Attachments - What is an attachment?
An attachment is a file or an object that is attached to a
message. You can place attachments in messages you send, and you
can receive messages with attachments.
The usefulness of attachments is unlimited, but the most common
reason for attaching a file to a message is to send some information
without having to type it into the original message. For example,
if you want to send information you received (or wrote) in a word
processing document to your instructor, you can compose a message
that explains that you have this information and then you can attach
the specified document to the message so the recipient can read the
information.
The mailing program allows just such possibilities. Not
surprisingly, the command to do this is "Attach", and it can be
initiated by clicking on the browser button having this name.
Sending Attachments
Most email programs allow you to attach one or more files to your
email message. The program automatically encodes attachments when
you send your message. However, the recipient’s email program may
or may not be able to automatically decode the attachment back to
its original format. It is important to keep in mind that your
recipients must have a machine and program capable of using the
attachment after it is received, whether or not their email programs
can decode the file. For example, if you attach a Word Perfect file
and send it to someone who does not have Word Perfect itself (or a
program capable of translating the file), the attachment will not be
useful to him or her. If you send a Macintosh program to someone
reading email on a Unix machine, it will be useless.
Create a new message in the Send Message or Compose menu bar and
then click on the Edit Attachments hyperlink.
You will need to identify the location of the document you want
to attach by either typing in the location in the File text box, or
by clicking on the Browse button and locating and highlighting the
name of the document on either your disk, or your hard drive. Once
you OPEN the file in the browse dialogue box, it will take you back
to the Add Attachments window and will have the name and location or
path of the file.
You can then click on the Attach button and
then click on the Done button the program will take you back to the
Compose Message Window.
When a message with an attachment arrives in your mailbox, a
paper clip icon appears next to the message in your Inbox . To open the message, click on the Attached File hyper link.
The dialogue box appears with options for the attachment.
Scanning for viruses
It is important that you have an anti-virus software
which will scan incoming email attachments. Never open an
attachment unless you are expecting to receive one. Once you are sure there is no virus attached to your email, you can then download the attachment and read the
message.
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