Help
Pronto Help Index

Step-by-step Instructions

Alphabetic Listing

Chapter Listing

Reference Information

Menu Commands

Parts of the Pronto Screen

Pronto Set-up


Alphabetic Index

For Help organized according to Topic Chapters, select:

Table of Contents

To search for subjects by key-words, use the search facility.

-A-

Address Book

-B-

-C-

Command Menu
Compose
Copying Notes

-D-

Delete Mail
Draft folder

-E-

Edit Mode
Edit | Select All
Edit | Copy
Edit | Cut
Edit | Export
Edit | Find
Edit | Insert Text File
Edit | Next
Edit | Paste
Edit | Replace
Edit | Undo
Edit | UUDecode
Edit | UUEncode
Edit | Spelling

-F-

File | Draft
File | Exit
File | Export Folder
File | Folders
File | Import Folder
File | Incoming
File | New Folder
File | Open Folder
File | Out Log
File | Outgoing Queue
File | Printer Setup
File | Print
File | Wastebasket
Filtering Notes
Find
Folder Window
Folders
 Folders Menu
Fonts
Forward

-H-

Host

-I-

Incoming

-L-

-M-

Mail | Add to address book
Mail | Address book
Mail | Attachment
Mail | Check new mail
Mail | Compose
Mail | Copy
Mail | Delete
 Mail | Forward
Mail | Move
Mail | Reply
Mail | Reply all
Mail | View
Moving Notes

-N-

New mail
Note Procedures
Note Window
Notes

-O-

Out log
Outgoing Mail

-P-

Preferences
Procedures

-R-

Reply
Reply All

-S-

Setting up Preferences
Setup | Fonts
Setup | Maintenance | Clear Incoming
 Setup | Network setup
Setup | Preferences
Setup | Signatures
Spell Checking

-T-

Toolbar

-U-

Undo

-V-

View | Clear filter
View | Filter...
View | Headers
View | Sort by date
View | Sort by sender
View | Sort by subject
View Mode

-W-

Window | Arrange icons
Window | Cascade
Window | Close all
Window | Tile


Table of Contents

1. Overview

2. Commands

3. Procedures


Overview of Pronto
Overview

What is Pronto/IP?

Pronto/IP is a PC client front-end for TCP/IP based E-Mail servers.

You can use Pronto to work on your host based mail and folders -- without having to remain connected to the host.

What do I need to run Pronto?

On the PC:

A PC running MS Windows version 3.1 or higher.

A TCP/IP stack, providing a Winsocket interface.

On the host:

A POP3 server and an SMTP server.

See also

Pronto desktop


How to perform various actions
Procedure Overview

Help with Procedures is organized according to the following topics:

Folder Procedures

Note Procedures

Setup Procedures


Host computer
Host

The host is the computer that runs the mail server with which Pronto/IP communicates, and from which mail is downloaded and uploaded. Pronto/IP requires that the host will run POP3 and SMTP.


Working with Folders

A folder is a collection of related mail notes. When using Pronto, you can store notes in folders.

Incoming, Outgoing queue, Outlog, Wastebasket and Draft are special purpose system folders generated by Pronto.

Use the Folders pop-up to access the folders present in your system for operations such as opening, filing and deletion.

When you open a folder, Pronto displays a Folder Window, through which you can process the notes contained in the folder.

See Also
Creating a new folder
Opening a folder
Moving a note
Copying a note


Working with the Folders pop-up
Folders Pop-up

The Folders Pop-up provides a list of all your folders. You may use the Folders pop-up to select folders for filing, viewing, deletion and creation. When active, the Folders pop-up always remains on top of all other windows. If you frequently use several folders, you may find it convenient to always leave the Folders pop-up active. If you don't want the Folders pop-up to appear when Pronto begins, you can change this default from the Preferences dialog box.

When the Folders pop-up is not open, you can call it with the Folders pop-up command from the File menu.

Creating new folders:

Click the New... button to get a "new folder" dialog. You may define the new folder as local, in which case it is created on the PC only.

Deleting folders:

Click the Delete button to permanently delete the selected folder.

Moving notes to a folder:

1.	Select notes in a folder window.

2.	Select the destination folder and click the Move button
or
use "drag and drop": drag the selected notes and drop over the folder.

Copying notes to a folder:

1.	Select the notes in a folder window.

2.	Select the folder to file into, and click the Copy button
or
use "drag and drop": drag the selected notes, and drop over the folder while pressing the Ctrl button.

Opening folders:

Select a folder and click the Open button, or double click the folder name.


Working with Folder Windows
Folder Windows

A folder window displays the content of a folder, and lets you read and process the notes contained in the folder. Folder Windows are divided in two:

List of note headers:

The upper part displays a list of all notes in the folder. You can sort and filter the notes using the view commands. You can select notes with a mouse-click or by using the up and down arrows on the keyboard. Select multiple notes by clicking the mouse while pressing the Ctrl button. Selected notes appear highlighted, and you can apply to them operations such as moving, copying, deleting and viewing.

Text of selected note :

The lower part displays the text of the selected note. You can mark portions of the text using the mouse,  copy it to the Windows clipboard and paste it into other windows. Use the search command to find specific text in the note body.

Folder Windows can be moved, resized, maximized, and minimized in keeping with standard Microsoft Windows operating conventions.

Deleting notes from the folder:

1.	Select the notes you wish to delete.

2.	Select mail | delete from the main menu, or press the delete button in the toolbar.

Moving notes from one folder to the other:

1.	Select the notes you wish to move.

2.	Select mail | move from the main menu, or press the move button in the toolbar
or

3.	"Drag and drop" the notes to the Folders pop-up, or to a folders list that will pop-up automatically if the Folders pop-up is not present.

Copying notes from one folder to the other:

1.	Select the notes you wish to copy.

2.	Select mail | copy from the main menu, or press the copy button in the toolbar
or

3.	"Drag and drop" the notes to the Folders pop-up, or to a folders list that will pop-up automatically if the Folders pop-up is not present. When "dropping" the notes, press the Ctrl button.

See Also
Folders Procedures
Folders pop-up


Working with Notes

Notes are the basic building blocks of the Pronto system. Notes are stored and organized in Folders. Using a folder window you can view the notes stored in a folder, and apply various operations to them.

Pronto lets you view and edit a single note using a note window.


Working with Notes in View Mode
Working with Note Windows in View Mode

When a note window appears in view mode, you can view the note body, but you cannot modify its contents.

A note window appears in view mode when you open it by double clicking a note in a folder window, or by selecting a note in a folder window and using the Mail | Open command.

You can save a note in a text file using the save as text command.

See Also
Folders


Working with Notes in Edit Mode

You activate Mail Edit mode by selecting the Compose, Reply, Reply all or Forward Mail commands, or by double-clicking on a note header in the Draft folder.

The following action buttons appear beneath the note window title:

Original	Places the contents of the selected note in the active folder window into the note being edited.  To distinguish the included text from the text you enter, each line of the  included text is preceded by an indentation string. The indentation string is " > " by default. You may change it using the preferences dialog box.

Attach	Add an attachment to the note.

Edit Later	Stores the note in the Draft folder for future reference.

Send	Stores the note in the outgoing queue until transfer to the host.

Address	Select addressees from your aliases list.

The signature list box lets you select which signature will be appended to the note.

Filling the header fields:

To:	Addressee(s) of the note
Subject:	Subject covered in the note
cc:	Other addressees who should receive copies of the note
Bcc:	Blind cc: Similar to cc, but recipients of the note cannot see this list.

While editing a note, you can export and import text files, and perform a spelling check.


MIME type definitions
MIME types

MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) types specify the data types of attachments. Each comprises a type (for example, text) and a subtype (for example, plain).

You use the MIME type setup dialog box to define MIME types. You may include an extension that relates a Microsoft Windows registered application to the defined type.

By default, binary attachments have the type Application and the subtype Octets. The default text definition is text/plain.


Working with Note Windows

You use note windows to view and edit individual notes. You may use windows in either edit mode or view mode.

A note window appears in edit mode when opened using the Mail | Compose, Mail | Reply, Mail | Reply all or Mail | Forward. commands. It appears in view mode when invoked using the Mail | View command, or by double clicking a note header in a folder window.


The Pronto desktop
Pronto Desktop

Pronto's user interface is organized as a desktop.

The desktop frame includes:

1.	Main menu

2.	Toolbar

3.	Status line at the bottom of the desktop -- provides communication status and a short description of the toolbar button currently pointed to by the cursor.

The desktop may contain:

1.	Note windows

2.	Folder windows


Viewing and processing incoming notes
File | Incoming

Activates the Incoming notes folder window. The incoming notes folder contains incoming notes downloaded from your mail account on the host.

The Incoming folder opens, by default, when you begin Pronto.

See Also
Folders


Draft folder - storing notes in progress
File | Draft

Opens the Draft system folder that contains unsent notes stored with the Edit Later button in the note window.  You keep "notes in progress" before sending them.

Double clicking a note header in the notes list opens a note window with the selected note already in edit mode.


Viewing and processing sent notes
File | Out Log

Opens the Out Log system folder that contains all notes  previously sent.

Use this folder as a record of notes you have sent. Processing notes in this folder does not affect the outgoing queue. It does not determine which notes will be uploaded to the host.

NOTE:
We recommend that you delete unnecessary notes and move important notes out of this folder occasionally to control its size.

See Also
Folders


Retrieving deleted notes
File | Wastebasket

Opens the Wastebasket system folder that contains all notes which you have deleted.

Normally, you must clear this folder yourself by deleting notes. You can, however, specify automatic clearing every time you exit Pronto by ticking an option in the preferences dialog box.

See Also
Folders


Processing outgoing queue
File | Outgoing Queue...

Pronto queues outgoing mail until transfer to the host. While in the queue, you can view, change or delete outgoing mail from the queue.

The following option buttons are available in the outgoing dialog:

1.	Edit note: Opens note for further editing.

2.	Delete: Removes note from the outgoing queue. The note is lost.

3.	Send all: Transfers all notes to the host immediately and clears the queue.

Note: Do not confuse the queue with the Out Log, which contains notes already sent.


Creating new folders
File | New Folder...

Creates a new folder.


Opening folders
File | Open Folder...

Opens a folder for viewing and processing.


Invoking folders pop-up
File | Folders Pop-up...

Brings up the Folders Pop-up.


Import folder from file
File | Import Folder...

Imports a folder from an ASCII file. The file must be in standard UNIX mail folder format. If the folder is not empty, Pronto prompts for overwrite or append.


Export folder to file
File | Export Folder...

Export a folder as a plain ASCII file. The folder is stored in standard UNIX mail folder format.

You can export folders and store them as ASCII files for backup purposes.


Printing notes
File | Print

Prints the selected notes.


Setting up the printer
File | Printer Setup

Select a printer, or change the set-up of the currently selected printer.


Exiting Pronto
File | Exit

Exits Pronto. If any notes are being edited, Pronto issues a warning on each note, prompting you to save their contents.


Undo your previous action
Edit | Undo

Cancels the previously executed editing action.


Cut selected text to Clipboard
Edit | Cut

Removes selected text and places it in the Clipboard.


Copying text to the Clipboard
Edit | Copy

Places a copy of the selected text in the Clipboard.


Placing Clipboard text into notes
Edit | Paste

Inserts the text in the Clipboard into the note at the cursor position.


Selecting all text in the current note
Edit | Select All

Select all text.


Locating text in notes and folders
Edit | Search

Finds specified text in the note body of the active note window or of the selected note in the active folder window.


Replacing text in notes being edited
Edit | Replace

Finds the specified text in the note body, and replaces it with another specified text string.


Repeating searches
Edit | Next

Repeats the previous Find or Replace action.


Importing text files to a note
Edit | Insert Text File...

Places the contents of a selected file into the note at the cursor position.


Saving a note as a file
Edit | Save as Text...

Copies the contents of a note into a selected file name.


UUEncoding binary files
Edit | Insert Binary File (UUEncode)...

Encodes binary files, such as executables and graphic image files, for transfer to the host system.

UUEncoded files must be UUDecoded when received on the host. You may decode received binary files on the PC with the Pronto Edit | UUDEcode  option.

See Also
Attaching Files


UUDecoding binary files
Edit | Save as Binary File (UUDecode)...

Decodes binary files, such as executables and graphic image files, following transfer from the host system with Edit | Insert Binary File (UUEncode)

See Also
Attaching Files


Spell checking
Edit | Spelling...

Check spelling of a note in edit mode. For each misspelled word you are prompted for possible replacements, or you can add the word to your own dictionary.


Open note
Mail | Open

Opens a note window with the selected note in the active folder in view mode or edit mode (if the active folder is the draft folder).


Composing notes
Mail | Compose

Compose a new note.  Opens a new note window in edit mode.


Replying to notes
Mail | Reply

Reply to the selected note in the active folder.


Reply to all recipients
Mail | Reply to All

Reply to the selected note in the active folder, and include all recipients of the original note as addressees.


Forwarding notes sent to you to another address
Mail | Forward

Forwards the selected note in the active folder.


Deleting notes from a folder
Mail | Delete

Deletes the selected notes from a  Folder Window. Deleted notes are placed in the deleted folder, and may be retrieved from there.


Move note to another folder
Mail | Move

Moves the selected note or notes from the active folder to another folder.


Copy note to another folder
Mail | Copy

Copies the selected note or notes from the active folder to another folder.


Edit address book
Mail | Address Book...

View and process your local aliases.  You can add, modify or delete aliases from your private alias list. The aliases are stored locally, and are not uploaded to the host.

You use aliases as shorthand or simple nicknames for E-Mail addresses. An alias may be defined for one or many E-Mail addresses or other aliases.


Adding an alias from an Incoming note
Mail | Add to Address Book...

Adds the sender address of the current Incoming note to the alias list. The command takes the Sender field content from the note, highlighted in the Incoming window, and creates an alias.


Include new mail in your incoming folder
Mail | Check New Mail

Retrieves new mail from the host into your incoming folder, and sends mail from the outgoing queue.


Viewing and saving attachments
Mail | Attachment

Allows you to manage files attached to a note. After selecting an attachment icon, you may use this command to either view or save the attached file.

NOTE: The attachment must have an associated application for viewing.


View | Next

Show next message in currently active folder.


View | Previous

Show previously message in currently active folder.


Sorting mail in the current folder by date
View | Sort By Date

Lists notes in the current folder according to the date sent. The notes may be sorted in ascending or descending order, according to options specified with preferences.


Sorting mail in the current folder by sender
View | Sort By Sender

Lists notes in the current folder, alphabetically, by sender name.


Sorting mail in the current folder by subject
View | Sort By Subject

Lists notes in the current folder alphabetically by subject.


Show all Messages
View | Show All Messages

Clears all Show Some Messages settings, enabling you to view all notes in the current folder.


Show some messages
View | Show Some Messages...

You can pass all notes of incoming mail, or any other folder, through a filter that selects notes based on date range, sender, subject or note content. Only notes that pass the filter are displayed.

Date range is in date format.  All other fields are character strings. You can use sub-strings, e.g. putting hel in the subject field, will display all notes with the words help, hello and so on in their subject line.

The case sensitive check box at the bottom of the dialog box determines whether or not the filter ignores upper and lower case (when not checked), or treats them as different (when checked).

Reset filters by pressing the Show all Messages option in the View menu.

You may use the following fields in filters:

Date range:	Display notes between the start and end dates. Dates are in the date format your setup uses, e.g. month/day/year or day/month/year.

From:	Display notes that contain the specified string in the sender field.

To:	Display notes that contain the specified string in the addressee field.

Subject:	Display notes that contain the specified string in the subject field.

Note body:	Display notes that contain the specified string in their body content (message).


View note headers
View | Show Headers

Turn display of full note headers on, partial (showing the From, To, and Cc fields) or off.


View status bar
View | View Status Bar

Turn display of status bar on or off.


View toolbar
View | View Toolbar

Turn display of toolbar on or off.


Selecting various preference options
Setup | Preferences...

The Preference dialog box allows you to change several parameters in the appearance of Pronto:

Confirm delete and file operations:

Prior to deletion, or other irreversible file operations, Pronto prompts for confirmation.

Maximize the note view window:
When a note view window is opened it appears at maximum size.

Maximize the note edit window:
When a note edit window is opened it appears at maximum size.

Save desktop on exit:
Save the position of all opened windows on the Pronto desktop when exiting Pronto and restore desktop next time for the next Pronto session.

Clear wastebasket folder when exiting:
If selected, Pronto clears the wastebasket log every time you exit the program.

Automatically append new addresses:
If the address does not already exist in your address book, Pronto adds it automatically.

Prompt if addressee is not in alias list:
Issues a warning whenever an addressee does not exist in your address book Pronto allows you to verify the name and add it to the list.

Use Pronto as MAPI Server:
Installs Pronto/IP as a MAPI server, to mail-enable other applications through Pronto/IP.

Sort order:
Order of notes in a folder window when sorted
Ascending - low to high.
Descending - high to low.

Indentation String:
Appears before each line of text incorporated using the original button in a compose window. Default is less than sign  (> ).

Line wrap width:
Select the maximum number of characters in a line when editing a note.


Specifying toolbar buttons
Setup | Toolbar...

Allows you to specify which tool buttons are included in the toolbar. You select the buttons you want to include (or remove) from the selection lists that pop up.

Ticking the Show Text (marked as <- ->) option causes descriptive text to appear in the help line at the bottom of the Pronto screen when the cursor is on the button.


Defining standard note closings
Setup | Signatures

Use this option to define standard closings for your notes. You may set one signature as the default for inclusion at the end of all notes.


Setting up network connections
Setup | Network setup

Sets up your host incoming mail parameters (POP3) and the outgoing mail (SMTP).

POP3 Settings: Sets up Pronto/IP interaction with the POP3 - incoming mail.

Login:
Enter your host user ID. (The ID you use to log on to the host UNIX system.)

Password:
Enter the password you use to log on.

IP Address:
Enter the name of the host  where your mail resides. This may either be the host name or its IP address.

Check mail on startup:

Ticking this option causes Pronto to log on the host and transfer mail each time it is started.

Retain mail on host:
Ticking this option causes Pronto to retain copies of notes on the host after updating mail. Normally, Pronto removes the host copies from your folder after fetching Incoming notes.

Check for mail every ____ minutes:
Ticking this option causes Pronto to log on to the host and fetch Incoming notes at the specified interval. If you have not specified immediate sending of mail, the Outgoing queue is also transferred to the host at each login.

SMTP Settings: Sets up Pronto/IP outgoing mail parameters. If you use the same host for sending and retrieving mail - insert the same IP address and leave the Return Address empty.

IP Address:

Enter the name of the host  you use for sending mail. This may either be the host name or its IP address.

(Use same address as for POP3 if unsure).

Return Address:

Enter your full Internet address here ( userid@host ). You may ignore if SMTP host is the same as POP3 host.

Title:

When using the Return Address parameter - Pronto will insert the title (your full name) as the sender of the note.

Send mail immediately:
Ticking this option causes Pronto to log on to the host and transfer mail every time you issue a Send command.


Setting up MIME types
Setup | MIME Types...

Use this dialog to:

1.	Associate Windows file types to MIME types/subtypes. This will instruct Pronto how to treat different attachment. For example, you can associate file type GIF with type image and sub-type gif, so that if you have an application that can display GIF files it will be launched automatically when you double-click an image/gif attachment.

2.	Enter new MIME types and subtypes. Pronto recognizes all MIME types and sub-types known at the date of shipping. If new MIME types are defined, you can add them.


Changing the appearance of text in notes and folders
Setup | Fonts

Enables you to change the appearance of text in Folder headers and the Note body.

The Font Setup dialog box allows you to change the font, font style, color and size of text characters in the Folder header and Note body.


Clearing the incoming notes folder
Setup | Maintenance | Clear Incoming

Erases all data from the Incoming folder. This does not affect your host mail.


Purging temporary files
Setup | Maintenance | Purge Temporary Files

Deletes temporary files, created when viewing attachments to messages.


Tiling Windows
Window | Tile

Arranges all open Pronto windows in equally-sized windows on the Pronto desktop with the active window in the upper-left corner.


Cascading Windows
Window | Cascade

Arranges all open Pronto windows in stacks with the active window on top.


Arranging Icons
Window | Arrange Icons

Arranges folder and note icons in a line at the bottom of the Pronto desktop.


Closing Windows
Window | Close All

Closes all open Pronto windows.


Setting up Pronto parameters
Setup Commands

Select from the following list for detailed Help on specific Setup Commands:

File | Printer Setup

Setup | Preferences

Setup | Network Setup


Command Overview

Commands can be executed in 3 ways:

1. Clicking on Toolbar buttons
2. Selecting from the Command Menu or sub-menu
3. Pressing a keyboard combination.

Click on a Command title for Help on the meaning of related commands in its sub-menu:

File   Edit   Mail   View   Setup   Window

Keyboard command combinations are represented by underlined letters in the menus and sub menus.  While holding down the Alt key, press the underlined letter in the specified menu followed by the underlined letter in the specified sub menu.

For Help with Keyboard command combinations, Click on a Command above and note the underlined letter in its title and sub menus.


Executing commands from the Toolbar
Toolbar

The Toolbar is an easy way to execute various kinds of actions.

Each icon button on the Toolbar refers to a particular action.

As you move the mouse over a Toolbar button, a brief definition appears in the message bar at the bottom of the desktop.  If you click on the icon, the action is executed.

You can configure the Toolbar to meet your own needs using Setup | Toolbar


File Menu Commands
File

File | Incoming

File | Draft

File | Out Log

File | Wastebasket

File | Outgoing Queue

File | New Folder

File | Open Folder

File | Folders

File | Import Folder

File | Export Folder

File | Print

File | Printer Setup

File | Exit


Edit Menu Commands
Edit

Edit | Undo
Edit | Cut
Edit | Copy
Edit | Paste
Edit | Select All
Edit | Search
Edit | Replace
Edit | Next
Edit | Insert Text File
Edit | Save as Text
Edit | Insert Binary File (UUEncode)
Edit | Save as Binary File (UUDecode)
Edit | Spelling


Mail Menu Commands
Mail

Mail | Open
Mail | Compose
Mail | Reply
Mail | Reply to all
Mail | Forward
Mail | Delete
Mail | Move
Mail | Copy
Mail | Address Book
Mail | Add to address book
Mail | Open new mail
Mail | Attachment


View Menu Commands
View

View | Next

View | Previous

View | Sort by date

View | Sort by sender

View | Sort by subject

View | Show all messages

View | Show some messages...

View | Show headers...

View | View status bar

View | View toolbar...


Options Menu Commands
Setup

Setup | Preferences

Setup | Toolbar

Setup | Signatures

Setup | Network setup

Setup | MIME Types

Setup | Fonts

Setup | Maintenance | Clear incoming

Setup | Maintenance | Purge temporary files


Window Menu Commands
Window

Window | Tile

Window | Cascade

Window | Arrange icons

Window | Close All


Attaching a file to a message

With Pronto, you can attach any PC file, of any type, to your message. When attaching a file, you have the following options:

Description: Add a description to the file you are sending.

MIME: Use the MIME (Multi-purpose Internet Mail Extensions) standard for attaching the file.

Sun Attachment: Use the Sun Attachment standard (this is the format used by Suns MailTool).

Binary or Text: Treat the file as text (insert it un-encoded) or binary (encode it in ASCII).

When using MIME, you can click the MIME Types button for more options:

MIME Type: Select the MIME type (e.g. Video, Audio, Text)

MIME Subtype: Select the subtype. Each type has its own sub-types, which normally denote a data format. For example, type image has subtypes jpeg and gif.

Encoding Type: Select which MIME encoding to use. Use:

1.  No encoding for pure ASCII text files

2.  quoted-printable for text in non US-ASCII character set (e. g. European languages)

3.  base64 for any non-text file