Teachers.Net Focus on Computer Technology: E-Mail

Focus on Computer Technology Friday, September 18, 1998 E-mail Additional Teachers.Net Computer/Tech Resources Sponsored by

Mary K&1 - Hey gang! Glad to see ya!
Kathleen - Well, we could start...who has a question about using e-mail?
n2kids - I do! I do! How do the email postcards work?
Mary K&1 - n2kids, That's a question for Bob, I think that it's done with cgi or perl scripts
Bob Reap - They are done through proprietary cgi scripts on the offering website. When you "send" a postcard the system forwards a simple email message to the recipient with a specially coded URL. When the recipient clicks on that coded URL, the system recognizes the request and creates the postcard based upon the information the sender submitted when he sent the postcard.
Gumbo/K/La - I have a question that is REALLY stupid........How do I 'sign up' for e-mail thru netscape.......duh.......
Bob Reap - Gumbo, can you clarify?
Mary K&1 - Gumbo, I'm not sure I understand your question. If you have a ISP you use their mail server and use netscape as the program. If you mean Netscape's WebMail, you would have to do it through their sight
Gumbo/K/La - I have netscape, but when I click on e-mail addresses, I get a message saying that my e-mail address has not been specified.......What do I need to do??? (I have to go thru aol......)
Mary K&1 - Gumbo, are you PC or Mac?
Kathleen - So to sign up for Netscape e-mail, go to their site and what, fill out a form? then what?
Mary K&1 - Use WebMail - it's a bit like a HotMail account.
Gumbo/K/La - PC (and proud of it!!!!! LOL ;-)
Bob Reap - easy one Gumbo - you need to enter your email address in Netscape before you'll be able to send or check your email through Netscape - check the Edit menu... Prefernces... mail & Groups... Identity (Netscape 4)
Bob Reap - Gumbo, alternatively with Netscape 4 you can also specify which email program you'd prefer to use, I select Eudora Pro and when I click on an email address, Eudora pops up with the to line filled in
Mary K&1 - Gumbo you also have to enter your mail server's addresses for mail and news groups, you may have to contact aol to get some of that info if you don't already know it.
Gumbo/K/La - Now I'm very confused.......did as you said, bob.......so I clicked on your name to see if it worked, and I got some Java script michael downs message, then everything froze up.......then got composer and the file manager for my web page.......too weird.......think I'll just phone!!!! ;-)
Mary K&1 - Gumbo, go to your edit menu and then down to preferences, then click on and open the sign by mail, in one the windows included there you will find places to enter you address and the POP address of you ISP
Brann - laughing....is every email program able to send formatted email?
Mary K&1 - Brann, most of the new ones
Bob Reap - no, Brann, just the newer ones. I believe it is now part of the "specification" though so you'll see it more and more implemented
Brann - ok..so any tips on how to do that..underlining...font size..etc
Mary K&1 - But use it wisly, Brann. It's not good to use it in all situations
Mary K&1 - Brann what program do you have?
Bob Reap - Brann, what is your email program? I don't believe Eudora light can send formatted, but it can display it when it receives it. I think Netscape does back to version... 3? At least 4 (right? obviously I use something else - Eudora Pro!)
Brann - I would like the underline feature actually..sending book lists...and harder to go back and edit them all
Brann - Outlook Express
Bob Reap - Ahhh. Can't speak to that issue. Anyone?
Mary K&1 - Brann, it's been a while sinse I've used it, but I know that you can turn your formatting on and off in one of the menus, just snoop around and you will find it. That program also has some pre-formatted pages for birthday cards and others. What version do you have, it has to be 4 or above
Brann - where can I find the formatting? I don't see it on options
Mary K&1 - Brann, I don't think that it is in options. Start a new message, in this new message window, go to the Format Menu, then select Rich Text (HTML) for cresting formatted text or Plain Text for unformatted text - this is what you should use ofr Mail Rings.
Brann - I got booted! but I get it Mary....there is a tool bar for it when you are composing....I swear it wasn't there before...but there now!!!
Mary K&1 - Brann, I'm glad you found it, if I remember correctly, it only shows up when you are in a composing.
Kathleen - Bob, is formatted what you don't want me sending to you? ;-)
Bob Reap - uh, it's what I'd prefer didn't get sent to the mailrings, it somehow jams majordomo and causes the footers to not be included.
Kathleen - Oh, yes, about all that heiroglyphics in the mailrings, how can we explain to people how to eliminate that?
Brann - Ok..somehow I turned on the tool bar...just like from word/or works....very easy to do now!!! But Bob...did you say not to send formatted things through the mailrings?
Bob Reap - Brann, I recommend against it, when people send formatted messages through it messes up majordomo - not significantly or permanently, but the footers don't get attached for that email message
Brann - so when I send a list of books...don't underline the titles right?
Bob Reap - that's my recommendation, Brann - or use the Ineternet standard -- _Grapes of Wrath_
KGIRL/LA - I tried to send an e-mail with an attachment from scanner. Friend said I sent it in wpg what did she mean?
Bob Reap - Mary, you know wpg?
Mary K&1 - WPG - The filename extension for WordPerfect graphics files that are in vector-graphic format. WPG files can contain bitmaps as well as vector graphics.
Bob Reap - (I'm sure it's a graphics format, like GIF or bitmap)
Brann - KGirl....I have received many of those....couldn't get them to open either!!
Bob Reap - I think you will need a program that understands it (duh!) like maybe photoshop
Mary K&1 - WPG - CorelDRAW can read and convert them, Microsoft Word may also be able to translate them, I don't think PhotoShop can do it without buying a special plug-in.
Bob Reap - usually send photos in JPEG, and low quality stuff like logos and line art in GIF.
KGIRL/LA - That is what another friend said, her computer did not understand my puters lang. I thought they all spoke the same ?!???
Bob Reap - GIF and JPEG are cross-platform
KGIRL/LA - Oh I see
Gumbo/K/La - how do you rename something from btmp to jpg?????
Mary K&1 - Gumbo, you have to have a graphis program that can convert the files
Bob Reap - renaming it isn't enough - you need to convert it. Photoshop will do that, as will a number of free programs you can get at http://www.shareware.com - search on "image and convert"
Gumbo/K/La - so now that I have a scannner, I have to buy something ELSE????? ;-)
Mary K&1 - Gumbo, your scanner came with software, didn't it?
Gumbo/K/La - yeah, mary........but I don't know how to use it..... duh..... ;-0
Mary K&1 - See, Gumbo, you don't have to get something else, you just have to learn to use what you've already got! Do you know the name of any of the software programs that came with your scanner?
Mary K&1 - This software should have the capablity to save in different formats
Gumbo/K/La - mary-------I don;t have a clue about the software......and the book isn't much help to me and the other scanner-impaired...... ;-)
Bob Reap - often scanners come with a "lite" edition of photoshop, others come with comparable (roughly) programs that allow you to manipulate and convert images
Gumbo/K/La - well, I don't understand the scanner.....guess you should have to pass a test BEFORE buying one!!!! :-)
Lynn 1st VA - I am just wondering about attachments and how to get them?
Bob Reap - Attachments are usually all placed in the same directory on your computer by your email program. You can usually specify where they will be stored in the email prefernces. Sometimes (usually in fact) you can look at the notation when an attachment comes in and figure out where on your system it has been stored. If not, note the file's name and conduct a search on your computer for that file name
Lynn 1st VA - Most of the time it comes back in symbols.
Bob Reap - Lynn, it sounds like the attachment was corrupted when it was sent or recieved. Since these files are actually bits and characters, if they are not recognized properly (sometimes due to misconfiguration, other times buggy software or incorrect installation) the programs can mangle attachments. The MIME settings comes to mind, but I'm not sure if that is the culprit - try changing it in your prefernces
Lynn 1st VA - Bob, how do i do that?
Bob Reap - Lynn, what program do you use?
Lynn 1st VA - Netscape Navigator 3.0
KGIRL/LA - I am going to try sending an email pic of my kids again Thanks Bye!
Bob Reap - good luck kgirl :o)
Mary K&1 - Lynn, I've missed a lot tonight, did you tell us your platform?
Lynn 1st VA - Platform?
Mary K&1 - Lynn, when people sending attachments from a Mac, and if you are using a PC, when you try to open them they will be a bunch of symbols
Lynn 1st VA - That may be it,Mary.
patience/IL - Can I put pictures into my email if I am using AOL to compose mail? I ould not figure out how to include anything but the few graphics provided by AOL....
Bob Reap - good question - I've never used aol, but I think I have received attachments from those who do. Sure, you must be able to.
patience/IL - Can I compose mail with something else if I am on AOL?
Bob Reap - Patience, again I'd have to defer, but I think you can use Netscape if you have AOL, so I'd assume so
patience/IL - got it! : )
Mary K&1 - patiece, yes you can
patience/IL - Mary-- How?
Mary K&1 - You have to set up Netscape to recognize your aol address and servers, you do this in Netscape's preferences
patience/IL - thanks! I will try it!
Bob Reap - it's not the account so much, the issue used to be getting non-aol software working with the aol dial-up "socket" - I believe they now provide "flat" access, but don't quote me
Mary K&1 - patience, don't be shy about calling aol and asking them how to do it, they'll help you, they don't want to lose your business
MMP - How can I save all the great e-mail ideas to disk
Kathleen - MMP, you mean from the mailrings?
MMP - yes like early child hood
Mary K&1 - MMP, what email program do you use?
Bob Reap - MMP, what software do you use? You can usually do it from the File menu, when you are looking at the email, or if you select the mail(s) from the mailbox window and use the file menu (save etc) you can often save multiple emails to one text file.
MMP - I'd like to categorize them for future reference instead of having 2000 messages in e mail
Bob Reap - (you can select multiple emails by holding down the control key and clicking to highlight them)
MMP - netscape navigator or communicator
Mary K&1 - MMP in most programs you can file your messages in folders, that would sort them for you and then you can save them to disk in one big lump if you want to
Bob Reap - MMP, at the top of the mailbox window there is aften a heading bar which says among other things, "subject" - if you click on that, it will arrange your email by subject - then you can look at all the same email "threads" at the same time, even if they didn't come in back to back. Select them with the control key down and then "save" from the file menu.
MMP - that's it !! that's what I want to do but how Mary K &1
Mary K&1 - MMP, you can do it easily in netscape
Bob Reap - Netscape includes a very well-documented help system - check the help menu selection for details on any particular item that tests you in the future :o)
MMP - I'm a computer DUMMY
Bob Reap - MMP we all are, some are just lucky enough to figure out who to bug for the answers ;o)
Mary K&1 - MMP in your file menu select new folder and then you'll get a pop-up to name the folder and select where it will be a sub folder, do it and then you can file each message where you want it. Do this by either right clicking and follow the pop-ups until you get to the folder where you want the message, or you can select several at a time and then in your message menu go to file message and then go the the folder
MMP - Thanks every one I'll try that
Ellen - I have aol and I received an email with an attachment. I cant find the attachment but it downloaded but I dont know where? Really new at this!
Bob Reap - Ellen, finding attachments is easiest if you look at the notificartion of the attachment - it usually indicates where on your hard drive the email program stored it. if that doesn't work, note the file name and then do a find on your computer. TIP - once you find the attachments folder, make a shortcut to it and drag the shortcut onto your desktop or onto the start button (Windows bottom left corner) for easy access in the future
Bob Reap - (you can make a "shortcut" by selecting the folder icon and right-clicking on it - then move the shortcut wherever you like)
Ellen - Thanks, Had to write down the directions! Will try later to retrieve!
Ellen - Thanks, Bob, but this attachment has been sitting in cyberspace for the past three days! Frustrating for me!
Bob Reap - Ellen do you know the file's name?
Ellen - Exactly , would have to go back and look but it was from the 4blocks here
Bob Reap - Ellen, run a search for it through "Find" in your Start menu.
bugman - how does e-mail work?
Bob Reap - how do you mean bugman?
bugman - how can you create your own listserv?
Bob Reap - Bugman, I highly recommend Majordomo - it's free and very hardy. http://www.greatcircle.com
Mary K&1 - bugman, I've seen things on the web explaining this, if you run a search, you'll find a bunch of stuff
Kathleen - bugman, why not just join one at Teachers.Net! http://teachers.net/mailrings
LA - I have so many questions that I should have written them all down. I'll just read for a while.
Mary K&1 - LA, got one for us?
LA - Well, since you asked... I have tried to save posts from t2t digest and when I try to read it from My file it come out in symbols. What's up with that?
Bob Reap - good question, LA, what program did you say you use?
Mary K&1 - LA, are these email posts, or web pages?
LA - email posts.
Mary K&1 - LA, how are you saving them?
LA - On my a drive on a disk
Mary K&1 - LA, you need to save them as txt or simple text - what platform are you?
LA - I didn't but it is Netscape Navigator 3.0
Mary K&1 - LA, I mean, are you using a MAC or a PC?
LA - Oh! A PC
Mary K&1 - LA, when you save a message, be sure that you save it as txt, just plain text, you must have been saving it as something else and that is why it comes up as a bunch of symbols
MMP - I just wanted to say thanks again as I printed the directions for filing & saving to disk from the Netscape Help
MMP - I know what I'll be doing for the next week or so!!
Kathleen - MMP. glad "we" could help:-)
Ginger4OK - Bob, our district has the entire T.net site blocked at school....what can we do about that?
Bob Reap - Ginger, they can (dang it!!!) override that - do they have BESS?
Ginger4OK - yes, we have BESS and I hate it!!!
Mary K&1 - Me too Ginger!
Bob Reap - Ginger, what is your email address again (you can PM it) I have some information that will help you get that fixed
Brann - Bob...I did that at the airport...they had it blocked...but i worked at it until I got in!! put a post on the borad...couldn't get int the chatroom though!!
Bob Reap - We're in contact with N2H2, but I don';t know what we can really expect there. :o(
Ginger4OK - Bob, I have written the district tech. administrator several emails laying a guilt trip on them from keeping our over 1,000 certified personnel from benefiting from T.net
Bob Reap - Ginger, I can help - what's your email address?
Kathleen - Bob, maybe we should write something up for teachers to give to their district administrators.
Bob Reap - Kathleen, I'm in total agreement.
Janet/AR - Bob and Kat that is a wonderful Idea Kat!!!
Mary K&1 - Ginger, I'm fighting the same battle, it would make everything much easier for all if Bess would just open up TNet for everyone so that we all didn't have to fight it out with the administrators
Janet/AR - I would love to give out info to the schools here about TNet.
Kathleen - Janet, for publicity info, just print out the poster available from the homepage [look near the bottom for "post"]
Janet/AR - Thanks Kat!
Ginger4OK - they tell me that it is bc. there is the word "chat" and "mentor" in the addresses
Bob Reap - Ginger, I have info that will help you get around it...
Donna - Sounds like our district- We get our internet through our service unit- We are able to GO to T.N. but, we are unable to post anything on the board or chat room becaseu of the word "chat", too.
Bob Reap - Donna, if we kill that word, then we will lose our status in the search engines for that word - it's a no-win situation
Kathleen - Robert, why would Bess block "mentor"?
Donna - that's no probalme with me-I use it at home
carol/k/tx - Bob, we just need to educate our administrators about it.
Bob Reap - actually, there is a way around it, but it's a backdoor method and would involve a complete redesign of what we have
Donna - as long as we are able to visit the site, I'm happy!!
Mary K&1 - Donna, but what about all those teachers who don't have access from home, they will never Reap the benefits of Tnet!
Gumbo/K/La - I have never gotten online at school....only one puter in library which is always in use------and I never have time anyway......but I'm sure we can't access it either-----have cyberpatrol on it.....
Bob Reap - Tough battle, carol - it seems just as we get started, we get this nasty curve thrown at us :o(
Ginger4OK - i miss not being able to read the boards during my planning time.....of course, I can always read them from home, but there are many teachers at school that have NO internet access at home!
Donna - Mary-I know many of our teachers don't have it at home-they are messing a lot
Ellen - Same here, Gumbo, some students got past cyberpatrol at the public library, so we dont have internet access at school!
Ellen - I should say "our students at my school"!
Gumbo/K/La - really, ellen???? (wonder if they could teach me how to get past it.. ;-)
carol/k/tx - So you are saying with programs like "Big Brother" which will soon be installed on our computers at school, that they won't let us use the Teacher Net because of the word chat in it?
Janet/AR - my email is Microsoft Outlook Express. Does anyone else have that?
Brann - I do Janet
Bob Reap - not me Janet
Janet/AR - Bob the Underline icon is there when I want to compose a message.
LA - What does it mean to PM it?
Bob Reap - PM = "private message" - just send it to one person as opposed to trhe room - see the bottom form left for the selector
LA - Thanks, Bob!
Ellen - WHy did my name disappear from the top? I haven't left this seat all evening!
Bob Reap - Ellen it does that from time to time - not if you speak up though :op)
Mary K&1 - Are there any unanswered questions?
LA - I've got to go! Thanks for your help!! This is such a great site.
Bob Reap - Bye LA, thanks :o)
Mary K&1 - LA, come back often! We love your company
Donna - Nanny sent me a "voiced" e-mail message. It completely shut my mail delivery down until my server could delete
Bob Reap - Donna - guess the voiced mail is quite large in size? (necesaarily)
Donna - I guess so-they couldn't deliver it
Gumbo/K/La - I love the voice e-mail!!!!! Thanks, ginger!!!! ;-)
Kathleen - Well, our one hour session has lasted 1.5 hours, I think I'll depart, dear ones. Good night!
Bob Reap - thanks for being here all, special thanks to Mary and Kat for your help :o)
Kathleen - Robert, thank you for pitching in:-)
Mary K&1 - Ginger, let me know how your coming along in the battle to get Teachers.Net open in school
Bob Reap - :o)
Ellen - Bye all and thanks!
Mary K&1 - Thanks all for being here