Setting Outlook Express for Email Discussion
Groups
The computer is not an intelligent being, but it is good
at simple repetitive tasks... Use it to make life easier by telling
it exactly how to perform these tasks to suit you. The settings
described are for Windows 95, but are similar or identical in
later versions.
Plain text may not look so pretty as the results that
you get with HTML, but it is quicker to transmit and it safer from
abuse by some viruses and worms. I have heard some exclaim that
they have bad eyesight and that HTML helps them to see the text more
clearly. This is a "red herring" if you have bad
eyesight, then you either need new spectacles or you need to set the
"text size" of Outlook Express (View, Text size... The
medium setting is default.) or use the high contrast option (Control
Panel, Accessibility Options, Display, Settings for high contrast).
Plain text settings are radio buttons at the bottom of (tools,
options, send).
Reply settings... To include the previous message when
replying... (tools, options, send then check "Include message in
reply") Somebody once said "I do not know how to get those
little arrows down the left hand side of replies"... Again
(tools, options, send) click the "plain text settings"
button and you can set arrows (greater than), bars or colons.
Signatures can be set up via (tools, options, signatures)
Short and concise is the rule here, do not forget that it will be seen
by everybody every time you send it... No matter how humorous a
comment, it gets on your nerves after the "N"th time. Another note
about signatures... Make subtle changes in them from time to time as
there are some hackers out there that can "do" things with
signatures.
Sorting into Folders (Message rules)
When I had a dial up connection, I had a set of folders within my
Inbox ... They acted as incoming
"pigeon holes" for messages and I used them to store
messages on that topic, that I wanted to keep for future reference.
To make a folder for a particular discussion group or mail
from a particular person... Right click "Local Folders"
left click "New Folder" and title it with something
cryptic for your purpose. Select "Message", "Create
Rule From Message", check "Where the subject contains
specific words" or "where the From line contains
people" (if that is your reason for the folder) ensure all other
boxes are unchecked. Check "Move it to the specified folder"
click "contains specific words". Type something that is
significant for the group like [II-List] for instrumental
insemination or "Fred Bloggs" if that is the person's
name that will show in the "From" field on incoming mail...
click on "Add" button to the right of your typing, click
"OK". Click "specified" in the sentence that asks
for the specified folder, you will be shown your
list of folders, click your new folder, click "OK".
Repeat the process for other DGs or people and when you next
receive mail it will go into the relevant folder, you can read it
there and either delete, or leave it, if it is required for later use.
Attachments
Some groups allow attachments... You should be wary of all of them and
especially any with .exe files or very large .doc files. Do not open
them, select "save to disk" and save them to your
desktop... Right click on them, select "scan with (whatever your
antivirus software is)".
Discussion Group Home Pages
These are underused by most, they usually have archives of previous
messages, often these can be searched... You may well find that your
question has already been answered by a previous post. You may find
a list of members or files and pictures that have been uploaded by
other group members. There may be "Online Chat"
facilities. Take a few minutes to have a good look around such home
pages, they are not there just for the moderators.
These instructions are given in good faith, however I accept
no responsibility for any accidents or errors that may occur whilst
they are being followed.
