformat.default", 1);
> 
> it was supposed to show me time like this
> 
> Friday, December 31 2003 10:23 AM
> 
> but unfortunately it had no effect!! the date format remained as it was
> before (06/07/2006 12:30 PM).
> 
> Then I installed this (configdate-0.3.6-tb.xpi) extension, which (as I
> realized later) just automates the above mentioned process; and it also
> had no effect (no surprise there I guess).
> 
> My dates (in thunderbird) keep showing as 06/07/2006 12:30 PM
> 
> I did check the /patch section for Slackware10.2 at <slackware.com> & it
>  had mozilla-thunderbird-1.0.7
> Could it be possible that thunderbird-1.5 is not compatible with
> Slackware10.2 ?? or am I doing something wrong??
> 
> Oh! I am also using a custom compiled 2.6.13 kernel & my Location is KDE
> is Bangladesh... could that have anything to with this all??
> 
> Thanks
> Emon

Welcome,
You need to create the file (user.js) manually.  It doesn't exist by 
default.  Place it in the same folder as  prefs.js   As I understand it, 
prefs.js displays items that are configured within Thunderbird.  Note 
the text & use the URL referenced for more info:
# Mozilla User Preferences

/* Do not edit this file.
  *
  * If you make changes to this file while the application is running,
  * the changes will be overwritten when the application exits.
  *
  * To make a manual change to preferences, you can visit the URL 
about:config
  * For more information, see 
http://www.mozilla.org/unix/customizing.html#prefs
  */


You create user.js to control "extra" items not normally changed within 
Thunderbird.  Here is some text from mine:
//
// user.js: Personal prefs which mozilla shouldn't overwrite.
//

// This pref controls the "Advance to next unread message in [x] folder" 
behaviour
// 0 - Always go to the next folder without prompting
// 1 - Ask before going (the default behaviour)
// 2 - Never go to the next folder with unread messages
user_pref("mailnews.nav_crosses_folders", 2);

// Show the user agent of incoming messages
user_pref("mailnews.headers.showUserAgent", true);

I hope this helps,
Carl