Winnefox Library System The Ides of
May 1999
 

E-MAIL TIP

Sometimes an e-mail messages is more than just a message -- it might include an "attachment". The attachment might be an Excel spreadsheet, a Word97 document, or even a Web page. Here are some tips on how to open attachments, depending on the e-mail software you use.

Netscape 4.x
A message containing an attachment will have a paperclip icon at the top of the message header. Depending on your version of Netscape, there may also be a box that appears at the bottom of the message, containing a hyperlink to the attachment and information about the type of document that's been attached:

Part 1.2 Name: fabulousprize.txt
Type: Plain Text (TEXT/PLAIN)

To display the attachment, double-click the attachment's icon or click on the hyperlink to the attachment itself. If the attachment says something like "Type: Excel File (application/vnd.ms-excel)" your copy of Excel will open up in order to access the attachment. You can now print the document or save it to your PC.

Netscape 3.x
The text of the message will appear first, and any attachments will follow. If your copy of Netscape is set to view attachments as links (this is the preferred setting to avoid problems, and also useful if you want to save the attachment as a separate file on your PC) you'll see a box that contains a hyperlink to the attachment:

Part 1.2 Name: fabulousprize.txt
Type: Plain Text (TEXT/PLAIN)

Just click on the hyperlink and (if plain text) the text will appear. If the attachment says something like "Type: Microsoft Word Document (application/msword)" your copy of MSWord will open up in order to access the attachment. You can now print the document or save it to your PC.

Pine
If you use Pine and receive an attachment in an e-mail message, it may look like this:

Date: Fri, 14 May 1999 16:18:00 -0500
From: jones@winnefox.org
To: You
Subject: Test message with an attachment
Parts/attachments:
1 Shown 1 lines Text
2 OK 54 lines
Text
----------------------------------------
test

[Part 2, Text 54 lines]
[Not Shown. Use the "V" command to view or save this part]

If the attachment is a text file, you can access it in Pine by following these steps:

  1. Press the V key (ViewAttch)
  2. Choose part 2 (part 1 is the original message text)
  3. When you're finished with the attachment, press the E key (Exit Viewer) twice to return to the original message.
    4.
Pine can read plain text attachments, but it isn't able to interact with types of files that require external software/programs (such as photos or spreadsheets).

INTERNET TIP

Bookmarks provide a way for you to mark Web pages you want to visit again. Unlike the history list, which gets discarded when you exit your Web browser, bookmarks stay in the bookmark list until you remove them.

If you're unfamiliar with creating bookmarks in the Netscape browser, a universal method to use in both Netscape 3.x and 4.x is 1) go to a Web page you want to bookmark; 2) press the Ctrl and D keys.

To view the bookmark you just created press the Ctrl and B keys, which will take you to the Edit Bookmark window. If you find that the name of the bookmark is cryptic or doesn't do a good job of describing the page ("Untitled Document"), you may change it to a name that's more helpful to you. To rename a bookmark:

  1. Press the Ctrl and B keys to open the bookmark window (or click Bookmarks | Edit Bookmarks);
  2. Right-click the bookmark you want to rename;
    3.
  3. Select Bookmark Properties (for Netscape 3.x, select Properties);
    4.
  4. Type the new name for the bookmark;
    5.
  5. Click OK.
    6.
Once you have amassed some bookmarks, you may find it difficult to find the one you're looking for, since they're in no particular order (yet!). One way to find a bookmark is to open the bookmark window (Ctrl and B keys) and press the Ctrl and F keys to find a word within your bookmark file. When you rename bookmarks to include a keyword something you'll be likely to search for by this method, you can also add comments that explain what can be found at the site ("lots of good PR ideas") or notes to yourself ("remember to check this one monthly").

In next month's Ides I'll give you tips on how to organize your bookmarks to manage them so they're an efficient part of your Web searching.

WINDOWS TIP

If you've ever started to print something and then decided you need to add to the file, or changed your mind about printing it at all, there's a way you can interrupt the print job. Just double click the printer icon in the task bar. When the printer information screen comes up click Printer | Purge print job on the window's menu bar. The print job will stop, saving you ink, paper, and time.

USEFUL URL O' THE MONTH

For those of you who were unable to attend the recent WAPL Conference, you can still "attend" two sessions by Bob Bocher (Library Technology Consultant, DLTCL) by visiting these two Web sites: Keeping Pace With Technology ...Avoid Becoming Roadkill on the Information Hypeway and Beyond Sex: Other Questionable Information On the Internet.

As an additional URL this month, if you're interested in helping out the library at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado you can find out how by visiting their Web site regarding messages and donations. According to the article in LJDigital, the library sustained extensive water damage due to the activated sprinkler system, and "other clean up operations are being addressed." Donations and messages of moral support to the library staff are encouraged.  

FUN URL O' THE MONTH

Well, National Library Week has come and gone, and if you need a new attitude about our profession, visit Thwart not the Librarian! Standard disclaimers: this one's not for the timid; please remain seated until the ride has come to a complete stop. I've already printed it out a copy for myself...

RECIPE O' THE MONTH

is Rhubarb Custard Kuchen. If you're blessed with an abundance of rhubarb check out The Rhubarb Compendium ("more than you ever wanted to know") and SOAR: The Searchable Online Archive of Recipes. I even found a recipe for Rhubarb Radio Pudding (which for some odd reason contains not even a smidgen of radio.)

 

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This page was last updated May 17, 1999
 

The Ides is written by Joy Schwarz.
Please direct any questions, comments or recipes to schwarz@winnefox.org
 

URL: http://www.winnefox.org/ides/idesmay99.html