Tun TMAIL Index

 Tun TCP MAIL Online Help
Tun TCP Electronic mail

Presentation

Introduction

Using Tun TCP MAIL

Connecting

Tun TCP MAIL program decription

Tun TCP MAIL icon decription

Handling messages

Retrieving messages

Reading messages

Composing messages

Sending messages

Replying to messages

Forwarding messages

Redirecting messages

Storing messages

Deleting messages

Searching for messages

Parameters

Tun TCP MAIL parameters


 Introduction to Tun TCP MAIL

The Tun MAIL product was developed to be the most complete mail client possible for the UNIX-SMTP-UUCP-POP environment. Every establishment that has a UNIX server will find Tun MAIL the necessary tool for building an efficient UNIX-PC mail system, either locally or over the Internet.

Tun TCP MAIL is a slightly reduced version of the complete Tun MAIL package which includes MIME encoding, fax support, and a remote mailer for PCs without permanent network connections.

Tun TCP MAIL can use several protocols to send and receive messages from a PC. The choice depends on the architecture of the network you are working on. Please see the Tun TCP manual for more details on UNIX configuration and mail protocols.


 Connecting

To start Tun TCP MAIL, double-click on the Email icon. An empty screen will appear with a large window and the Login dialog box.

Mail host

Fill in the name of the Mail host you will be accessing. This simply is the name or IP address of the server that is set up as your post office.

User

Fill in the name of the user whose mailbox you want to access.

Password

Fill in the password of the user.

Do not log on mail host

By checking the box Do not log on mail host the user may access Tun TCP MAIL without automatically connecting to a mail host in order to work off-line.

Retrieving messages

If there are available messages, a popup window will indicate the number of new messages.

Answering Yes on this window will move all available messages to the PC into the receiving tray and delete them from the mail host.

Answering No will leave the messages on the mail host.

If you answer Yes and check the Do not delete messages in the post office's mailbox, all available messages will be copied to the PC without deleting them on the mail host. These messages are considered as "temporary" and they will be deleted when the Tun TCP MAIL application is closed.

Note:	One of the uses of this option is to be able to access messages from a different PC than the one you usually use.


 Tun TCP MAIL program description

After connecting and loading any new messages, the main screen appears.

New messages are extracted from the UNIX machine and placed into the Receiving tray window. Tun TCP MAIL will indicate the number of new messages received in the bottom left-hand status bar of the main window. The above window contains the following elements:

•	A Receiving tray window containing all received messages (old and new) that have not been deleted (moved to Waste) or filed away to any of the folders yet.
•	A Sending Tray icon which contains all messages that have been composed (sent or not) which have not been filed away yet.
•	A Waste icon which contains deleted messages.
•	A Folders icon which lets you organize messages.
•	A Search Results icon which will contain the output of a search.
•	Command buttons with actions related to messages (forward, compose). These buttons are active or inactive (grayed out) depending on the program environment.


 Tun TCP MAIL icons description

Here is a description of the icons in the tool bar:

 Compose

Select this button to create a new message. This can also be achieved by selecting Compose from the Message menu. This action is described in more depth in the section Composing messages.

 Reply

This button lets the user compose a new message within a received one. The address of the sender is put into the To field. This can also be done by selecting Reply under Message in the main menu. This action is described in more depth in the section Replying to messages.

 Print

It is possible to send the contents of a message (header and body) to a printer by selecting this button, use Print Messages and Print Content from the File menu.

 Cut

This button cuts the selected text to the Windows Clipboard (menu option Cut under Edit).

 Copy

This button copies the selected text to the Windows Clipboard (menu option Copy under Edit).

 Paste

This button can be used in the main body of a message during composition and in the Subject field of the header. Text will be inserted underneath the cursor (menu option Paste from the Edit menu).

 Select all

This button lets the user select the entire body of the message to copy it, for example, into the Windows Clipboard. (menu option Select all from the Edit menu).

 Insert text file

This button can only be used in the main body of a message. It lets the user select a text file and insert it after the cursor. (Menu option Insert text file under Edit) This action is described in more depth in the section Composing messages.

 Attach file

This button can only be used when the cursor is in the main body of a message during composition. With it you can attach a file (text or binary) to the main body of your message. The attachment will be made visual by a special icon in the body of the message. (Menu option Attach file under Edit). This action is described in more depth in the section Composing messages.

 Insert object

This button is only available in the full version of Tun MAIL.

 Send

After composing a message it can be sent over the network by selecting this button.

 Forward

This button duplicates a received message, so that it may be forwarded to another recipient. This action is described in more depth in the section Forwarding messages.

 Redirect

This button lets you redirect a received message to another recipient. You would select this option if you do not want to edit the message. This action is described in more depth in the section Redirecting messages.

 Transfer

This button lets users store messages in a specific folder. This action is described in more depth in the section Storing messages.

 Delete

This button can be used to delete messages and place them in the Waste folder. Waste contents will be purged after the application is closed unless the options are set otherwise. If this button is used inside the waste folder, messages are deleted immediately.

 Previous and next

These two buttons let you move back and forth within the message list without returning to the receiving tray.


 Retrieving messages

Automatic message polling

When Tun TCP MAIL is started, it connects to the mail host at regular intervals (by default every 10 minutes) to see if any new messages are available. To execute this feature manually, select Look for new messages from the Messages menu.

The frequency of this look-up may be modified by selecting Options from the Special menu.

Depending on the state of the application (icon or full screen) and depending on the options selected, the user will be advised of a new message in the following ways:

•	By default, if Tun TCP MAIL is an icon, new messages are indicated by movement of the red flag on the mailbox. In this case, switch to e-mail to access new messages.
•	By default, when Tun TCP MAIL is in full screen mode, the user is informed of incoming mail by a moving letter icon on the bottom of the screen. Clicking on this icon will load the new messages.
•	If the option Show popup is selected (Options under the Special menu) the arrival of new messages is indicated by a dialog box that appears in the application the user is in at the time.

Select OK to load new messages.

In addition to the above, the arrival of new messages may be indicated by a beep. (Use beep option from Options under the Special menu)

Checking for new messages manually

To check for new messages manually, select Look for new messages from the Messages menu. This will query the mail host.

Loading messages

If messages are available on the mail host, a popup window will appear, indicating the number of new messages.

Yes will load the available messages onto the PC into the receiving tray. They will be deleted from the mail host.

No will not load the messages and will not affect them on the mail host.

If you answer Yes and place an "X" in the check box Do not delete messages in the post office's mailbox, all available messages will be copied to the PC without deleting them from the mail host. These messages are considered as "temporary", and will disappear when Tun TCP MAIL is closed.

One of the uses of this option is to be able to access messages from a different PC than the one you usually use.


 Reading Messages

When the application is first started and there are new messages, the Receiving tray is displayed in the middle of the screen. It contains all new messages as well as those that have not yet been stored in a folder or deleted. If it does not appear, double-click on the Receiving tray icon.

The receiving tray

Messages are displayed with the following elements:

•	An envelope icon indicating whether the message has been read (open or closed envelope), or is currently being read. The envelope for normal messages is yellow, but when messages are retrieved without deleting them from the source (temporary messages), the envelope is red, and is deleted when Tun TCP MAIL is closed.
•	A message ID number
•	The name or address of the correspondent
•	The size of the message in Kb
•	The date the message was sent
•	The message subject, if any

Notes:

You may change the width of any of the columns by dragging the lines in the title bar with the mouse.

The Sort... option (under Folder) may be used to display messages according to the Message ID, the Correspondent, Date, or Subject.

Opening a message

To read a message, simply double-click on the corresponding envelope in the receiving tray.

The fields contained in the message window are similar to those in the receiving tray:

From	Indicates the address of the sender
Date	Indicates the date the message was sent
To	Indicates the main destination for the message
Cc	Carbon copy indicates other destinations for the messages, if any
Message	The contents of the message
More	For viewing the address header details

If a message contains one or more attached files, this icon, followed by the names of the files, will be displayed:

The user can view the whole of the text using the direction arrows and the scroll bar. A part of the message can be selected with the mouse or the direction arrows and copied into the clipboard. The received message cannot be modified.

To move around the message body, use arrows keys or the scroll bar.

It is possible to select part of a message by using the mouse or the arrow keys to copy it to the Windows Clipboard. You may not change a received message.

Extracting attached files

If a message contains attached files, double-click on the attachment icon or use the option Extract attached file from the Edit menu, which will open the Extract attached file dialog box.

The Copy button may be used to copy an attached file from a mail message without removing it.

The Extract button is used for removing an attached file from a message. The message, in this case, does not keep the file for future use, but rather indicates the location it was copied to. This option frees up space in the folders.

The same can be achieved by double-clicking on the icon below found in the message header:


 Composing messages

Composing a message

Whatever the current Tun TCP MAIL screen, the Compose button ( [image]) for writing new messages is always present and active (menu option Compose under Messages). Clicking on this button opens up the message editing window.

The fields in this window are the same as those in the message viewing window, with the addition of:

To

Indicates the main destination for the message. The To button gives you access to the Address book, where you may find existing addresses or add new ones.

You may select several addresses for the same message. Mail addresses may also be entered directly in the To field using the keyboard. Multiple addresses may be added by separating them with a semicolon.

Cc

Carbon copy indicates other sub-destinations for the message (if any). This button works like the To button.

Subject

It is preferable to fill in the Subject field, since it clarifies the contents of the message for the recipient.

Signature

If the Signature box is checked (by default), the contents of the signature file will be appended to the body of all sent messages. This signature file can be created or update by using the option Signature from the Special menu.

MIME

This function only works when using the full Tun MAIL application.

More

You may directly edit the SMTP header using the More button:

This window shows the default message header generated by the application. You may change the information in this window, or add extra fields such as "Replyto:".

If you would like the program to keep the fields you have added, without modifying the main header, click on the button Use extra fields.

If you want Tun TCP MAIL to use the fields that you have modified in the header (without using its own), click on the button Use all fields.

The message body

The message body text editor is similar to the Windows Notepad. Anything but the tab keys may be used in a message. Of course, aside from pure text, the main body of a message may contain encapsulated files.

Note: The To and Message fields must be filled in.

Attaching files

To attach one or more files, click on the Attach file button ( [image]) or select Attach file from the Edit menu:

Clicking on Add lets you browse your disk for the appropriate file to add it to the message. One or more files may be selected.

Tun TCP MAIL uses the standard UNIX UUENCODE format to attach files.

To see the list of attached files again with their details, simply double-click on the attachment icon in the message header area.

Including a text file

To include an existing text file in a message, use the option Insert text file from the Edit menu or the Insert text button ( [image]). This will place the contents of the file into the message below the cursor.

Inserting an OLE object

This option is only available in the full version of Tun MAIL.


 Sending messages

Sending the current message

To send a message after it has been created, simply click on the Send ( [image]) button. Tun TCP MAIL opens up a communication link with the selected system and transmits the message. This message is then automatically saved in the Sending tray.

By default Tun TCP MAIL also closes the message after it has been sent.

A sent message may be resent but cannot be modified. To edit such a message it must first be duplicated by using the option Duplicate message form the Edit menu. To modify it, the message may be copied by using Duplicate message from the Edit menu or edited directly using Modify a sent message also from the Edit menu.

The sending tray

Sent messages and messages being created are automatically placed in the Sending tray for future reference or re-use. The icons used for messages in this tray are as follows:

	The message is being composed and has not been sent.
	The message has been sent.

The Sending tray can be manipulated in the same way as the Receiving tray. Messages saved in this tray may be filed in another folder by using the option Transfer message(s) from the Folder menu.

Sent messages may re-sent after the confirmation.

A sent message may be modified by using Modify a sent message from the Edit menu.

Messages in the Sending tray may be duplicated by selecting Duplicate message from the Edit menu.

Sending several messages at once

One or more un-sent messages may be sent directly from the sending tray without being open, simply by selecting the messages and clicking on Send.

This is especially convenient for users whose PCs are not always connected to a network, and who can create messages and send them at a later point in time when a link becomes available.


 Replying to messages

You may respond to a message by clicking on the Reply button ( [image]). This has the following advantages:

The return address of the sender is automatically inserted into the To field of the new message. However, it is a good idea to double-check this address, since the return address could be truncated or transformed if the Internet configuration on the server is not set up correctly.

The original subject of the message is inserted into the Subject field preceded by "Re:".

The original message is inserted into the new message body, all of the lines being preceded by the character >. Thus allowing the user to make comments on parts of the original message.

If the message you are responding to was sent to several users, you have the option of responding to the original sender only, or to all of the recipients, by checking the boxes in the window displayed.

After completing these actions the message is no different from a normal message that you would write.


 Forwarding messages

If a message is of interest to other users, it can be easily sent to them by selecting the forward button ( [image]). The Forward window will appear.

The options are as follows:

Allow modification of message before sending it

Checking this box lets you change the header and body of a message before sending it. If this box is not checked, the destination address must be selected from the address book and no further access to the message is allowed. If it is not checked, it is best to click on Send directly, since the OK button copies the message into the sending tray and it must be sent from there.

Send message using MIME encoding

This is only available in the full Tun MAIL version.

Append signature

This option lets you append your signature to the end of the message being sent.

Use address book for getting recipient(s)

This option lets you use the address book for selecting addresses.

If Allow modification of message before sending it is selected, the message window accessed will have the normal features of the message editing window. Select Send to send it. A copy will be placed in the Sending tray.

If Allow modification of message before sending it is not selected, the message is sent immediately if the Send directly button is clicked. Otherwise, the message will be placed into the Sending tray and must be sent manually.


 Redirecting messages

If you receive a message in error, you may redirect it to the appropriate user using the redirect button ( [image]). The Redirect dialog box appears.

The options are same described in the above section Forwarding messages.

If Send directly is chosen, the address of the recipient(s) will be available only through the address book and the message will be sent directly over the network.


 Storing messages in folders

To keep your messages organized, Tun TCP MAIL lets you store messages in specific folders. This feature also keeps the receiving and the sending tray from becoming over-crowded.

Creating folders

To create a folder use New from the Folder menu, which opens up the Create folder window.

Folder names follow the same rules for naming DOS files: the length is limited to 8 letters and certain characters (spaces) are not accepted.

A folder may be set up to contain sent, received or both types of message, the latter being the default.

Transferring messages into folders

To store a message in a folder, select the message(s) in question and click on the transfer button ( [image]). This will open a window that contains a list of the available folders. Select the appropriate folder and the message will be stored there.

Messages may also be moved by drag and drop; press the shift key and the left mouse button to perform this maneuver.

Note: You may not store unopened messages.

Working with folders

The list of folders may be accessed by double-clicking on the Folders icon.

Selecting a folder in the list will open up the folder and give access to the messages it contains.

Folders have the same properties as the Sending and Receiving trays.

Moving messages from one folder to another is handled the same way as described in the previous section.


 Deleting messages

Messages that do not need to be saved clutter up space and should be deleted. One or more messages may be deleted by selecting them and clicking on the Delete button ( [image]).

By default, unopened messages cannot be deleted. To change that option, select Options from the Special menu and put a check by Enable delete for messages not read. Checking the Confirmation box will send a confirmation before an unopened message is deleted.

Deleted messages may easily be retrieved since they are placed into the Waste folder. To move them back into another folder use Transfer from the menu.

By default, the waste is never emptied. It is possible to purge it when exiting the application by selecting Delete messages on exit in the Options dialog box (under the Special menu).

Waste messages may also be purged by selecting them in the Waste folder and then clicking on the delete button.

Messages may be deleted more directly from the receiving and sending trays by choosing Clear receiving tray or Clear sending tray from the Folder menu. These options will confirm the deletes and will not move the messages into the waste folder as before. Be careful to save important messages in other folders before resorting to this option.


 Searching for messages

Multi-criteria searches are possible in Tun TCP MAIL. Select a folder (Option Search from the Folder menu), which opens the Search messages in folder dialog box.

One or more messages may be searched according to the following criteria:

*	Type of message (received or sent)

*	The name of the user

*	The subject of the message

*	The SMTP header of the message

(the same as provided by the More button)

*	The contents of the message

The presence or absence of a character string in any of these criteria fields determines the message selection. The search can be made case sensitive by checking the Case sensitive box. Specific dates may also be indicated by filling in the Date fields.

Search results are collected in a temporary folder called Search results accessible through the icon on the bottom of the screen.

Multiple searches can be gathered in this folder by de-selecting the Clear search folder box. Otherwise the Search results folder is emptied before every search.


 Tun TCP MAIL parameters

Functional parameters

Certain features of Tun TCP MAIL can be changed using Options under Special from the main menu:

Here is a description of these options:

Look for new messages

Enter the interval in minutes that the mail host or the message queues of the Remote Mailer are called to query for new messages. The default is every 10 minutes.

Animate

If this option is chosen, the user will be informed of the availability of new mail by a mailbox icon whose flag moves up and down.

Show popup

If this option is chosen, the user will be informed of the availability of new mail by a dialog box that will appear in the foreground of the current application.

Load messages

This check box is for the user to indicate if he wants to store automatically the messages from the POP server on his PC. He would no longer need to give his confirmation each time a message arrives. The messages will be automatically deleted on the POP server. He would no longer be warned either when a message arrives (except by a beep).

Use beep

If this option is chosen, the user will be informed of the availability of new mail by the sounding of a beep.

Enable delete for messages not read

This option lets you delete messages before they have been opened for the first time. By default it is not enabled.

Confirmation

This option gives you a confirmation message before deleting unopened messages. By default it is not enabled.

Delete messages on exit

If this option is selected, the messages contained in the Waste folder will be deleted when the application is closed. Thus messages will be completely purged.

Iconize after login if no message received

Selecting this option lets the application revert to an icon after connecting if there was no new mail waiting.

Create messages for composition with MIME

This option is only available with the full Tun MAIL product.

Use UUENCODE for file attachments in MIME messages

This option is only available with the full Tun MAIL product.

Workspace settings

Workspace settings in Tun TCP MAIL may be customized by selecting Workspace... from the Special menu.

Fax server settings

This option is only available with the full Tun MAIL product.

Return address

Occasionally, a mail system may be incorrectly configured on the UNIX server. This could cause your return address to be changed in all of the messages you send. Thus, unless recipients know your true address, they will not be able to respond to your messages.

The option Set reply address from Special resolves this issue by letting users specify which return address is placed in the Reply to field.

The From field

By default, Tun TCP MAIL places the user's name in the field From in the messages composed. It is possible that this name is not suitable and you prefer to put a different value instead (an alias, for example). The option Set From Address... under the Special menu was conceived to solve this problem. Your exact address may be entered and this will be automatically placed in your messages in the standard From field.

Signature

By default Tun TCP MAIL places a signature at the end of a composed message. To create or edit your signature select Signature under Special from the main menu.