[How-To] Get lightning working with Thunderbird 3.0

So, let's say you just downloaded Thunderbird 3 using Ubuntuzilla and you want to get Lightning (the greatest calendar extension) working. Mozilla Addons site now provides Lightning 1.0b1 version of Lightning which is considering current stable version. You may also consider Provider for Google Calendar which integrates your Thunderbird with online Google Calendar.

ALTERNATIVELY, if you want to perform manual installation, follow the following steps.

If you are in US, consider going into en-US directory.

• Point your browser to http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/calendar/lightning/releases/1.0b1/linux-i686/
• Right-click the link named lightning.xpi and choose "Save Link As..." to download and save the file to your hard disk, let's say to Desktop.
• Right-click the link named gdata-provider.xpi and choose "Save Link As..." to download and save the file to your hard disk, let's say to Desktop.
• In Mozilla Thunderbird, open Add-ons from the Tools menu, and select Extensions icon.
• Click the Install button, and locate/select the files you downloaded and click "OK".
• Restart Thunderbird.
• Set up your Google Calendar login and enjoy read/write support from within Thunderbird tabs.

[SIZE="1"]Source: Inspired by Lightning/Calendar blog.[/SIZE]

Thanks for this howto! I'm sticky-ing it for the time being - at least until lightning 1.0 makes release.

Thunderbird 3 with tabs and with Calendar and Tasks in tabs looks totally awesome.

[IMG]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/3094292059_b099806f0b.jpg[/IMG]

Courtesy of this wonderful review.

Can't wait for the Lightning 1 release.

Instruction you gave helped me a lot. Thanks!

However I was not able to start Google Provider right away. For some strange reason first I needed to install xpi file for Google Provider Extension from en-US subdirectory.

http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/calendar/lightning/releases/1.0b1rc1/linux-i686/en-US/

qva5 said: Instruction you gave helped me a lot. Thanks!

However I was not able to start Google Provider right away. For some strange reason first I needed to install xpi file for Google Provider Extension from en-US subdirectory.

http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/calendar/lightning/releases/1.0b1rc1/linux-i686/en-US/

Curious. It works for me. Are you saying that one gdata-provider.xpi (non-localized, the one that I showed) was not enough and you replaced it with another gdata-provider.xpi (localized for US)?

michael37 said: Curious. It works for me. Are you saying that one gdata-provider.xpi (non-localized, the one that I showed) was not enough and you replaced it with another gdata-provider.xpi (localized for US)?

Indeed... twiece I have tried to install non-localize gdata-provider.xpi, but each time the extension has been shown as disabled and below it a information about something missing has been displayed.

I got exactly same problem, gdata-provider is disabled because Thunderbird claims that a component is missing?! I use last nighty build of lightning, I don't know if it could be related...

el cameleon said: I got exactly same problem, gdata-provider is disabled because Thunderbird claims that a component is missing?! I use last nighty build of lightning, I don't know if it could be related...

Have you tried installing components from http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozi...ux-i686/en-US/ ?

qva5 said: Have you tried installing components from http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozi...ux-i686/en-US/ ?

Thanks, I have updated lightning with the one available and now it works!

Works very well.

Tell me, is the calendar I see in Thunderbird 3.0 linked directly to Google calendars under my gmail account name?

PDA1 said: Works very well.

Tell me, is the calendar I see in Thunderbird 3.0 linked directly to Google calendars under my gmail account name?

It all depends on a way you configure your Lightning.

When you attach new google calendar, you can insert private url(get it from google calendar site) pointing to your calendar.

Major update to the OP since Lightning 1 is now available via Add-ons.

Sorry for multiples. Upgrading to Thunderbird 3.0.1 is recommended for everyone, and especially Lightning 1 users.

michael37 said: Major update to the OP since Lightning 1 is now available via Add-ons.

Great news;)

I haven't got any major issues with previous version of Lighting add-on, but having stable version feels much much better.

qva5 said: Great news;)

I haven't got any major issues with previous version of Lighting add-on, but having stable version feels much much better.

Glad it makes you feel better. You are running the same exact code, just named differently :D

michael37 said: Glad it makes you feel better. You are running the same exact code, just named differently :D

You can call me prudent man;)

No. Thunderbird is a separate email client.... ussed to feed your emails from email providers. If you are using gmail, igoogle has an application for emails from google.

I just wanted to thank everyone your great