need help with Thunderbird settings (language problems!)

I've set my mother up with Thunderbird 1.0.7, but in order to make it user-friendly for her, it's all in Japanese. Unfortunately, her English is too limited for her to be able to translate the options on the toolbar, and my Japanese is far too limited to be able to comprehend them - so if someone is willing to take a few minutes and tell me exactly how to do the following, I would be most grateful.
[I can figure out the categories on the toolbar itself, i.e., file, edit, view, get, message, tools, help, but I'll need to know the exact line or "abbreviation" under each of those in order to know what to select - for example (T) for cut and (C) for copy under "Edit "; or under "View ", (L) for Layout, followed by (C) for classic, (W) for wide or (V) for vertical.]
Here are my questions:
How do I set it so that TB automatically downloads incoming email when it's first opened?
How do I get it to empty the trash folder upon exiting TB?
Is there a way to set it to automatically compact folders? I think I read somewhere that there's an extention that does that - if she has Japanese TB on her computer, would I need to download the Japanese extension, or are the extensions univeral in terms of language?

One final question.
I probably won't be back here for another year. I see that TB1.5rc (Japanese) is available, and that it supposedly updates itself automatically. I'm wondering if I should install that while I'm here (and uninstall 1.0.7) - my mom tends to freak out whenever a popup shows up, even if it's just informing her of the availability of a newer version or update. She doesn't do anything fancy with her email; all she wants is a bare-bones program with which she can write/send/receive/read email. Even I haven't figured out themes yet, so she'll certainly never use those. So far she doesn't even have any extensions (though if there's one for compacting folders, I'll probably install that).
I realize it's a matter of opinion as to whether or not 1.5rc is "good enough" for general use yet, but I'd appreciate any relevant feedback. Thanks!

 

How do I set it so that TB automatically downloads incoming email when it's first opened?
The same way as it has been with Netscape6/7, and Mozillas. To be more precise, Tools|Account settings|Server settings|Check the appropriate boxes.

How do I get it to empty the trash folder upon exiting TB?

Look at the last box.

I don't know how to simplify anything else.

 

From the Mozilla KB Article I have added to: Lost Mail/Profile - Preventive Browser Maintenance Sticky above:

Keep It Working (Thunderbird)
If Offline Support is installed, you can have Thunderbird prompt you to compact folders when it will save a certain amount of disk space. Go to "File -> Offline -> Offline Settings ", and check "Compact folders when it will save over ___ KB ". Advanced users can configure this feature via the user.js file or about:config, even without Offline Support:

user_pref( "mail.prompt_purge_threshhold ", true);
user_pref( "mail.purge_threshhold ", XXX); "XXX" Value for kB

This will ask you for permission whenever it wants to compact the folder.

My suggestion would be to compact folders immediately after deleting, moving, copying, etc., any messages.

As for finding extensions in the Japanese language, if the extension is offered in a language other than English, it is usually listed in the description of the extension. The extension you may be thinking of is Xpunge, which adds a "Compact" button to the toolbar. There is no indication that it is offered in any language other than English...

 

Xpunge, which adds a "Compact" button to the toolbar
I installed Xpunge in TB 1.0.7 and 1.5rc, and with my eight or nine accounts I found it to work incredibly well. The selection is to empty trash and compact folders, separately, but not the Junk folder, as some people tried. A single MultiXpunge does the job for all accounts which were chosen. Thanks, Ramona, as well as Rebecca.

 

I use an extension called MoreButtonsPlus (apparently no longer available) which does essentially the same thing as Xpunge, the difference being that MBP provides separate buttons for Empty Trash and Compact Folders, and that there is also a button which allows easy switching between the display of normal and full headers in a message.

The so-called "problem" of Xpunge (or MBP) not emptying the Junk folder is easily solved by setting the Junk Mail controls to send junk mail to the Trash folder, rather than the Junk folder.

 

http://www.extensionsmirror.nl/extthunderbird/MoreButtonsPlus_0.3_rep.xpi

?

 

Thanks Doc. I made the obviously erroneous o) statement because I followed a link I've previously used and got a dead page (error 404).

FWIW, perhaps it should be noted that your link is to download the MoreButtonsPlus .xpi file (right-click > Save Link As...). More information can be found on the MoreButtonsPlus page on the Extensions Mirror site.