Using pine e-mail on CitySource


Opening your mailbox and reading your mail

If you have provided us with a mail forwarding address, all mail that is addressed to you@citysource.com will be forwarded to your forwarding address where you can read your mail with your usual e-mail software.

To use the CitySource mailbox feature directly, you'll need to access the text-only version of CitySource using vt 100 terminal emulation by dial-up or via the Internet using the telnet program.

From the text-only version of CitySource Center, navigate to "lift the lid on your mailbox option to select it and press the Return key.

Your incoming messages are placed in pine's "inbox." From the pine Main menu, you can use the arrow keys to select the inbox option or type the letter "i". Commands in pine are not case sensitive. For example you can press "I" or "i" to display your index of messages.

A list of mail messages headers, authors, and dates are displayed.


Getting out of the e-mail program


E-mail Guidelines

A message you intend for one person only may end up on the computer screens of many others. This can happen if you mistype an address and your message is sent to the wrong person. For example, Compuserve user names are numerical, so one wrong digit can send your mail astray. One of your intended recipients may intentionally, or unintentionally redistribute it.

The cc. field and forwarding can get you in trouble. Always check the names on your cc list and delete those who should not receive your response. If your recipients are residents of CitySource, the chance for misdirection is lessened because recipients' full names are displayed when you type their user names in the pine mail header.

A good rule of thumb is to never send e-mail that might harm or embarrass you or others if it inadvertently becomes public. As a matter of courtesy, don't burden those on a mailing list with copies of messages of interest only to the primary recipient.

You should not send unsolicited advertising to someone's e-mail account. It is not considered proper "netiquette." There are many alternative ways of reaching an audience for your product or service. Visit the CitySource office for details.


Sending e-mail

Composing a message
From within the pine program (the Main Menu, or any message), type "C" for compose.

A mail form is displayed with a header area for the name of the recipient(s) , the subject of your message, and any attachments.

Note: The available commands are listed at the bottom of the pine e-mail screen. When the caret symbol ^ precedes a letter in a command listing, it mean hold down the Control key on your keyboard while you type the letter. For example ^X (Control - X) executes the command for sending a message in Pine.

The command options listed at the bottom of the screen may change according to the screen displayed (For example the message display screen and the compose screen offer different commands.) The available commands listed may also change according to the field containing the cursor. For example if the cursor is in the To: or cc: field of the compose message header, typing Control-T (^T) brings up the address book feature. In the attachement field Control-T displays a list of files for attaching to the mail message. If you move the cursor to the message area, ^T checks your spelling. Use the arrow keys to move the cursor from field to field and note the new options listed at the bottom fo the screen.

Addressing your message
In the To: field type only the e-mail user name and e-mail address of your recipient.

Press the Return (or Enter) key to register the information and move to the next field.

Generally the name and address will be all in lower case. The @ symbol separates the user name from the address of the computer system containing the account. For example, jdoe@citysource.com. To reach CitySource residents from within CitySource, all you need is a username (all lower case, no spaces). When you press the Return key the rest of the address and the recipient's full name is displayed.

Designating those you want to get copies of your message
In the cc: field type the the user names and addresses. Separate individual recipients with commas.

Setting up an address book
An address book entry can simplify the task of distributing mail to a group of people. In the address book you can enter nick names to represent individual e-mail names and addresses and you can create a group name to include a series of e-mail names and addresses.

You set up an address book from the Main Menu. From the compose window type "M" to return to the main menu. In the Main menu, type "A" or navigate with the arrow keys to select the address book item and press the Return key to enter the address book screen. Follow the highlighted instructions.

When you compose a message, you can just enter a nickname or group name in the To: or cc: fields and pine will automatically display the full addresses. If you've forgotten the nicknames, type Control-T (^T) in the To: or cc: fields to display your address book entries.


Typing and Editing your message.

Use the arrow keys or press the Return key to move the cursor into the message area. Type your message as you normally would in a word processor. Use the backspace or delete keys to make corrections. Most of the editing command available are listed at the bottom of the screen. In these instructions we follow the pine format and use capital letters in listing commands. The help explanations will vary according to the Pine menu you are in. Reminder: Commands in pine are not case sensitive. For example you can press "I" or "i" to display your index of messages.

Pine editing commands include the following:


Attaching a file to your mail message

This option is not currently available with free CitySource e-mail accounts. If you are using a UNIX shell account from your Internet access provider hree's how to attach a file:
Attaching a file that is on your computer to a pine e-mail message:
For info on how to upload a file to your home directory at your access provider's site, consult the manual or online help that came with your commmunications program.

Writing e-mail in your Mac or Window's word processor

If you are using a Macintosh or Microsoft Windows communications program and word processing program, you can compose your messages in your favorite word processor. Note: If you are not using a high speed modem (14.4 or above), you may need to copy and paste longer messages one segment at a time. If the line breaks in a paragraph of your pasted message are not quite right, move the cursor to the paragraph and type ^J to apply pine's Justify command .


Replying to an e-mail message

Warning: Check the cc field. If you do not want to respond to everyone on the cc list, delete their addresses before you begin your message so you don't accidentally send them mail you or they don't want them to receive

You can edit the message you are replying to, using all the standard pine editing commands. For example you can delete lines not relevant to your response and comment immediately before or after a particular comment. The ">" symbol preceding each line marks the orginal author's words to make it easy for the reader to distinguish between the original from the comments.

For more detailed explanations of various pine commands while your are using pine, press the "?" key. The help explanations will vary according to the Pine menu you are in. Reminder: Commands in pine are not case sensitive. For example you can press "I" or "i" to display your index of messages.


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