PC Gen: What's New in Mail for PC Networks Version 3.5

• Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version 3.5

SUMMARY

This article outlines some new features, software, and utilities that are new to version 3.5 of Microsoft Mail. Successfully implementing Microsoft Mail for PC Networks version 3.5, is an excellent way to prepare your organization for a smooth integration of future releases of Microsoft Messaging software.

MORE INFORMATION

New Server Features in version 3.5

Multitasking MTA for Windows NT:

   With Microsoft Windows NT support, you can run multiple instances of
   the External and Dispatch programs on a single computer. These can
   either be run as services within Windows NT, or as a console
   application.

   You can increase the number of remote postoffice links, provide
   modem pooling for Remote client users, and improve Directory
   Synchronization (Dir-Sync) service.

   To allow easier administration, these services can be remotely
   monitored from another Windows NT computer.

   NOTE: In pervious version of Microsoft Mail, the Multitasking MTA
   was a separate product. It is now included as a server component.

   The Microsoft Mail Postoffice Diagnostics utility is a Windows-based
   utility that checks and fixes Microsoft Mail databases.

   You can use the diagnostics utility to diagnose and resolve potential
   corruption problems on the postoffice.

   Microsoft designed this utility to enable you to better administer
   and maintain your Microsoft Mail postoffice.

New Utilities

A new set of utilities provides easier management of message files, synchronization of Personal Address Books (PAB), and help to manage Dir- Sync. The utilities are Those are provided on the Utilities disk. For more information, please refer to Microsoft Mail Administrator's Guide, Appendix A "Administrator Utilities."

The following is a list of the utilities that are in included with Microsoft Mail for 3.5 and a brief description:

MS-DOS Client Utilities

The Flag Down Utility The Flag Down utility, FLAGDOWN.COM, is for MS-DOS clients. It removes the Mail flag that appears when you are running Monitor or Micro with the Flag option specified and receive new mail. If you don't run the Flag Down utility, you can make the flag disappear by pressing the hot key.

The Hot Key Utility The Hot Key utility, HOTKEY.EXE, is for MS-DOS clients. It allows you to check your Monitor or Micro hot key in case you have forgotten it.

The New Mail Utility The New Mail utility, NEWMAIL.EXE, is for MS-DOS clients. It allows you to check the postoffice for new mail, telling you the number of new mail items and the number of unread mail items that you have.

The Remove It Utility The Remove It utility, REMOVEIT.COM, is for MS-DOS clients. It removes the Micro program or the Monitor program from your workstation's memory.

The Remove Operator Utility The Remove Operator utility, REMOVEOP.COM, is for MS-DOS clients. It removes the Operator program from your workstation's memory.

Administrator Utilities

NOTE: You can run the Rebuild and Import utilities on both MS-DOS and Windows NT systems. All other utilities are for MS-DOS systems only.

The Re-sort Utility The Re-sort utility, RESORT.EXE, is for administrators. When address lists are exported, some countries sort their extended characters in a different order than others do. Re-sort allows you to sort the address lists in a way that is acceptable for your postoffice. See Appendix D of the Microsoft Mail Administrators Guide, "Using Microsoft Mail in an International Environment," for additional Re-sort utility applications.

The Folders Compression Utility The Folders Compression utility, FOLDCOMP.EXE, is for administrators and MS- DOS clients. It recovers disk space from folders. There may be space to recover if mail has been deleted from the folders since the last time the folders were compressed. The most common use of the Folders Compression utility is by MS-DOS client users, to compress folders that have been moved to hard disk storage on their own computers. Most administrators use the Local-Admin Folders Compress option to compress folders on the server. However, administrators can also use the Folders Compression Utility.

The Rebuild Utility The Rebuild utility, REBUILD.EXE, is for administrators. It rebuilds the Global Address List (GAL).

The Global Address List (GAL) lists all the addresses that are accessible to users at your postoffice, combining entries from all address lists, including gateway lists. With it, users can select addresses from one list rather than moving through several lists. Use of the Global Address List is optional. When changes are made to any of the address lists at your postoffice, the Global Address List must be rebuilt so that it reflects the address changes. You can use the Rebuild utility to rebuild the Global Address List. If you use directory synchronization, it rebuilds the Global Address List for you. See Chapter 9 of the Microsoft Mail Administrator's Guide, "Global Directory Synchronization," for more information.

The Import Utility

Administrators can use the Import utility, IMPORT.EXE, to:

• Import local postoffice user information.
• Import external postoffice and gateway user information.
• Import users' names extracted from the LAN Manager account service or the Novell Bindery with the LMEXT.EXE and NOVEXT.EXE utilities.

Convert Utility The Convert utility converts version 2.1 MS-DOS, Windows, and Presentation Manager client folders to the version 3.0 format. It is described in the documentation for the Windows and Presentation Manager clients.

Move User Utility Use the Move User utility, MOVEUSER.EXE, to move users to another postoffice or delete users from your postoffice. To move users directly between postoffices, both postoffices must be connected by a direct MS-DOS drive. Move User copies the user's mail information to a new postoffice; it does not remove the user from the original postoffice. The user's Mail information remains until you delete it. If postoffices are not on the same network, you can use Move User to export mailboxes to a file that can be imported into a postoffice on another network.

Microsoft Mail Gateway to AT&T Mail

Also included in Microsoft Mail 3.5 is the Microsoft Mail Gateway to AT&T Mail. This is a software package that provides connectivity of Microsoft Mail software to the AT&T Mail network. Connectivity of Microsoft Mail to AT&T Mail through the Gateway lets users of Microsoft Mail communicate globally using the AT&T Mail service. Users must have contact AT&T Mail in order to establish an account and obtain the appropriate software before using this gateway. Please refer to the Microsoft Mail Gateway to AT&T Mail Administrator's Guide for additional information.

Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer for Microsoft Mail for Windows.

Also included with Microsoft Mail 3.5 is the Electronic Forms Designer software that was previously should as a separate package that compliments

Microsoft Mail for Windows. The Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer is a set of a tools for developing powerful electronic forms to use with Microsoft Mail electronic mail system. With Electronic Forms Designer, you use Microsoft Visual Basic version 2.0 Professional Edition programming system for Windows to develop your forms and use Microsoft's messaging application programming interface (MAPI) for access to the messaging system. The Designer consists of function libraries, sample forms, a browsing application (the Browser), and a generic template that you use as a foundation for all of your forms. The electronic forms (eforms) you develop can structure information and automate complex tasks. When you install these forms as Microsoft Mail custom message types, users can electronically route structured information to coworkers anywhere on their on their network. Please refer to the Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer Developer's Guide for more information.

Please reference the following documentation in the Microsoft Mail for PC Networks version 3.5 package:

Microsoft Electronic Forms Designer "Developer's Guide" for more information. Microsoft Mail Gateway to AT&T Mail "Administrator's Guide" for additional information. Microsoft Mail Administrator's Guide, Appendix A "Administrator Utilities."