Mail Help

Attachments with Web Mail

• What is an attachment?
• How do I view attachments?
• How do I save attachments to my harddrive?
• How do I attach a file to an email message I'm sending?
• Why can't I read an attachment I've been sent OR why can't the recipient read an attachment I've sent?
• Is there a maximum size on attachments I can send/receive?
• I'm using Internet Explorer and want to attach a document, but where is the Browse button?

What is an attachment?

An attachment is a file attached to an e-mail message. Email messages can only consist of basic, unformatted text. If you wish to send a binary file or formatted text file (such as an MS-Word document), it must be encoded before it is sent and decoded once it is received.

top

How do I view attachments?

If the message you are reading has an attachment, an attachment icon will appear at the bottom of the page, after the main body of the message. Click the attachment icon or file name link to view it. Web Mail will attempt to display the attached file using your browser.

 

Please note: If your browser can't figure out how to display the attachment, you will be given a dialog box so you can download the attachment to your desktop. For example, most browsers cannot display Microsoft Word files, so clicking on an attachment that is a Word file will bring up a "download" dialog box.

top

How do I save attachments to my harddrive?

Windows and UNIX users: With a two- or three-button mouse, you can download an attachment by right-clicking on the attachment icon or file name and selecting Save Link As... or Save Target As...

 

Macintosh users: With a one-button mouse, you can download an attachment by clicking and holding the icon or file name and selecting Save This Link As... .

top

How do I attach a file to an email message I'm sending?

On the Create Message page, click Attach File to bring up the Attach File page. To attach a file:

 

1. Tell Web Mail what file you want to attach by either typing the file's path and name into the Get File box or by clicking Browse... and choosing a file from the dialog box.
2. Click Attach It! to have Web Mail upload this file and attach it to your mail message.
3. Click Return to my Msg to go back to your message so you can edit or send it.

 

CAUTION: Do not click the Write Msg button or you will start a new message and so will lose your current work.

 

If you change your mind and want to remove an attachment before sending your message, scroll down to the bottom of the screen to where your current attachments are listed. Check the box next to the attachment you want to remove it, then click Remove Selected.

 

Note for UNIX users: You may sometimes encounter a problem where your browser appears to "hang." Although this might be related to the attachment's size and your Internet connection's speed, it could also be due to lack of space in your local /temp directory. If you are using Netscape Navigator or Communicator, try deleting any nsform* files owned by you in /temp.

 

Please note: Trying to attach a directory, folder, or file that is larger than 3.5 megabytes may give unexpected results. Web Mail allows any number of attached files per message, so long as the total size of all attachments does not exceed 3.5 megabytes (3670016 bytes). The length of time it takes to upload and attach a file depends on the size of the file and the speed of your Internet connection.

top

Why can't I read an attachment I've been sent OR why can't the recipient read an attachment I've sent?

In order to read an attachment, you must have the proper program to open it with. For instance, if someone sends you a document created with Microsoft Word 97 for Windows, you will not be able to open it if your only word processor is Word Perfect for DOS. Receiving an attached document via email is not much different than someone handing you a floppy disk with the file on it. In either case, you can't view the contents of the file without the proper application.

 

Another common reason for not being able to open an attachment is that your mail program can't "decode" the file. In order for attached documents to be sent through email, they must first encoded. There are several common methods for encoding files, such as MIME and BTOA. Most of the newer mail programs can figure out how the file was encoded, and automatically decode it for you. However, if you are using an older program, or the attachment has been encoded with an unusual method, you may need to use a 3rd party program to decode the file, or have it sent again with a more common encoding scheme.

top

Is there a maximum size on attachments I can send/receive?

Web Mail allows any number of attached files per message, so long as the total size of all attachments does not exceed 4 megs. The length of time it takes to upload and attach a file depends on the size of the file and the speed of your Internet connection.

 

CAUTION: Trying to attach a directory, folder, or file that is larger than 4 megabytes may give unexpected results (such as a "Broken file pipe" message from your browser)

top

I'm using Internet Explorer and want to attach a document, but where is the Browse button?

The Browse button will only appear for Internet Explorer users with version 3.02 or better who have installed the File Upload Add-on.

 

You can get the add-on from the Microsoft website, at

http://www.microsoft.com/ie/download/ie3add.htm .

 

Click on the Download button under HTTP File Upload, then select Internet Explorer 3.02 File Upload Add-On.

top

next: Back to the Index