The ABCsof —a
`
`“Internet
`
`Make the
`Mostof Your
`Time Online
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`READY, SET, GO...
`
`BLACKBERRY2015
`FACEBOOKV. BLACKBERRY
`IPR2019-00925
`
`1
`
`BLACKBERRY 2015
`FACEBOOK V. BLACKBERRY
`IPR2019-00925
`
`

`

`The ABCs of the
`Internet
`
`To John:
`Congratulations on
`your 70th birthday!!! |
`From yourfriends at the
`"POOL"
`Joan and Fred,
`Dot And Harry,
`Vera And Vera,
`Margaret and Bob.
`
`2
`
`

`

`The ABCsof the
`
`Anternet
`
`Christian Crumlish
`
`Cs
`
`SYBEX’
`
`San Francisco ~ Paris - Diisseldorf - Soest
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`
`Associate Publisher: Carrie Lavine
`Acquisitions Manager: Kristine Plachy
`Developmental Editor: Dan Brodnitz
`Editor: Lee Ann Pickrell
`Technical Editor: Sandra Teng
`Book Design Director: Catalin Dulfu
`Book Designer: Design Site, Tracy Dean
`Desktop Publisher: GetSet! PrePress
`Production Coordinators: Alexa Riggs, Robin Kibby
`Indexer: Ted Laux
`Cover Designer: Design Site
`Cover Photographer: Dennis O'Clair, photograph furnished by Tony Stone Images
`
`Screen reproductions produced with Collage Complete.
`
`Collage Complete is a trademark of Inner Media Inc,
`
`SYBEXis a registered trademark of SYBEX Inc.
`
`TRADEMARKS: SYBEXhas attempted throughoutthis bookto distinguish proprietary trademarks from descriptive terms
`by following the capitalization style used by the manufacturer.
`
`Netscape Communications, the Netscape Communications logo, Netscape, and Netscape Navigator are trademarks
`of Netscape Communications Corporation.
`
`Every effort has been made to supply complete and accurate information. However, SYBEX assumes no responsibility
`for its use, norfor anyinfringementoftheintellectual property rights of third parties which would result from suchuse,
`
`Photographsandillustrations usedin this book have been downloaded from publicly accessible file archives and are
`usedin this book for news reportage purposesonly to demonstrate the variety of graphics resourcesavailable via
`electronic access, Text and imagesavailable overthe Internet may be subject to copyright and otherrights owned bythird
`parties, Onlineavailability of text and images does notimply that they may be reused withoutthe permission of rights
`holders, although the Copyright Act does permit certain unauthorized reuseasfair use under 17 U.S.C. Section 107.
`
`An earlier version of this book was published underthetitle A Guided Tourofthe Internet ©1995 SYBEXInc.
`Copyright ©1996 SYBEXInc, 1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501. World rights reserved. No part ofthis
`publication may be stored in a retrieval systern, transmitted, or reproduced in any way,including but notlimited to
`photocopy, photograph, magnetic or other record, without the prior agreement and written permission of the publisher,
`
`Library of Congress Card Number: 96-67838
`ISBN: 0-782 1-1887-9
`
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`
`109876547
`
`4
`
`

`

`To the Merry Punsters
`(NTAP)
`
`5
`
`

`

`Contents at a Glance
`
`IN(OCUCTION oo nent dee enn eeas xv
`
`Chapter1: Just Enough to Get Started .. 06... eee cee eee ees 1
`Chapter 2: Sending and Receiving E-Mail .. 2.06... e cence ee eee 19
`Chapter 3: Making the Most of E-Mail... 0.0... cece eee eee ee eee 45
`Chapter 4: Browsing the Web 1.0.01... ce eee eee 60
`Chapter5: Finding Stuffon the Net... 0.00... eee eee 97
`Chapter6: Plugging In to Multimedia... 2.0.0... eee ee eee eee 120
`Chapter7: Getting on Mailing Lists... 2.0... cee eee eee 139
`Chapter 8: Usenet News—Read All about It... 02. eee eee ee nee 151
`Chapter9: Chatting on the IRC .0 6. ee cee eee ee 205
`Chapter 10: FTP and Telnet—the Transporter Beams ..........-4: 219
`Chapter 11: Gopher and Gopherspace ........... cece eee ee eee 239
`Chapter 12: Making a Simple Home Page .. 1.0... cece eee ee eee 26]
`Appendix A: Getting Connected and Getting Started ........6005. 275
`Appendix B: Glossary of Internet Terms ... 0.0... cee ee cee eae 287
`INGOX cece eee te ees + SmgCe pea HmseIeRRER EEE 333
`
`6
`
`

`

`
`
`Table of Contents
`
`Introduction... . ccc. ccccccccceccuevecsuuevceceeeeceessXVi
`
`Chapter |: Just Enough to Get Started .....scesseceseceecereeel
`WhatIs the Internet? oo. eee c cece eee eees 2
`E-Mail and a Whole Lot More ..0. 0.00... ccc cece cu eeeeeeeeneeas 2
`The WebIs Not the Net, or Is It? . 000... 000 ccc eeecssceeeveeeeees 4
`Getting on the Internet .20 cece en eee eeeen es 9
`Accessing the Net at Work 2.000.000 occ c cece cece ee eee ees 9
`Accessing the Net at Home 2.0... 00. c cece ccc ce ceueeaeeees 10
`TheInternet Doesn't Care What Kind of Computer You Use ......... 13
`What You Can Do on the Neto... 0.00... cece cece v eevee eeeeeeee 13
`A Few Words aboutInternet Addresses 000.0200. c ccc cueeueeues 15
`
`Chapter 2: Sending and Receiving E-Mail .........eseceeeeeeeel9
`Working with E-Mail... .... cwscwure sues sare mace sen acinus aiataiaraiyvavanaiatedaters 21
`Running a Mail Program ...... 20... ce cece cee e suse eeeeeeneees 21
`Sending Mail... 0.0.0... cece sees eee eee enreeseeeneeveneaes 23
`Reading Mail .......... . ssassg aw: sven aneaconenameierusraneiscanermties 25
`Replying to Mail... 2... cece cae cece esveueeucuveuseveuvans 26
`Deleting Mail ......... . .wessewaewesuawa siétemmweesnemve recerenes 29
`
`Exiting a Mail Program.. . . sstssasemecasarmmsersrencantana diana’ ‘iio Di 29
`Using Specific E-Mail Programs .......0....ececcvucueueeeueseees 30
`America Online ........ . gaweasnimaenve eee $4 gee ga ver neces 30
`cc:Mail ................ .sempmpsperencessmeemeansscacge rece ence quer aeons 32
`COMPUSEIVE «octet ees e este tebeeenenenns 32
`Eudora 2.2... ate ee oo ARR RNR ht BIR RENE DRE ERE TRE Fa teen 34
`Microsoft Exchange .. .
`.
`.
`. siva:sexeisess-wast-aueoy-snemcceenanina’agencertecnseseit 36
`NetCruiser oo. eee eee ene eee cent entre teeevannes 37
`Netscape Mail ......... .
`. sisia aaa wane ete wtta mara aeRC GSE RE eine aaece 38
`
`7
`
`

`

`eee
`
`Pegasus Mail cs sens sia vot aay suis wenisarermerammaste aaareitewense 5 40
`PINE .. 1... swacemaamaaaecee seed wie wee Rise eco ecm avai eau mecesenne 4l
`
`.....csceseseeeeeeeeee ed
`Chapter 3: Making the Most of E-Mail
`Mail-Sending Tricks 2.0.2... ccc nneenes 46
`Forwarding Mail ........ 0.0 cece cee te tenn ene eee 46
`Sending Mail to Multiple Recipients .. 2.0.0... cece ence nee nee 46
`Filing E-Mail Messages ..... 0.0.0 cove eee c een en neers 47
`Using Your Word Processorto Write E-Mail Messages .........+++5 47
`Sending Files via E-Mail... 0.0.0.0 cece cece eee eee ence ees 49
`Saving E-Mail Addresses 60.0... ce eee ence etter nee 50
`Checking Your Spelling in E-Mail Messages ........ 42. 4se essen eee 50
`Attaching a Signature to an E-Mail Message .... 0... sees een e see eee 51
`Finding Internet E-Mail Addresses . 1.2.0... 0c cece eee eee eee es 52
`Say “Send Me E-Mail”... cee teen eee ees 52
`Send Mail to Postmaster@ 2.0.00... ccc cee eee eee es 52
`Ask the Knowbot ......... 0.00 e cece eee ene teen eeeeee 52
`More E-Mail with Specific Programs ........ 0.0. c eee ee eee ee eee 54
`BOL oo ee en a alana Maat
`a
`ietatvelieaeyere 54
`COIMail 0... ect eee eee e es atigORi RSE RESS 55
`COMPUSEIVE2. ee RE RHEE Rae ate 56
`FUGOTE ccc ccc eee een ee +
`a
`+ aiciineaitin eiagoxceneni oes 58
`MS Exchange .......2. cece cece cence nes niet aleeaieiaelawiits 60
`NetCruiS€r oo... cc ccc eect ee ee ee eo FRG HEN Sind Sree ata 6]
`Netscape Mall... 0... cee rete e eee eee eee 62
`Pegasus Mail... 2.0... ccc cece eee cee beeen teen ee ees 63
`PING ooo ccc ccc ect ene en ee nen en no BIBT SUN wiaratalal a Rs 64
`
`Chapter 4: Browsing the Web ......ssesseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 00
`Web Addresses (URLS) ....... ccs c ees e eee n eee nee e eer e ee enes 71
`Different Types of Web Browsers . 0... cece cece eee eee e eee eees 71
`Using Web Browsers 2.0... 1. ccc cece ee eee ences seb enue eueneenene 73
`Reading a Page in a Web Browser 0.0... 0 cece eee eee e eee e ees 74
`Following a Link 0.0.0.0... ccc eee eee een ee renee nee eee eee 75
`
`|
`|
`
`|
`
`8
`
`

`

`
`
`Knowing Where to Go oo... eee cece een ee eset eeeeebees 76
`Making a Bookmark ....0.0 200000 e cece eee c ences ence eeeeewens 76
`Saving or Mailing a Document ......0 0.0... e cece e eee nee 76
`Peeking behind the SceneS ..........cccccccceueeeweeeueuens 77
`Changing Your Home Page ..... 00000 cece cece ee eee en nett eens 78
`Web Help and Info... oc... c eee eee eee cece cee eevee veseeees 78
`Keeping Up with What's New ..........0.0cceceseaeaeeeeeeues 78
`Surfing the Web with Your Web Browser ............00eeeeeseeeee 79
`Browsing the Web with AOL ...........0 00 cece ees eee eee ee ees 79
`Browsing the Web with CompuServe Mosaic .... 1.0... cece eee 80
`Browsing the Web with Lynx 0.0.2.0... 0c cee cece eee eee eee ee ee 83
`Browsing the Web with Microsoft Internet Explorer ..........0... 87
`Browsing the Web with Mosaic ....... 00.0... c es ee eee eee ees 90
`Browsing the Web with NetCruiser
`. 0.0.0.0... cceeee eee eeeuees 92
`Browsing the Web with Netscape Navigator ............0..0000. 94
`
`Chapter 5: finding Stuffon the Net ......sscceecueeessceeeee Ql
`Searching the Web 10.06... cece cece eee cece e even betnebaes 98
`Searching through a Directory .. 00... cece cece eee een es 98
`Searching with a Search Engine ......0.. 0.0... ccc c dv e ee ees 102
`Visiting a Central Search Page 2.0.0... ccc cece ccc c eee e ee aen 105
`Some Search Addresses ..... 2... c cece c cece cece geese eens 108
`DownloadingFiles and Keeping Your Software Up-to-Date ......... 109
`Looking for People on the Internet ..........0 0.00.0 cece eee een 110
`Using Whois 00... eee ccc eee cece es ceueueenenas 111
`Using WhoWhere? 2.00.6... ccc eee ecb en evenees 112
`Searching off the Web .......... 0.00.00 c cece cece eeu eaeesees 113
`Searching Usenet .......... 00.0. c cece ccc ce ee cec su enenweues 114
`Searching Gopherspace . 0.0.0.0... cece eee eee cede un eu eee 115
`Searching University Libraries .. 2.0.0.0... ccc cece cee eee ees 116
`
`Chapter 6: Plugging In to Multimedia ..........seceeeeseeee 20
`DownloadingandInstalling Applications ........4 cee eee e eee ee 122
`Different Ways to View Other Media... 2... ccc c eee eben ences 123
`Viewers and Players .......... .
`.
`« -sgaveraseseessaane iomna-anataomen-sesays ee 123
`Helper Applications 2.0... 0... c cece eee eee eee e eee eeees 124
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`BO
`
`PIUZ-INS 20 teeeeee teen e eee 124
`The Types of Media out There 20.0.0... 0c eee eee eee ees 125
`PICTUIES oo ccc eee eee h n ae ofRbipiE Sie Hiaice Bie 125
`Sounds and MuSiC 0.0.2... 00 eee eee eee ene eens eens 126
`Movies and Animations .......... 000 eee e cere ee beeen e bees 128
`3D Environments ........ 0.000 c cece eee cee eee een eee 129
`Document/Mixed-Media Formats ............. 0c eee ee eeee 130
`Interactive Programs and Multimedia Presentations .........605 131
`Staying Informed about the Latest AdvanceS ....... essen eee eee 131
`Multimedia for Specific BrowWSerS .. 6. cece eect eee een eens 132
`AOL's Web Browser .. 0.0... 00 cee cee e eee ete eens 132
`CompuServe Mosaic .... 0... cece eee ens 132
`Lynx (Don't Laugh!) 20... cere eee ene 132
`Microsoft Internet Explorer ......... 0.0 00sec eee eee eee ees 132
`MOSAIC 0. eect tee ene eee eens 133
`NetCruiser oc eecee tenet eee nner en eee 134
`Netscape Navigator ..... 2... cece eee eee ene ene eee ees 135
`
`Chapter 7: Getting on Mailing Lists.......scsseeeeeeeeeeeeee 9
`Finding Mailing Lists... .. . ssssesmiemaueneenienennes mucenaie dace nie.e aes 141
`A General List of Lists 2.0.0.0... 0 0ce cece eee renee rete nes 14]
`Specific Lists of ListS ... .vesieaeieisirewine des Re Sea See owe ee ses 142
`Subscribing to Lists .. 2... . ssuewaisnes weer miele tes wae ware mage ese mem 144
`People-Administered Lists 2... .cccce scene entree rere eeeeeeee 145
`Robot-Administered ListS ......-.00 ccc eee eee eee eee eee eee ees 145
`Canceling Your SUDSCIIPLION saccsimaieressommareroice ware Siow minis wate wire Hiete 146
`People-Administered Lists 2.0... cece ener e nett ee eeee 146
`Robot-Administered Lists witiiawawwaswawia wes ace ears Gen wate owe 146
`Temporarily UNSUDSCTIDING 2... cee eee eee eee nee nena eee nes 146
`Posting to LiStS 20... 6 cece e nee eee teeter eee enter eees 146
`Participating in a LISt....... ste wieid dats sae cet enter 147
`
`Chapter 8: Usenet News—Read All about It.........00ceeeeeee
`What Is Usenet? 2.0.0.0... 0.0: cece eee ete Swe pide eae eee eee eae 152
`Some Newsgroups Are Mailing Lists, TOO 2.6... 6.2 cee eee eee 152
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`

`
`
`Where Everybody Knows Your Signature ..........cceeeeueues 153
`WhatIs a Newsgroup? .. 00.0... ccc cece cee event eenenes 154
`What Is an Article? 20... cece ec ev even enes 157
`WhatIs a Newsreader? 2.0.0... ccc cece cece en ene enes 159
`Usenet as a Public Forum 2.0... ccc cece e nen eeaees 159
`Semi-Anonymity on the Net ........ 0.0.0... cece eee een ees 160
`Being a Good Netizen... 2... eee eee ence e eee enens 160
`Shooting Stars and net.spewers ......... 0.0. cece eens eeees 160
`Getting Help... ccc ccc ccc e cece eee esnea eee nes 161
`The Quality of Usenet 2.0.0... 0.0 c cc cece cee eee eeeeenres 161
`How to Read Newsgroups
`........0.0 0c ccc cece eee eeeeueuens 162
`Net News by Mail-If You Don’t Have Usenet Access ........005 163
`Newsreading BaSiCS 0.0.0... cece cece seers net eee ea eeees 164
`Getting Help and Avoiding Problems ..............0ccec cues es 170
`Some Advanced Stuff You Should Know ...........0eeee eevee 170
`Reading News with Specific Newsreaders ...........eeeseeeeeees 17]
`AOL occ nee en ne ne + ania Tae INI 172
`COMPUSEIVE 2... ccc ccc nee nee nee eee eneees 174
`Microsoft Internet Explorer
`.. 0.0... 0.0.0 cece cc eceseseeeeuens 178
`MOSAIC 0... cee cece cece cece eee ee oo + seigeeininicenesitacarses 181
`NetCruiserocc ccc nec e ee nen ens enees 184
`Netscape NEWS 0.06. cece cece nee e nena ee eenes 186
`NewsWatcher ..... 0.0... c cece c eee e cece cena bees ebenens 190
`N@WS XPPOSS oo. eect ent ee pene ee naens 193
`TH tuatacea eae 24a Pala GEA PRE PRG ESE TRE EA ROR OU flee Ga KS CRN 196
`
`Chapter 9: Chatting on the IRC.......ccceeseeceeeseeeeeee slO9
`How IRC Programs Work in General
`.....0. 00s c0c cc eveeueeueees 207
`Chatting with Specific IRC Programs
`.......ccccscecneuveveuvens 209
`Chatting with Itc ............. seamueserenrndwasimeaeionmenata 209
`Chatting with Ircle ........... sicasunesaresnenurareonenncencasnees 210
`Chatting with MIRC 0.0... cece cece ee sn eres ee eneeeeeees 212
`Chatting with NetCruiser .... 0.0... .c ccc cecee cece eeueueeues 213
`Chatting with Netscape Chat 2.02.0... 00 .c cece eee cece eee ee 215
`
`11
`
`11
`
`

`

`
`
`a C
`
`hapter 10: FTP and Telnet—the Transporter Beams ...........219
`FTP—the File Transfer Protocol
`.. 20.2.0... . eeu e ence nee eee eens 220
`How to Find FTP Sites ©... 0... 0 ccc eee ce eee tener eters 220
`How to Do FTP in General .......0 0.0 cc ce eee eee eee eee ees 221
`FTP by E-Mail If You Don't Have “Real” FTP ........ 00. ce scenes 223
`Transferring Files from a Unix Shell Account .........2++2+05205 223
`FTP with Your Web Browser ......... 0. see e reer ee eee teenies 227
`Specific FTP Programs 2.0.0.0... ccc eee eee eee eee eee 228
`Telnet—a Computer in Your Window 1.2... cece eee e eee eee es 235
`Finding a Telnet Program 2.0... ieee eee eens 237
`Telnetting from Your Web Browser
`.......ecee cence enon aees 237
`
`Chapter Il: Gopher and Gopherspace ......seseeeceeeeeene e039
`What Is Gopher... . 0... cece ne ee biaaala anaiaie ais era la
`lore! obese 240
`Exploring Gopherspace ...... 2... 2... - aq: cee aammemeanmoneeemimueemans 24]
`Browsing Gopherspace with Gopher ........0.eee eee e eee ee eens 242
`Getting around the Menus ........ 0. cc ces eee e eee ence eens 242
`Reading Documents ..........0 00sec eee eee teen eeeeeeee 243
`Getting to Another GopherServer . 0.0... ccc c cece eee eee eee 245
`Bookmarks in Gopherspace ....... cece ence eee eee eee eee 246
`Quitting Gopher. 0.00... ect eeeeee eee e eee teenies 246
`Getting Help for Gopher ...... 2... ie sine cia viele sield vale sald tele 247
`Browsing Gopherspace with NetCruiser
`... 0.2... e eee eee ee ees 247
`Getting around the Menus ....... 0... eee e cence eee eee eee es 247
`Reading Documents ....... 0. eee keene eee dee deena eed 247
`Getting to Another GopherServer 0... ccc cee rere eee eee eens 249
`Bookmarks in Gopherspace .... 2.0... ces cence eect eee eee es 250
`Quitting Gopherin NetCruiser . 0.0. cece ence ee 250
`Browsing Gopherspace with TurboGopher .......00s0es eee eens 250
`Getting around the Menus .........- cece ease nee eee eee eeees 250
`Reading Documents .........0..2.sweniisilite sate das bee bee ea 252
`Getting to Another Gopher Server... oc. c cece e eee ene eens 252
`Bookmarks in Gopherspace .. 0... scene ere renee ener eens 252
`Quitting TurboGopher .......... 0.0 cee eee eee eee eee et ener nes 253
`
`
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`ee
`
`Getting Help... ccc ene e esc e ee eeaeeeees 253
`Browsing Gopherspace with your Web Browser ...........e0e00es 253
`Getting around the Menus ....... 0... cece eee ene e sees eens 253
`Reading Documents ..........0ccc cece cen en ten eeneeaeuees 254
`Bookmarks in Gopherspace ...........0 cee ces ees eea eee euees 254
`Browsing Gopherspace with WSGopher
`..........cceeceeeereeee 255
`Getting around the Menus ........... 0. ces e cece e cence eeae 256
`Reading Documents ........ 20.0 c eee c cece teen e eens ee enees 257
`Getting to Another Gopher Server ...... cc cece eee ee eee eee 258
`Bookmarks in Gopherspace «0.0.0.0... cece eee e eee e eee ae 258
`Quitting WSGopher ......... 0... c cece et ene eee nee nee 258
`Getting Help for Gopher .... 2.0... ccc ccc e enter ee een eee 258
`
`......seseeeeeereeeeZOl
`Chapter 12: Making a Simple Home Page
`Creating a Home Page .......... 3% #2 bas SRESREAU SHES SaRTs 261
`Visiting the GNN Site ........ .
`. mcssanesaresecrsiesuurerunis cuca ¥ 263
`Going to the Template Page 0... ce cece cece eet e eee eens 264
`Saving the Template .......... gaisisieasaieiewie baie sb ais BR aS § 264
`Looking at the HTML Document .......00.0eeeeeeeeueveeeese 265
`Editing the HTML Document ..........cecee eee eeeeeee eens 267
`Putting in an Image and the Links ........ ce. cece sees e eee eee 268
`Previewing the Home Page .......0.cccccsecee see eeeeeeeees 269
`Finding a Home for Your Page... .. cece cece eee eeeevecvnevees 272
`
`Appendix A: Getting Connected and Getting Help ..........040215
`Different Types of COMMECtIONS 00... . 0. cee eee eee ee eeeeeeues 276
`Equipment You'll Need... . uaissmawicemeneceare ce cyl Bee alee & 277
`Hardware oo... eee c cece eee e eee eeveeneneeseeenees 277
`SOMWALE oo cece eee eee ene e teense seen sense 278
`Going Online with a Macintosh ....... 00sec ee se anes een een tees 279
`Finding a Service Provider .. 10... cece eevee even ene eueeeens 280
`The Chicken or the Eggo... 0. ceca cece ene seen seen eesees 281
`Getting Started ............ eas-saw sea swiss gun aramranvausrmenars 283
`Logging In .............. qpapuscsisaccamnesmenieoemenemenreeeanananenes 283
`You're on the Net ....... «ig sa Fag Vadesmeniqqw newman nese eRe 283
`
`13
`
`13
`
`

`

`EE
`
`ee
`
`Dealing with Problems. 4.23%, cist seisianinisisrets Seetne aise Ses sae aS Se 284
`Stop This Crazy Thing! scssesvareraiaveain.smcacuciienee sae aise oes wince ws 284
`Getting Help . 0... cece e ee eee eee eee eee eee eee eens 285
`
`Appendix B: Glossary of Internet Terms .....0seeseeeeeeeeees LOI
`
`Index ..... 09 6a aeRO RRR KOS CNS 333
`
`
`
`14
`
`

`

`
`
`15
`
`15
`
`

`

`
`
`MAKING THE
`MOST OF E-MAIL
`
`
`
`
`aweoe
`
`¢
`
`Forwarding mail and sendingit to
`multiple recipients
`¢ Composing mail messages in your word
`processing program
`¢ Sending attachments with your messages
`e
`Saving e-mail messages and addresses
`e
`Spell-checking an e-mail message
`¢ Attaching a signature to mail messages
`e
`Finding Internet e-mail addresses
`
`After you knowthebasics of e-mail—sending, reading, and replying to messages—
`there are a few morethings you'll want to know aboutthat will come in very
`handy as you start communicating over the Internet.
`
`16
`
`16
`
`

`

`
`
`TH Chapter Three
`
`Mail-Sending Tricks
`
`So you know how to send messages and howto reply to them, but there are a few
`more tricks in the basic e-mail grab bag—namely, forwarding a message on to a new
`recipient, sending mail to more than onepersonat a time, and saving old messages
`somewhere besides in your In box.
`
`Forwarding Mail
`lf someone sends you mail and you'd like to send a copy ofit to someoneelse,
`with most mail programs, you can select a Forward command. (Never send mail to a
`third party without the express permission of the original sender.)
`The Forward command is often near (such as on the same menu as) the Reply
`command, and it works in almost the same way.The difference is that your mail pro-
`gram won't insert the original sender's e-mail address into the To: line. Insteadit will
`be blank, as in a new message. But the original message will be automatically
`included in the new message, often with some characters (like the standard ">"
`Internet e-mail quoting character) or other formatting to distinguish it from what you
`yourself write.
`To forward a message, type the recipient's name on the To: line and then Tab your
`way downto the message area. Edit the message and/or add your own note, perhaps
`an explanation of why you are forwarding the message, to the beginning. Then send
`the message as usual.
`
`Sending Mail to Multiple Recipients
`Sometimes you'll want to send a message to more than one recipient. You can
`usually do this in one of several ways. Most programs allow youto list multiple recipi-
`ents in the To: line, usually separated by commas (some programs require that you
`use a different character, such as a semicolon, to separate addresses). Most also have
`a Cc: line which, so far, I've suggested youjust Tab right past to get to the message
`area. As with traditional paper office memos,the Cc:line, in an e-mail messageis for
`people who you want to receive a copy of the message, but whoare notthe primary
`recipient,
`Some programsalso offer a Bcc:line, which lets you list one or more people to
`receive blind copies of that message. This means that the primary (and Cc:) recipients
`will not see the namesof people receiving blind copies.
`
`po
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` Making the Most of E-Mail
`
`headers are too long.
`
`You can typically include as many names on the Cc: line as you
`want, but some mail servers will choke on a messageif its
`
`Filing E-Mail Messages
`Even after you have deleted all the messages you've replied to or no longer need
`to leave lying around in your In box, your undeleted messages can Start to pile up.
`Whenyour In box gets too full, it’s time to create new mailboxes to store those other
`messagesin. Different programsoffer different commandsfor creating mailboxes and
`transferring messages into them, but the principles are more or less the same as
`those usedforreallife filing. Don't create a new mailbox whenan existing mailbox will
`suffice, but dofile away as many messages as you can (evenif you have to create a
`new mailbox to do so), to keep your In box a manageable size.
`
`messages to sort.
`
`CPUCELCRolnom Clecucielaulmegare
`zation, | arrange mine alphabetically, chronologically, and/or by
`project, depending on the person involved. Think about the best
`system for you before you find your In boxfilled with 200
`
`Using Your Word Processorto
`Write E-Mail Messages
`
`If you're more comfortable writing in a word processing program than you are
`writing in your e-mail program, you can write your message there, copyit using the
`Copy command, and then switch to your e-mail program and pasteit into a new mes-
`sage window.
`
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`
`
` i
`
`line breaks should be okay, because they’re “hard.”
`
`ra Chapter Three
`
`your message to ensure that yourlines aren't too long.
`
`PAOCRWeeltenchCa ie Reelelseuta reyte-elite
`planning to eventually insert it into an e-mail program that
`doesn't do word-wrapping, use a large font size when you write
`
`One problem with putting word-processed text into e-mail messagesis that some
`word processors substitute special characters for apostrophes and quotation marks.
`These special characters come out as garbage characters that make your mail harder
`to read. Also, there are sometimes problems with line breaks, either with lines being
`too long or with extraneous *M characters appearing at the end of eachline.
`After composing your message,first save it as a text file. Figure 3.1 showsa textfile
`| created in Word for Windows 95. Then close the file and open it again. To ensure
`
`I’m sending you another sample message. I hope you don’t mind. I’m
`showing how a message can be typed up in a word processor (in this case,
`Word for Windows 95), savedas a text file, and then selected, copied, and
`pastedinto a new e-mail message window. Doesn’t that sound fascinating?
`
`Saving this message as a fext file gets ride of the “smart quotation marks,”
`which would look funnyafter the message passes over the Internet. Also, the
`
`FIGURE3.1:
`
`| created this file in Word for Windows 95. Now I’m going to saveit as a text file,
`
`that none of the special (nontext) charactersarestill in the file. Select the entire docu-
`ment and copyit (usually you press Ctrl+C or Command-+Cto do this). Then switch
`
`19
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`

`

`Making the Most of E-Mail
`
`to your mail program. Start the message, go to the message area, and then paste the
`text you copied (usually you press Ctrl+V or Command+v).
`The text will appear in the mail program asif you had typedit there.
`
`Sending Files via E-Mail
`
`One of the most important functions of e-mail is its ability to let you send files
`called attachments along with your messages. An attachment is any datafile, in any
`form, which your program will send along with your e-mail message. Each program is
`different in the wayit handlesfile attachments, and someof the online servicesstill
`don’t let you send or receive files over the Internet. Also, since different programs
`have different ways of encodingattached files (translating the files into a form that
`can be shipped overthe Internet), you may have to compare details with your sender
`or recipient to make sure that both of your programs can “speak” the same code.For
`example, a big part of the revision of this book involved transferring files between a
`Macintosh running one version of Eudora and my PC, which was running anotherver-
`sion, and it took several file transfers before things worked seamlessly.
`Internet mail generally consists of only straight textfiles, although there are some
`protocols for sending other forms of information. For example, some mail programs
`use MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) to send otherkinds of data, includ-
`ing color pictures, soundfiles, and video clips.
`If you are sent e-mail with a MIME
`attachment, you may not be able to see the pictures, hear the music, or view the
`movies, but the text in the attachment should come through just fine. You'll be asked
`if you wantto view it or saveIt.
`Quite aside from e-mail issues, you might be trying to send a file that your recipient
`doesn't have the right application for reading, so that's another thing you may have to
`work out in advance. For example, if you use Word for the Macintosh and your
`recipient uses WordPerfect for DOS,let's say, then you may have to save your file in
`a format that your recipient's program can understand; this may involve both of you
`poking around your program's Open and Save As commands to see what options
`are available.
`Whenyou receiveafile attachment, your e-mail program will usually decodeit and
`tell you whereit's been placed (unless it doesn’t recognize the coding format, in which
`case you'll get a bunch of garbage at the end of the message andnofile attachment—
`if this happens, you needto negotiate with the senderas| just discussed).
`
`
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`[50] Chapter Three
`
`: |NOTE
`
`See Chapter 10 to learn about someof the other ways to send
`andreceivefiles.
`
`Saving E-Mail Addresses
`
`If there are people with whom you correspond regularly through e-mail or people
`whose e-mail addresses are hard to remember or difficult to type correctly, most
`e-mail programs enable you to create aliases (sometimes called nicknames) for
`these people. Aliases are shorter words that you type instead of the actual address.
`Other programs offer you an address book with which you can save e-mail addresses
`and other information about your correspondents.
`When you type an alias or choose a name from an address book, your e-mail pro-
`gram inserts the correct address into the To: line of your message (some programs
`can also insert an address into the Cc: line).
`You can also set up an alias for a list of addresses so you can send mail to a group
`of people all at once. I've got an alias for a group of people to whom | send silly stuff
`| find on the Net (no one’s complained yet) and another one for contributors to my
`online magazine.
`
`de
`
`OER CeGnemiteR eee CanesueleTisco
`keepit short—the whole point is to save you some typing—and
`try to make it memorable (although you can always look it.up if
`you forget),
`
`Checking Your Spelling in E-Mail
`Messages
`
`Most e-mail programs now offer spell-checking (so the traditional excuses for slop-
`pily edited e-mail messages are vanishingfast!), but the specific techniques vary from
`
`
`
`
`
`21
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`Making the Most of E-Mail a0
`
`program to program (as you might expect). It's a good idea to check the spelling in a
`message before sendingit, especially if the message Is long, formal, or for some busi-
`ness purpose.
`
`RUClshcm
`
`For more on using e-mail withspecificprograms,eneee
`
`If you write your messages ahead oftime using a word processing program, then
`you can use your word processor's spell checker to check the message. You mayfind
`this easier than working with twodifferent spell checkers.
`
`Attaching a Signature to an E-Mail
`Message
`
`Onthe Internet, it's traditional to include a short signature at the end of each mes-
`sage. A signature is a few lines of text, usually including your name, sometimes your
`postal (snail mail) address, and perhaps your e-mail address. Many people also
`include quotations, jokes, gags, and so on. Signatures (also called sig blocks, signa-
`ture files, signatures, or .sigs) arealittle like bumperstickers in this respect.
`Some e-mail programs do not supportsignaturefiles, particularly those designed
`for local networks and those of some online services where signatures are less com-
`mon, but many do and more are adding the feature all the time. Here's my current
`signature (| changeit from timeto time):
`
`
`
`Christian Crumlish
`Internet Systems Experts (SYX)
`Enterzone (latest episode)
`American Arts and Letters Network
`
`http://www -pobox+com/~xian
`http://www-syx-com
`http://ezone-org/ez
`http://www-aaln-org
`
`It includes my name; the address of my home page on the Web;the name of my
`company andits home pages address; and the name of my online magazine, along with
`its address.
`
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`[ira Chapter Three
`
`I'll show you how to create your own signature when | discuss the specific pro-
`grams that support them.
`
`Finding Internet E-Mail Addresses
`
`Becausethe Internet is such a large, nebulous entity, there's no single guaranteed
`way to find someone's e-mail address, even if you'refairly sure they have one.Still, if
`you're looking for an address, here are a few things you can try.
`
`Say “Send Me E-Mail”
`if you're not sure how to send mail to someonebut you know they're on the Net,
`ask them to send you some mail. Once their mail comes through okay, you should
`have a working return address. Either copy it and save it somewhere, make an alias
`forit, or just keep their mail around and reply to it when you want to send them mail
`(try to rememberto changethe subjectline if appropriate, not that | ever do).
`
`business cards, so you can get people’s addresses this way too.
`
`REGCeaneeorscram BureceRe Ll ;
`CICADAuch teriC eu RuCl
`
`Send Mail to Postmaster@
`if you know someone's domain, such as the cornpany where they work, or you know
`they're on oneof the online services, you can try sending mail to postmaster@
`address and asking politely for the e-mail address. Internet standards require that
`every network assign a real person to the postmaster@ address, someone who can
`handle questions and complaints. So, for example, to find someone at Pipeline,
`you could send mailto postmasterdpipeline-com and ask for the person
`by name.
`
`Ask the Knowbot
`The Knowbotis a semireliable source of missing persons information. When you
`ask it for information, it conducts a few searchesof its own and then mails the search
`results back to you.
`
`23
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`Making the Most of £-Mail
`
`You contact the Knowbotvia e-mail, by sending a message to kis@nri-
`reston-va-us. It doesn't matter what you put in the subject line of the
`message; however in the body of the message,
`type query firstname
`lastname(you can also submit a query for an e-mail address orpart of one, if you
`knowit). You can include as many query lines as youlike.
`
`message. You'll be sent a Knowbot manual,
`
`To learn more about Knowbot, about ho