Webmail is configurable. This page explains how to configure Webmail to suit your own requirements.

Webmail    Tutorials & Help    Configure    History    Feedback   

Configure Topics:

Basic:    Colours    Font Size    More Messages    Full Date    Size Column   

More1:   Update Messages No    Mail Forwarding    Compose Window Size   

More2:   Signature    Reply Format    Thread View   

Introduction

Webmail can be configured in many different ways, for many different reasons. Please don't take the examples given below as 'recommendations'.

Colour Scheme 

You can change the colour scheme. Webmail has been provided with a set of ten colour themes. The themes provide a range of colour styles designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of users: (samples) of Webmail:

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Display Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. drop the 'Theme' list.
4. click on a theme e.g. 'Lancaster 2' or 'Tapas Bar'.
5. scroll down and click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
6. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes - see colours change.
7. click on INBOX on left to return - Happy? If not repeat steps 3- 8.

Note - people wishing to add colour to their messages can do so with HTML Editing In Compose

Font Style Font Size 

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Display Preferences' option - see list of settings.

To change the size of the font:

3. drop the 'Font size' list.
4. for a larger font click on: '12' or very large: '14'.

To change the style of the font:

5. drop the 'Font style' list.
6. choose a font, e.g. 'Verdana'.
7. scroll down and click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
8. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes - see colours change.
9. click on INBOX on left to return - Happy? If not repeat steps 1 - 8.

Some people may prefer a smaller font which makes more 'space' on the screen.

Note - people wishing to cnge the size of text in their messages can do so with HTML Editing In Compose

Language

The language of Webmail is not currently configurable.

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Number of Messages Displayed 

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Display Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. click into the 'Number of Messages per Page' area.
4. edit the number.
5. scroll down and click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
6. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes.
7. click on INBOX on left to return - see number of messages changed.

Show Full Date 

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Display Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. next to 'Always show full date', click on the 'Yes' option.
4. scroll down and click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
5. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes.
6. click on INBOX on left to return - see full dates.

To display shortened dates, repeat the above but click the 'No' option.

Changing Width of Menu Bar 

To change the width of the menu bar on the left-hand side:

1. hover the mouse button over the line between the bar and the Inbox page - see cursor change shape.
2. drag line across and release the button - see border in a new location.
3. repeat until happy.

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Compose Message in a New Window 

You can configure Webmail so that when you click on the 'Compose' button a new window pops up (or not as you prefer):

1. click on the 'Options' option then on 'Compose Preferences' option - see list of settings.
2. next to 'Compose Messages in New Window', click on the 'Yes' option (or 'No' to not display in a new window).
3. click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
4. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the eight boxes.
5. click on INBOX on left to return.
6. click on 'Compose' to test.

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Configuring the Compose Window

You can make the window look 'clean' i.e. with the ability to see the first 'attachment' listed without showing scroll bars, as illustrated below.

  

If you want to use 10 or 12 point text sizes (common), you can do the following:

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Display Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. drop the 'Font size' list.
4. for a larger font click on: '12'.
5. scroll down and click on 'Submit' button.
6. click on the 'Compose Preferences' option.
7. ensure that the 'Width of Editor Window' is set to '76'.
8. ensure that the 'Height of Editor Window' is '16'.
9. in the 'Width of Compose Window' type: 770
10. in the 'Height of Compose Window' type: 630
11. click on the 'Submit' button.
12. click on 'INBOX' then click on the 'Compose' option - see no scroll bars and the add attachment option in view.
13. write a test message and add a test attachment - see no scroll bars, the listed attachment and the 'Delete selected attachments' button.
14. click on the 'Close' button.

If you want the text to be in 8 point text (smaller that ten point), you can do the following:

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Display Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. drop the 'Font size' list.
4. choose the '8' size.
5. scroll down and click on the 'Submit' button.
6. click on the 'Compose Preferences' option.
7. in the 'Width of Compose Window' type: 580
8. in the 'Height of Compose Window' type: 530
9. click on the 'Submit' button.
10. click on the 'Refresh Page' option.
11. click on 'INBOX' then click on the 'Compose' option - see no scroll bars and the add attachment option in view.
12. write a test message and add a test attachment - see no scroll bars, the listed attachment and the 'Delete selected attachments' button.
13. click on the 'Close' button.

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Personal Information and Signature 

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Personal Information' option - see list of settings.
3. click into the 'Full Name area - type in your name.
4. click into the 'Reply To' area and ensure that your LU address is there e.g. a.name1@lancaster.ac.uk

Optionally:

5. click into the 'Signature' box and type in your name (and anything else that you would like to appear at the end of your messages.
6. to activate your signature, click on 'Yes' option next to 'use Signature' option.
7. to make a short line divide your signature from the main message: click 'Yes' option next to 'Prefix Signature..' option.
8. click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
9. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes.
10. click on INBOX on left to return.
11. click on 'Compose' option - see signature.

Signature in Reply window - follow the link to configure how the signature appears in the 'reply' window.

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Order of Columns and Adding Size Column 

Adding a Size Column

Adding a size column will inform you of how big each message is but will take up screen space.

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Index Order' option - see list of settings.
3. if necessary drop the add list and choose 'Size'.
4. click on the 'Add' button.
5. click on the 'Return to options page' option.
6. click on INBOX on left to return - see new 'Size' column.

Sort by Size - you can sort by 'size column'.

Changing The Order of Columns 

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Index Order' option - see list of settings.
3. click on the 'Up' option next to the required column name to move the column to the left.
4. click on the 'down' option next to the required column name to move the column to the right.
5. click on the 'Return to options page' option.
6. click on INBOX on left to return - see columns re-ordered.

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Managing the Folder List

Updating Number of New Mails in Menu Bar 

To increase the frequency that the number of new messages is checked:

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Folder Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. drop the 'Auto refresh Folder List' and select a shorter time.
4. click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
5. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes.
6. click on INBOX on left to return.

Display Menu Bar on the Right 

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on 'Folder Preferences' option - see list of settings.
3. drop the 'Location of Folder List' and select 'Right'.
4. click on the 'Submit' button at the bottom right of the screen.
5. click on the 'Refresh Page' option above the five boxes.
6. click on INBOX on left to return - see menu bar on the right-hand side.

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Mail Forwarding 

Switch On Mail Forwarding

To forward all mail to a third party email system. Do the following:

Warning - the University sends important email to your initial.surname@lancaster.ac.uk and ISS cannot be responsible for the email after it is forwarded.

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on the 'Mail Forwarding Options' option.
3. type your third party email address e.g. j.bloggs@gmail.com into the 'Forward mail to' area.
4. click on the 'Create Forwarding' button.
5. click on 'INBOX' to return to the Inbox, or click on 'Sign Out' to leave.

Forward and Keep

To forward all mail AND keep a copy of all mail in Webmail/Unixmail:

1. click on the 'Options' option.
2. click on the 'Mail Forwarding Options' option.
3. into the 'Forward mail to' area type: \(username), (email address) e.g.
     \bloggsj, j.bloggs@gmail.com.
4. click on the 'Create Forwarding' button.
5. click on 'INBOX' to return to the Inbox, or click on 'Sign Out' to leave.

Remove Forwarding

To stop mail forwarding:

1. start Webmail.
2. click on the 'Options' option.
3. click on the 'Mail Forwarding Options' option.
4. click on 'Disable Forwarding.
5. click on 'INBOX' to return.

Language Features

Webmail Language

The Webmail interface is only available in English.

Webmail Spell Check Dictionaries

The Webmail spell check feature can check mail in different languages. Currently there are two languages available: English (default) and Spanish.

1. click 'Options', then 'SpellChecker Options' option.
2. click 'Set up international dictionaries' option.
3. choose the required dictionary.

If you want to make the new dictionary 'permanent': drop the 'Make this dictionary my default selection' list and choose your permanent (default) language.

4. click on 'Make these changes' button.
5. click 'Compose' option and type a message then click 'Check Spelling' option.

Configure Signature in Replies 

People vary on how they like to reply to email. Some people like to, add the reply above the original message, others prefer to add the reply below the original message.

Webmail can be configured to suit each of the methods by changing where the cursor appears when the 'Reply' option is chosen and where the signature is inserted. The following instructions assume that you have a signature, and that it is enabled.

Reply Above Original Message

1. click 'Options' then 'Display Preferences' option - see Display Preferences list.
2. scroll down to the bottom of the list.
3. next to 'Prepend Signature before 'Reply/Forward Text' select 'Yes' option.
4. drop the 'Cursor Position when Replying' then select 'No Focus' option.
5. click on the 'Submit' button.
6. click 'INBOX' option

Testing...

1. open a message.
2. click on the 'Reply' option - see message.
3. click in at the top of the message.
4. type... - see your replied to message.
5. click on the 'Close' button (to stop the test).

Reply Below Original Message

1. click 'Options' then 'Display Preferences' option - see Display Preferences list.
2. scroll down to the bottom of the list.
3. next to 'Prepend Signature before 'Reply/Forward Text' select 'No' option (at the time of writing, this the default).
4. drop the 'Cursor Position when Replying' then select 'No Focus' option.
5. click on the 'Submit' button.
6. click 'INBOX' option

Testing...

1. open a message.
2. click on the 'Reply' option - see message.
3. scroll down and click in between the text and the message.
4. type... - see your replied to message.
5. click on the 'Close' button (to stop the test).

Thread View 

Thread view indents replies to messages you sent earlier, allowing you to more easiliy follow email 'conversations'.

  

To switch on 'Thread View' for the current folder:

1. ensure that you are looking at the folder containing messages that you want to view in 'Thread View'.
2. click on the 'Thread View' option - see the option change to 'Unthread View' and all 'conversation' style messages indent.

Note - having Thread View switched on for a folder means that you can not sort messages by: 'From', 'Subject' or 'Size', in that folder.

To remove 'Thread View' from a folder (thus allowing you to sort by 'From', 'Subject' or 'Size'):

1. ensure that you are looking at the folder with Thread View switched on.
2. click on the 'Unthread View' option - see all indents disappear and the sorting blobs reappear on the column headings.

When 'Thread View' is switched off you can sort by 'From', 'Subject' or 'Size' as normal.

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