WS_POPMail Help
WS_POPMail (Lab Version) Help

Overview

Logging Into Your Account

An Overview of WS_POPMail

How to . . .

Get New Mail

Read Mail

Reply to Mail

Forward Mail

Compose a New Message

Send An Enclosure

Receive an Enclosure

Find a Word or Phrase in Mail Messages

Shred Mail

Advanced Features . . .

Customizing WS_POPMail for Your Site


An Overview of WS_POPMail
An Overview of WS_POPMail (Lab Version)

 Show me an example of the WS_POPMail (Lab Version) Window

WS_POPMail (Lab Version) enables you to exchange messages with people around the world who have access to the Internet.  In addition to reading incoming mail and composing new messages, you may forward messages to others, reply to messages you receive, and send or receive binary files such as programs, graphic documents, and spreadsheets.  None of the files or messages are permanently saved to the hard drive of the computer you are using.  This allows you to use many different machines to access your mail account.

If you have comments or need further assistance with this product, send E-Mail to popmail@boombox.micro.umn.edu.  Please indicate the product name and version number.  You can see which version you are using by viewing the About screen from the Help menu.

WS_POPMail (Lab Version) is based on POPMail II, a freeware program developed by the Microcomputer and Workstation Networks Center at the University of Minnesota. Copyright 1991-93.  It is available free of charge to non-profit and educational institutions.


The WS_POPMail Window
The WS_POPMail (Lab Version) Window

Click on any part of the  WS_POPMail (Lab Version) Window below for help on that feature.


Fetch New Mail
Get New Mail

When you Get, you are downloading copies of the messages from the server to the local computer. WS_POPMail (Lab Version) leaves the original messages on the server until you Shred them.

To Get new Mail:

Click on the Get button on the command button toolbar, or select "Get New Mail" from the Mail menu.

All new messages are copied to the local computer, and displayed in the Message list.  To cancel the retrieval, click on the Cancel button in the Get Messages dialog box. WS_POPMail (Lab Version) completes the retrieval of the current message before canceling.

To change the way messages are sorted:

Click once on the desired heading over the Message list (From, Subject, or Date), or select "Sort" and the desired sort type from the Mail menu.  The messages are sorted based on your selection.

See also:

Reading Mail

The WS_POPMail Window


Reading Mail

To read a message:

1.	All messages are displayed in the Message list.  Messages you have not read this session are marked with a closed envelope icon.

2.	To read a message, double-click on the message line.  The contents of the message are displayed in a separate display window.

3.	To view additional pages of the message, use the scroll bar on the right side of the window.

4.	When you are done reading a message, you can close the message by selecting "Close" from the Control Menu in the upper-left corner of the display window.

After closing a new message, you will notice that the icon for the message now shows an opened envelope.  This is because you have "opened" this piece of Mail.

To see the next or previous message in the Message list:

While you are reading a message, click on the Next or Previous buttons on the command button toolbar.  The next or previous message in the Message list is displayed in a separate message display window.

See also:

The Message Display Window

Replying to Mail

Forwarding Mail


The Message Display Window

The Message Display Window contains the following information:

From:

Displays the original author of the message.

Date:

Displays the date the message was created.

To:

Displays all the recipients of this E-Mail address.

Cc:

This box displays the names of those receiving a carbon copy of this message.

Subject:

This box displays the subject of the message.

Message Body

This box displays the text of the message.

Note:  If the message contains an enclosure, you will see a Detach Enclosure button.

See also:

Reading Mail


Replying to Mail

To reply to a message:

1.	Select a message from the Message list.

2.	Click on the Reply button on the command button toolbar, or select "Reply" from the Mail menu.  The Compose Window is displayed.

Notice that the "To" and "Subject" boxes are already filled in for you.  Also, the original message appears in the text area, offset by >s.  (To avoid having the original message copied into a reply, press the Shift key while clicking on the Reply button or selecting Reply from the Mail menu.)

3.	To specify additional recipients, or to send a carbon copy (Cc:) or blind carbon copy (BCC:) of your reply, type in the E-mail address for the recipients in the appropriate fields.

4.	Type your reply in the text area of the Reply dialog box.

5.	To add an enclosure to the reply, click on the Enclose button.  The Open File dialog box is displayed, and you can select a file to enclose with the message.  (See Sending Enclosures for more information.)

6.	Click on the Send button to send the message.


Forwarding Mail

To forward a message:

1.	Select a message to forward from the Message list.

2.	Click on the Forward button on the command button toolbar, or select "Forward" from the Mail menu.  The Forward Message Compose Window is displayed.

Notice that the subject and text of the original message are already included for you.

3.	Type in the E-Mail addresses for the recipient (To:) or to send a carbon copy (Cc:) or blind carbon copy (BCC:) of this message, type in the E-mail address for the recipients in the appropriate fields.

4.	Type any comments in the text area of the Forward Message Compose Window.

5.	To add an enclosure to the message, click on the Enclose button.  The Open File dialog box is displayed, and you can select a file to enclose with the message.  (See Sending Enclosures for more information.)

6.	Click on the Send button to forward the message.


Composing a New Message

To compose the message:

1.	Click on the Compose button on the command button toolbar, or select "Compose New Message" from the WS_POPMail (Lab Version) menu.  The Compose Windowis displayed.

2.	Type in the E-Mail addresses for the recipient (To:) or to send a carbon copy (Cc:) or blind carbon copy (BCC:) of this message, type in the E-mail address for the recipients in the appropriate fields.

3.	Type the subject of the message in the Subject box.

4.	Type your message in the text area.  You can also use "Paste" from the Edit menu to insert text you have copied from another document, from another window or even from another Windows application. (This is a convenient way to share information that you have found on the network with your friends and colleagues.)

5.	To add an enclosure to the message, click on the Enclose button.  The Open File dialog box is displayed, and you can select a file to enclose with the message.  (See Sending Enclosures for more information.)

6.	When you are done creating the message, click on the Send button.  Your message is sent to the designated recipient(s).


The Compose Window

Compose Options:

To:

Enter the name(s) or E-Mail address(es) of the individual(s) or group(s) to whom you want to send the message.

Cc:

Enter the name(s) or E-Mail address(es) of the individual(s) or group(s) to whom you want to send a carbon copy of the message.  When you send a carbon copy, the WS_POPMail (Lab Version) program displays this information to the other recipients of the message.

BCC:

Enter the name(s) or E-Mail address(es) of the individual(s) or group(s) to whom you want to send a blind carbon copy of the message.  When you send a blind carbon copy, the other recipients do not know that you sent a copy to those on the BCC: list.

Subject:

Type in the subject of the message.

Message Body

Type or paste in the text of your message.

Command Buttons

Send

Sends the message to the designated recipient(s).

Enclose

Opens the Open File dialog box, which allows you to select a file to enclose with the message.

See also:

Composing a New Message


Sending Attachments
Sending Enclosures

In WS_POPMail, you can use the Enclosure feature to include a report, spreadsheet, software program, or graphic file with an E-Mail message.  You can enclose one file of any kind to each message.  WS_POPMail is capable of sending enclosures as BinHex 4.0, uuencode, MIME (Base 64) and plain Text.

As a considerate user of E-Mail, it is a best if you know what kind of computer your recipient is using before you enclose files with your message.  Macs, IBM-compatibles, and UNIX systems interpret files in different ways, even though WS_POPmail allows you to transfer them between dissimilar systems.

Here are some general guidelines to follow:

1.	The easiest way to decide how to encode your enclosure is to ask the person you are sending it what format their E-mail program can handle.

2.	Macintosh users usually can read BinHex format, as can people who use Minuet or Popmail  to read their E-Mail.  UNIX and Pegasus Mail users usually use uuencode.    MIME enclosures are used by the Eudora and Pine E-mail programs.

3	If you are unsure what mail program your recipients use, be sure to inform them how you are encoding the enclosure, or use a Text attachment if the file is not binary.

You should consider another question when sending enclosures:  Do your recipients have the software that can read the file you are enclosing?  Be sure to indicate in the E-Mail message which application you used to create the file that you are enclosing.

To enclose a file:

1.	From any message dialog box, click on the Enclose button.  The Windows Open File dialog box is displayed.

2.	Select the file to enclose with the message, and then click on the OK button.  The Enclosure icon shown below appears in the message window to remind you that the message has an enclosure:

To decode the enclosure for a message:

1.	Open the message containing the enclosure you want to decode.

2.	Click on the Detach Enclosure button.  You may then select the directory path and file name to save the enclosure to.


Finding a Word or Phrase in Mail Messages

To find a word or phrase:

1.	Open the folder that you want to search.

2.	Select "Find" from the Search menu.  The Find dialog box is displayed.

3.	Type the word or phrase you are searching for in the Find What: box.  To match the case for the text, select the Match Case option.

4.	Click on the Find button. WS_POPMail (Lab Version) begins searching at the beginning of the Message list. To quit the search, click on the OK button.

If the search string is found, all messages containing the string are highlighted.  If the search string is not found, a status message indicating this is displayed.

5.	Once you have found a message that contains the text you are looking for, double-click on the message to see the text string.


Discarding Mail
Shredding Mail

The simplest way to cut down on the time of copying messages to the local computer is to shred messages that you no longer need.  This also allows the Mail program to run faster because of fewer messages to maintain.

To shred a message:

1.	Select the message that you want to discard.  To select more than one message, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on the messages.

2.	Click on the Shred button on the command button toolbar, or select " Shred " from the Mail menu.  The message(s) are removed from the list and marked for removal.

3.	Upon exiting, you will be asked if you really wish to remove these messages from the server.  If you answer yes the marked messages will be permanently removed.  Otherwise, they will remain as before.


File Menu

New

Opens a blank text box which can be used to create a new text file.

Open

Opens the standard Windows "Open File" dialog box.  Allows you to select and open any file.

Save

Saves changes to an open file.

Save As

Opens the standard Windows "Save As" dialog box.  Allows you to specify a filename and file type for the message you are saving.  Available when reading a message, or when a message is selected from the Message list.

Print

Opens the Print dialog box, and allows you to print a Mail message.  Available when reading a message or when a message is selected.

Printer Setup

Opens the Print dialog box.  Allows you to select a printer and set printer options.  Always available.

Exit

Quits the WS_POPMail (Lab Version) program.  This will remove all of the files on the local computers hard drive and log you out of the server.  WARNING:  If you do not do this the next user of this computer will be able to access your account and read and send mail as you.


Edit Menu

Undo

Reverses changes you make while working with Mail messages.  For example, if you delete some text in a message you are composing, you can undo the deletion.

Cut

Deletes whatever is selected, and saves it to the Clipboard.  Available when composing or reading a message.

Copy

Copies whatever is selected, and saves it to the Clipboard.  Available when composing or reading a message.

Paste

Inserts the current contents of the Clipboard at the cursor location.  Available when composing or reading a message.

Delete

Deletes whatever is selected, without saving it to the Clipboard.  Available when composing or reading a message.

Select All

Selects the entire text of a message.  Available when composing or reading a message.


Search Menu

Find

Searches for a specific text string in the messages in the current Message list.  If located, the messages containing the search string are highlighted.  Available when viewing the Message list.

Find Again

Re-executes the last find.  Available whenever you have used the Find command and successfully located a search string.


Mail Menu

Get New Messages

Retrieves any new messages waiting at the host server and copies them to the local computer.

Compose New Message

Opens a New Message dialog box and allows you to create a new message.

Reply

Opens the Reply dialog box and allows you to create a reply to the current message.  Available when a message is selected from the Message list.

Forward

Opens the Forward dialog box and allows you to forward the current message to others.  Available when a message is selected from a Message list.

Show Header

Allows you see the actual E-Mail header information.  This is explicit information on how this message was delivered. Available whenever a message is displayed.

Sort

Sorts messages by From, Subject, Ascending or Descending Date.  Always available.

Shred

Removes the current message, or any messages that are selected.  Shredded messages are marked for deletion, but wont be permanently removed from the server until you exit the program and respond Yes to the request to expunge them.  Available whenever a message or list is displayed.


Windows Menu

Tile

Arranges open windows so that no windows overlap, but all windows are visible.  Each window takes up a portion of the screen.

Cascade

Arranges open windows on the desktop so that they overlap each other, with the title bar of each window remaining visible.

Arrange Icons

If you have minimized open windows (for example, messages), arranges the icons for open windows along the lower edge of the desktop.


Help Menu

Contents

List the contents of this Help file.

Search for Help On

Allows you to search for the help topic you need.

Help on Help

Provides information on how to use Windows Help programs, such as this one.

About

Displays version and copyright information for the  ™ WS_POPMail (Lab Version) program.


Fetch (Command Button)
Get (Command Button)

Moves all of your Mail messages to your local hard drive.  Available when you are connected to the server.


New (Command Button)

Opens the Compose Window.  Allows you to create a new outgoing Mail message.  Always available.


Reply (Command Button)

Opens the Reply Compose Window.  Allows you to create a reply to the current message.  Available when  a message is selected from the Message list.


Forward (Command Button)

Opens the Forward Message Compose Window.  Allows you to forward the current message to designated recipients.  Available when a message is selected from a Message list.


Discard (Command Button)
Shred (Command Button)

Marks the current message for deletion.  Available whenever you are reading a message, or when a message is selected from the Message list.


Previous (Command Button)

Opens the previous message (if any) in the Message list.  Available when reading a message.


Next (Command Button)

Opens the next message (if any) in the Message list.  Available when reading a message.


Mail Window Status Bar

The status bar shows messages and information that help you use the WS_POPMail (Lab Version) program.


Message List

This list shows all messages in the MailBox folder that is currently selected.  You can choose how messages are sorted by clicking on a header button (From, Subject, or Date) at the top of the Message list.


Message List Status Bar

The Message List Status Bar shows information about the Message list currently displayed.


Logging Into Your Account

When you first start WS_POPMail (Lab Version) you must enter your account information.  If any of this information is incorrect, the program will not continue.

Dialog Box Options:

Your full name

This is how you wish your actual name to appear in messages you send to others.

Mail Account

Your e-mail account.  At some sites, this might be your e-mail address.

Password

The password that goes with your e-mail account.  Passwords are case-sensitive, so make sure the Caps Lock key is not on.


Receiving an Enclosure

WS_POPMail (Lab Version) is capable of decoding BinHex 4.0, uuencoded and MIME enclosures.  If  WS_POPMail (Lab Version) senses that your message contains an enclosure, the messages icon within the message list will indicate this.  Also, a Detach Enclosure button will be visible when viewing the message.  The enclosure will always remain as part of your message, allowing you to detach it as often as you need.  If you choose to forward or reply to this message, the enclosure will not be included.


Customizing WS_POPMail for Your Site

The default Mail Account for WS_POPMail (Lab Version) is the format used by the University of Minnesota -- sstudent@sstudent.email.umn.edu.  You may wish to change this to reflect the format used at your site.  To do this you need a program capable of editing the resource portion of a Windows executable file, such as App Studio from Microsoft.  The default Mail Account String is #6666 within the String Table.  You may change this to any string you wish, as long as the length does not exceed 255 characters.