PMMail 1.52 Frequently Asked Questions

Preface
This FAQ is meant to be read through *before* an e-mail is sent to the PMMail support address. Please try to find the answer to your question here first. If you do not see your question here, or if you think you might know of a good addition to this FAQ, please feel free to e-mail us at: pmmail@southsoft.com.

This FAQ uses certain notation that should be noted and explained:

Section 2 describes where you can find certain setting in PMMail. It uses the following notation: Main Menu -> sub menu -> sub menu -> .... It will also tell you what window to start from. Go to that window and choose the "Main Menu" selection stated, and once the menu drops down, choose the first submenu listed. If a settings notebook pops up, the last sub menu name in the chain will be the page of the notebook you will find the setting on. For instance, if you setting you wanted could be found on the Send page of the account settings notebook, the chain would look as follows: Account -> Account Settings -> Send.

=Section 1: "How Do I . . .?" =

Change Fonts and Colors
Fonts and colors can be changed by dragging them from the font and color palettes, respectively, and dropping them on the areas that will accept and save that drop. Just about any color and font can be changed in this manner.

NOTE: The multi-line (message body) edit field on both read and compose windows, these fields are limited to 16 colors by OS/2, not by PMMail. OS/2 will find the nearest base color to use when you drop a color from the mixed color palette.

Specify a Startup account
If you want to have PMMail start with a specific account's inbox open, add the following switch to the command line parameters&colon.

/s

And the desired result will be achieved.

For example,

PMMail /s pmmail@southsoft.com

would cause PMMail to open with this account open to the inbox.

The Text that you place after the /s is the accounts description, or the name that it appears as in the tree view of the accounts. If this description has any spaces, you will not be able to use this option on that account.

1.03 - Get Addresses To Appear In The RMB Menu
To get addresses to appear in the popup menu you must do the following:

- Each address MUST be configured to be in the RMB popup.

- This setting is on the first page of the address settings.

- You need not set the flags one at a time if you are migrating a bunch of addresses or groups. On the migrate address books page and the migrate group page in the Migration Wizard, there is a setting to add all addresses to the RMB popup by default.

1.04 - Subscribe To A PMMail Discussion List
The instructions to get on to the Unofficial PMMail discussion list is as follows:

send email to : LISTSERV@vm.ege.edu.tr

with the subject and body of the message being:

SUBSCRIBE PMMAIL-L your real name (with pointy braces around "your real name")

that should set you up!

1.05 - Blind Carbon Copy (BCC)
PMMail not only supports the "To:" and "CC:" functions, but you can also use the "BCC:" function of e-mail. What BCC does is sends a copy of the message to a person without notice (i.e., "blind") to persons listed in the To: and CC: fields.

While you are addressing a new e-mail message, simply click on the button labeled "CC". you will find this button located next to the CC entry field. If you click it once, it will turn into BCC. By clicking on the CC: and the BCC: buttons, a user can use both the CC: and the BCC: functions in a single e-mail.

1.06 - Set Up A MIME Association
PMMail comes pre-installed with a variety of sample MIME associations. However, if you cannot follow these examples, here is a step by step way to set up a MIME associations.

The follow scenario will being this example. Let's say, for example, that whenever I get an attachment that has the filename extension of *.WID I know that it is a Widget file and that I want it to be opened with the program Widget Reader, which is an OS/2 PM program. I go to PMMail->Settings->MIME Associations and begin filling in the form for a new association.

I start by filling in the Description. So, I want to recognize this as "Widget Reader Files"

Next, I fill in the MIME Type. Since I do not know it, I just put in the default of "Application / octet-stream". Use this default whenever you do not know what the MIME type should be.

Now, I fill in the file extensions that PMMail should recognize. As I have said before, *.WID is the extension I want to be able to have PMMail associate with Widget Reader. Although, I remember now that Widget Reader can read not only it's own files, but also Microsoft Word and Excel document, and I like to use Widget reader for those, as well. So, I should have a total of three file extensions in the entry field. Here is how to enter those three extensions: "WID DOC EXL" (without the quotes). This will associate all three file types with the Widget Reader program.

Now, I type in the name of the Widget Reader executable. So, I just enter WIDREAD.EXE.

Next, since Widget Reader has to take the name of the attachment, I place a %s in the command line parameter because all the Widget Reader needs is the name of the file.

I then tell the association the working directory of the file. This is the directory where WIDREAD.EXE resides. So, I type in the full path of "\WidgetProducts\WidgetReader" (without the quotes)

Finally, I drop down the Program Type list and choose OS/2 PM since that is the kind of program it is. If the association doesn't seem to work, perhaps this setting is incorrect.

Once I hit "OK", I have the new association.

1.07 - Set Up A Filter
For examples of what to put in the fill in for a new filter, see the help on filters.

Here are a few hints on designing a filter:

-Try to narrow down exactly where the text you want to search can be found. If you search the Whole Message for text every time, this could slow down the filtering process.

-The order in which the actions are taken on the message are as follows:

1. REXX Exits are applied

2. Canned replies are sent

3. The message is Forwarded

4. The message is Bounced

5. The message is Copied to another folder

6. The message is Deleted

As you can see, if you have a REXX exit applied to the message that changes the text of the message, that changed text will appear in either a bounce or forwarding situation. Also, you can perform Move a message with the combination of Copy and Delete.

Take caution in using the REXX exit feature. If the REXX exit changes the message and violates any of the rules of RFC 822, 1521, or 1522, it's proper retrieval, bouncing, forwarding, and reading can not be guaranteed.

1.08 - Reply With Specific Text Quoted
PMMail allows three options for quoting text in a reply to a message. You can choose to reply quoting all, part, or none of the message. PMMail can be set up to default to either quoting all or none of the message. Alternatively, at reply-time, you can choose how you want the quoting. By clicking the reply button, you will get the default quoting choice. If you have text selected in the message, and hit reply, only the selected text will be quoted. If you want the opposite of the default quoting choice, simply choose Reply (Or Reply To All) from the menu, and move the mouse pointer over the arrow button at the end of the menu choice. This will invoke a secondary menu that will have the choices to either include all of the text or not include any text.

1.09 - Manipulate Folders and Accounts
Because PMMail utilizes OS/2 built-in directory structure to organize message into folders and accounts, it is very easy to manipulate the folder nesting order, archive accounts and folders, and transfer accounts and folders.

The directory structure of PMMail is very easy. Under the PMMail root (where PMMail.EXE resides) each account is a subdirectory (with the extension *.ACT). Folders are subdirectories of their parents. They are labeled with the extension *.FLD.

If you want to backup, or archive, an entire account, you can simply use your favorite archiving tool (pkzip, ZipMe, etc...) and find, under the PMMail root, the corresponding *.ACT subdirectory. Just zip this entire directory, including it's subfolders, and store it on your backup system. Upon unzipping it, all of the account's settings, folders, and messages will appear just as they did before archiving them.

NOTE: These features can not be found internally within PMMail. To perform an archive, it must be done with external programs. We are just providing you with the knowledge of how to find a folder on you hard drive to aid in the archiving process.

If you want to backup, or archive, an entire folder, you can simply use your favorite archiving tool (pkzip, ZipMe, etc...) and find, under the folder's parent, the corresponding *.FLD subdirectory. Just zip this entire directory, including it's subfolders, and store it on your backup system. Upon unzipping it, all of the account's settings, folders, and messages will appear just as they did before archiving them

NOTE: These features can not be found internally within PMMail. To perform an archive, it must be done with external programs. We are just providing you with the knowledge of how to find a folder on you hard drive to aid in the archiving process.

You can use the WPS to change the nesting of the folders within an account. The nesting is determined by the parent of the folder. To change the nesting of a folder, open up the drive icon that has PMMail in it. Find the *.FLD subdirectory within the account that the folder resides, and drag and drop it to another folder. The target folder will be the new parent the next time you start PMMail.

Since the folders are listed alphabetically, what you can do is number the folders. This way, the folders will be listed by the numeric order that you have specified. For example, if you were to have 4 folders, and you wanted to order them, place the numbers "1.", "2.","3." and ,"4." in front of the descriptions of each folders. This will give the desired sorting order.

1.10 - Get More Help
For a more information on PMMail, please e-mail:

pmmail@southsoft.com

1.11 - Send to a list of people without everyone's name appearing in the To: field
Here is a quick solution to a very common problem. Many people are interested in sending an e-mail to a list of people (say an entire address book) but only having one e-mail address appear in the "To:" line, so either it looks more personal, or it doesn't clog up the network with unneeded text. So, the PMMail solution is the following:

Send the e-mail to yourself, so that you are the only person in the "To:" field of the e-mail. Click on the "CC:" button, so it changes to "BCC:" and address the BCC field as you would have addressed to To: field. Put the list of people in the BCC field, and only your name will appear in the e-mail. See question 1.05 for more information on BCC.

=Section 2: "Where Do I Set The . . .?" =

2.01 - Default Web Browser
PMMail -> Settings -> General

The very top group of controls on this page allow you to tell PMMail what your default web browser is, where it resides, and command-line parameters for the web browser.

PMMail will allow you to use a Windows web browser through WIN-OS/2 for Windows 3.1 web browsers.

2.02 - The Local Time Zone
PMMail -> Settings -> General

In the Locale Settings group, the bottom most control is for setting the Time Zone in which you live. This setting might have to be changed during Daylight Savings Time.

2.03 - Visibility Of The Attachment Area
PMMAil -> Settings -> General

By checking this option, PMMail will always show the attachment drop area when you are composing a message.

When reading a message, the attachment area will only appear if there is an attachment present in the e-mail message you are currently viewing.

2.04 - Name Of The Account In The Tree View
Account -> Account Settings -> General

The text in the very first entry field, labeled "Description" is the same text that will appear as the accounts top level name in the tree view of all of the accounts (the left side of the Main Window).

When Specifying a startup account, this is the name you want to pass as a command line argument to PMMail. You can only use the startup account option if the description has no spaces in it.

2.05 - Interval For Timed Fetching
Account -> Account Settings -> Receive

The very last checkbox on the page will activate timed fetching. If it is unchecked, no timed fetching will take place. If you check it, be sure to check the number of seconds between the fetches.

2.06 - Default Word Wrap
Account -> Account Settings -> Send

These settings allow the user to enable word-wrapping and, if enabled, to chose between two types of word-wrapping.

2.07 - Default Attachment Encoding Type
Account -> Account Settings -> Send

In the bottom right corner, you will see the text "Default Attachment Type" and a drop-down menu. Choose the attachment type that you will use most often.

2.08 - Default Quoting in Replies
Account -> Account Settings-> Preferences

The second checkbox on this page is for quoting a message in the reply. If you do not want the original message to be quoted in a reply, select this preference. Otherwise, leave it unchecked.

2.09 - Trash Emptying Options
Accounts -> Account Settings -> Preferences

If the last checkbox on the page is checked, then the messages in the trash folder will be emptied every time you shut PMMail down.

2.10 - Default Verification of Deletion
Account -> Account Settings -> User Prompts

Check those actions for which you want to be notified before the actions take place.

2.11 - Default Signature File
Account -> Utilities Settings -> Signatures

At the bottom of this page, you will see the "Set As Default" Button. Highlight the signature that you want, and click this button. You will see the description of the current default signature next to this button.

2.12 - Filter Application Order
Account -> Utilities Settings -> Filter

In the list of defined filters, the order that they appear (from top to bottom) represents the order in which the filters are applied to each message. You can move filters around in this list by highlighting the filter in the list, and clicking the "Up" and "Down" buttons underneath the list.

2.13 - Default Window Size
Window -> Save Window Position

Every window has this option (Main Window, Read Window, Compose Window, Remote Control, and the Address Book Manager). This will save the Window size, position, and the position of any repositionable split bars.

=Section 3: "Why . . .?" =

3.01 - Does the date in the message list not reflect the date in the mail header
PMMail will adjust the time on messages that were sent from a different time zone then they are being read in. PMMail will use your time zone as the base time zone that it changes all other mails to. This way, if you are sorting on the time of the message, this information becomes a little more meaningful.

PMMail will not change the time in the actual message. This way, the message stays intact.

NOTE: PMMail will only perform a time zone adjustment on e-mail that exhibit numeric offsets from GMT in the "Date:" header field. If a three letter code (i.e., EST) is used to denote the senders time zone, PMMail will not be able to perform the time zone adjustment.

3.02 - Do large messages (attachments) not send properly
Most likely, the settings for you network are a little to high for your actual network. Therefore, data is being sent to quickly for your network to handle. This is a problem with your dialer settings.

Find the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) setting, and lower it. This should get large messages (attachments) to send properly.

3.03 - Is my MIME Association not called when opening an attachment
Most likely, what you have been sent is an attachment that was already encoded before it was attached to the message. The result of which is an attachment that has been encoded twice. Because of this, PMMail has decoded the attachment to it's originally attached form, an encoded file. This is because PMMail can only assume that that is what the original sender intended. It will be necessary to have the original sender resend the attachment, and make sure that it is only encoded once.

3.04 - Is my attachment not "really" decoded
Most likely, what you have been sent is an attachment that was already encoded before it was attached to the message. The result of which is an attachment that has been encoded twice. Because of this, PMMail has decoded the attachment to it's originally attached form, an encoded file. This is because PMMail can only assume that that is what the original sender intended. It will be necessary to have the original sender resend the attachment, and make sure that it is only encoded once.

=Section 4: "What . . .?" =

4.01 - Do the icons in the message list represent
There are two columns in the message list that have icons instead of text in them. The first one if the attachment indicator (the heading is a little disk icon). This column will have the little disk icon (the same as the head) or it will be blank. IF the icon exists, the message has an attachment. Otherwise, no attachment has been found in the message.

The other column with icons rather then text is the message status column. This column (headed with a small yellow envelope) can have several different icons in it. These are:

Yellow Envelope - This indicates that the e-mail has not been read yet, and it was sent as a normal priority message.

No icon - This indicates that the e-mail has been read, and it was sent as a normal priority message

Blue Curving Arrow - This indicates that the e-mail has been replied to or forwarded.

Red Envelope - This indicates that the e-mail has not been read yet, and it was sent as a high priority message.

Blue Envelope - This indicates that the e-mail has not been read yet, and it was sent as a low priority message.

Red Circle - This indicates that the e-mail has been read, and it was sent as a high priority message.

Blue Circle - This indicates that the e-mail has been read, and it was sent as a low priority message.

THE PMMAIL 1.52 FAQ LAST UPDATED ON: 8 / 1 / 96