Getting started with WebMail
These notes assume that:
- You are familiar with the basic principles of electronic mail.
- You will read the introductory information for new users provided by the program itself.
- You are accustomed to using a browser such as Netscape and Internet Explorer.
- You know how to increase or reduce the size of your browser window, and that you know how to use the scroll-bar.
Security warnings
For obvious reasons WebMail runs on a secure Web server. You will get warnings about security as you use WebMail. Pay attention to these warnings, but don't be intimidated by them. So long as they make it clear that you are in contact with the St Andrews servers you should carry on, clicking the "Continue" buttons.
The wording will vary depending on which browser you are using. The warnings are of two kinds:
- Warnings that you are entering or leaving a secure site. The Web pages displayed by the WebMail system are all secure, so you will be warned when you enter WebMail and warned again when you go to a page outside the WebMail system.
- Warnings about the security certificate: The security certificate is your guarantee that your messages are being handled by the University's e-mail servers, and not being intercepted by any other system. Currently the use of both WebMail and secure services generally on our Web servers is in an experimental phase, and so you will see a number of warnings about the site certificate. You should take notice of these warnings, which come in different forms depending on which browser you are using. As long as you can see that the certificate was issued by the University you should click "Continue".
Starting up and logging in
- On the login screen click in the "Username" box and type your username. Don't press Return
- Click in the "Password" box and type your password - it will not be displayed. Don't press Return
- Look in the "Server" box and you will see a pop-up menu: unless you were told otherwise select the default entry: ITS Email (University). STAR and CREEM users should select their server only if they wish to use one of these accounts.
- When you have entered your username and password, you can press Return or click the Log in button
- If you enter an incorrect username or password you will be asked to enter them again. Once you have given the correct username and password you will be able to start using WebMail.
The messages in your INBOX
You will now see the list of messages in your INBOX, which will look something like this:
Your INBOX screen will not look exactly like the picture shown here, for two reasons:
- Obviously your messages will have different subjects etc, so the list will look different
- Your browser window might be larger or smaller than that shown. You may need to re-size your browser window to make the display easier to follow.
- On the menu bar, the right hand pulldown menu by the 'open folder' icon may be partially obscured. This could be remedied by making the window wider.
- The window footer may be obscured, and if there were several messages you would have to scroll to see them. It would obviously be clearer if the window were larger, but you must always be prepared to use the scroll-bar
Reading your mail
- Click on one of the messages listed in your INBOX. It will be displayed like this:
Go here for a description of the composition window
- You can add the sender's details to your address book by clicking on the icon to the right of their email address - the 'From:' address (circled in red).
The icon to the right of the 'To:' address (circled in blue) allows you to add the recipient's details to your address book as well. This is relevant when there are multiple e-mail addresses displayed in the 'To:' field, in which case there will be an icon beside each e-mail address.
If the above icons are not visible you will need to select the addressbook you wish to use. Go to the INBOX and select Options, then select Addressbooks.
You must not leave your messages in your INBOX. If you do, and your INBOX becomes too large, you will cause WebMail to run slowly. Either delete messages once you have dealt with them or move them to another folder.
- Delete it by clicking Delete. You will be returned to your folder list, and you will see that the message is still listed, but is crossed through. In order to get rid of it altogether you must click "Purge deleted".
- Or move it to another folder - go here for instructions.
