Using Email Directories in Thunderbird

The SSCC and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus have LDAP (Lightwieght Directory Access Protocol) servers with information about SSCC members and everyone on campus respectively. Once Thunderbird is configured to connect to these servers, you can look up names, email addreses and phone numbers, or even have Thunderbird try to automatically complete addresses based on information from those servers.

Configuring LDAP Directories

In Thunderbird, open the Address Book and click File, New, LDAP Directory. This will give you a window where you can enter the information about the directory you want to connect to.

The SSCC LDAP Directory

The SSCC LDAP directory has the names and SSCC email addresses of all SSCC members. Those who do not use their SSCC email accounts normally have them forwarded to another address.

In the Directory Server Properties window, enter SSCC Directory in the Name box (or anything you prefer--this is for your use). In Hostname, type ldap.ssc.wisc.edu. The other boxes can be left as is, so click OK and the directory is ready for use.

The Campus LDAP Directory

The campus LDAP directory has names, email addresses, phone numbers, and sometimes more for everyone on campus.

Set Name to Campus Directory (or whatever you prefer), Hostname to ldap.services.wisc.edu, and Base DN to dc=wisc,dc=edu. Then click OK and it's ready for use.

Looking Someone Up in a Directory

To look someone up in a directory, open the Address Book and select the directory you want to look in on the left. Type the name of the person you wish to find in the box in the upper right, press Enter, and you'll get a list of people who match the information you typed. You can then select a person to get details about them.

Autocomplete with Directories

When you start typing an address for a new message, Thunderbird by default looks in your address book to see what entries match what you've typed thus far. You can have it also check LDAP directories. The advantage is easy access to lots of addresses; the disadvantage is that you will have a lot more matches to consider. Also, if you click on the wrong address your message will most likely go to a total stranger rather than another person in your address book. Thus we suggest you think carefully before you turn on this feature--especially with the campus directory.

If you do want Thunderbird to look at an LDAP directory when completing addresses, click Tools, Options, and then the Composition tab. Under Address Autocompletion, check Directory Server, and then choose either SSCC Directory or Campus Directory.

To turn this feature off, simply uncheck the Directory Server box.

Last Revised: 8/15/2007