| Example: jane@yahoo.com
Receiving a Message
Windows Mail will receive email messages automatically. You can establish the frequency that Windows Mail will check for new messages as follows:
1. Open [Tools]: (alt+t)
2. Open [Options]: (o). You are placed in the [General] tab.
3. Access the check box: "Check for new messages every": (tab) until located
If activated: If checked, this function is active. (Tab) to the [minutes] edit box and arrow (up) and (down) to select the frequency that Windows Mail will check for new messages. If you do not want to change this setting, press (esc).
If inactive: If unchecked, this function is not active. Press (space bar) once to activate this function. Then (tab) to the [minutes] edit box and select the frequency. If you do not want to change this setting, press (esc).
4. If you make a change, it must be [Applied]: (alt+a)
5. (Shift+tab) to the [OK] button and press (enter). You will be returned to the [Inbox].
Composing a Message
Creating an email message is the most frequent task you will perform. Follow these steps to compose a message:
1. Open a [New Message] window: (ctrl+n). You will be placed in the [To] edit box.
2. Type in the email address of the party you are sending the email to.
Note: If you have emailed this contact in the past, Windows Mail may present you with a drop-down list of matching addresses to choose from. For further instructions, go to the section "Adding a New Contact" on page 20.
3. (Optional) (Tab) once to [Carbon Copy--CC]: If you need to send this message to additional recipients, type in their email address(es). Separate each address with a semicolon and space. Skip this step if you have no carbon copy address(es).
4. (Tab) until you locate the [Subject] edit box. The subject is a very short, single phrase about the email.
5. To move to the [Message] edit box, (tab) once. This is where you type the body of your message.
6. Once you have completed your message, send it: (alt+s)
Reading a Message
1. Open Windows Mail, and give the program a few seconds to update your [Inbox].
2. By default, you are in the [Inbox]. Navigate through the [Inbox] by using the (up) and (down) arrows. Select the message you want to read: (enter)
3. By default, you are placed in the body of the message. Use standard text navigation commands to read the message. To move back to the [To], [CC], [Subject], and [Attachment] boxes: (shift+tab)
4. To close a message: (esc)
Deleting a Message
You may delete a message when it is either open or closed.
1. Closed Message: Arrow (up) or (down) to the message you want to delete: (delete) or (ctrl+d). The message will be moved to your [Deleted Items] folder, and the cursor will be placed on the next message.
2. Open Message: With the message open: (ctrl+d). The message will be moved to your [Deleted Items] folder, and the next message will be opened.
Replying to Email Messages
Reply
Use the following steps to reply to a message:
1. Locate and open the message you want to reply to: (enter)
2. To reply: (ctrl+r). The focus will be placed above the original message, where you can type in your own comments. The [To], [CC], and [Subject] edit boxes will contain the original sender's email address(es) and subject.
3. Send it: (alt+s)
Note: Once you send your reply, you will return to the [Inbox], and the message you replied to will be selected but closed.
Note: If you receive a reply to a message you sent, "RE:" will precede the subject. When navigating your [Inbox], your screen reader may also say, "Re", "Replied", or "Replied to," indicating that the message is a reply to an email you sent.
Reply to All
This function is used when the originator of an email sends it to more than one recipient and you wish to send your reply to all the recipients:
1. Locate and open the message you want to reply to: (enter)
2. To reply to all: (ctrl+shift+r). The focus will be placed above the original message, where you can type in your own text. The [To], [CC], and [Subject] edit boxes will contain the original sender's recipients address(es) and subject.
3. Send it: (alt+s)
Forwarding an Email Message
To forward an email, follow these steps:
1. Locate and open the message you want to forward: (enter)
2. Begin the forwarding process: (ctrl+f). This places the cursor in the [To] edit box. Type in the email address of the party you are forwarding the email to.
3. (Optional) From the [To] edit box, press (tab) once to move to the [CC] edit box. Type in the email address(es).
4. Move to the [Subject] edit box: (tab). The original subject of the message is retained with the addition of "FW:" at the beginning of the subject, designating it as a forwarded message.
5. The next (tab) will take you to one of two different edit boxes:
a. If there is an attachment, this (tab) will place the cursor in the [Attachment] edit box, at the end of the attachment's name. Pressing (tab) again will place the cursor in the [Message] edit box.
b. If there is no attachment, this (tab) will move the cursor to the [Message] edit box.
6. Space is available in this box for you to type in any comments you wish. Your comments will be placed above the original message.
7. Send the message: (alt+s)
Attachments
An email attachment is any file that you "clip" or "attach" to an email message. The file may be an audio file, .wav or .mp3; a document file, .doc, .txt, or .pdf; a compressed zip file, .zip; or a picture, .jpg or .tif. An executable file, .exe, normally cannot be attached to an email. There are three ways to attach a file to an email.
Method 1: Attaching a File While in Word or Excel
If you only want to send a single attachment, which was created in Microsoft Word or Excel, follow these steps:
1. Open the file you want to send by using the file's default program: MS Word or Excel
2. Go to the [File] menu: (alt+f)
3. Go to the [Send] option: (d). The [Send a copy of the document to other people] window will open.
4. Select the email option: (e)
5. A blank email message will open. The [Subject] and [Attachment] edit boxes will contain the name of the document. (The document is already attached.)
6. You must type in the [To] email address. You may also type in a [CC] address if desired.
7. (Tab) through the [CC] and [Attachment] edit boxes to the email [Message] box, and type in any message you want to include.
8. To send the email: (alt+s). Windows Mail will send the email and close, placing you back in the document you attached.
Method 2: Using the Applications Key
The Applications key is located on the bottom row of the keyboard, often the third key to the right of the space bar.
To use this method you must locate the file on your computer by using Windows Explorer, My Computer, or the file's default program.
Select the file but do not open it.
1. Press the Applications key.
2. Press (n) to move to the [Send To] submenu. This menu will automatically open.
3. Open [Message Recipient]: (m)
4. Windows Mail will open a new email message, and the cursor will be placed in the [To] edit box.
a. You must complete the [To] email address.
b. If desired, type in a [CC] address(es).
c. The [Subject] edit box will already be completed with the name of the file.
d. The file will already be attached, with the name of the file in the [Attached] edit box.
5. Move to the [Message] edit box: (tab), and type in any message you want to include.
6. Send the email: (alt+s)
Method 3: Attaching a File with Windows Mail Open
When attaching a file while in Windows Mail, it is important to know where the file resides on your computer, such as the drive letter, folder name, or both. To attach a file, follow these steps:
1. Compose a new email message. You must be in the [Message] edit box before proceeding to the next step.
2. Open the [Insert] menu: (alt+i)
3. The cursor is placed on the File Attachment menu option: (enter)
4. Type in the "path" to the file you wish to attach. The path consists of the drive letter, folder name, or both; and the file name with its extension.
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