PC DOS: New Features in 3.0 MS-DOS Client

• Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, MS-DOS workstation, version 3.0

The following is a list of features new in version 3.0 of the Microsoft Mail for PC Networks MS-DOS client:

Readme Is Not Copied During Installation

If a README.TXT file exists, it is not copied to the server by the installation program.

Low Density Disks Are No Longer Supported

Installation from 360K disks is no longer supported; the disk media should be either two 720K, 3.5-inch disks or one 1.2 MB, 5.25-inch disk.

Global Address List

The Global Address List entry appears as the first entry in the address list dialog box used to address mail and the Global entry appears in the address list dialog box that appears after the Address/Browse command if Global Address List is enabled in the Mail Administrator program for the postoffice.

Orphaned Personal Address List (PAL) Entry Behavior

If an invalid address is found in the PAL while the MS-DOS client is trying to transmit mail, the message "ALIAS NO LONGER VALID" will appear, followed by the alias and the list in which it was found. The prompt line will display the message, "Remove address from your list?"

Printer Port Selection Under Print/Configuration

There is a new menu item named Port. Selecting this command results in moving the input focus to the port display line and highlights the port that was previously selected. The user can now change the selection.

The numbers 1, 2, and 3 for the port choices are highlighted and indicate that you can use the corresponding accelerator key to make a selection.

Macbinary Support

The MS-DOS client only saves the data fork of attachments that are saved to disk and are marked as type Macbinary. Automatic detection of Macbinary attachments is not supported.

This means that a Macbinary file can arrive via a gateway and the MS-DOS client will not decode the attachment if the user tries to save it.

Compose Accelerator Keys Highlighted

On the compose screen, the accelerator keys for the fields TO, CC, SUBJECT, PRIORITY, and ATTACHMENTS now are highlighted.

Retained Messages

If you press the ESC key to leave a reply or forward composition screen, you are prompted with the following question:

   Retain this message in compose buffer?

The "Retain this message in compose buffer" prompt only appears if the preference for confirmations is set to Yes.

The editin capabilities for a retained message will be the same as when the message is originally loaded. For example, you cannot edit the body of a forwarded message.

If you select Forward or Reply and there is a retained message in the compose buffer, you are prompted with the following question:

   Clear compose message?

Folders in CC List

The FOLDERS option (which was previously available for the TO list) appears as one of the address lists in the Address List dialog box when you select Carbon Copy (CC) recipients.

Command-Line Option Usage

If you use the Help (-? or -h) option on the command line, the Mail program displays a list of command-line options with usage descriptions. This same display appears if the Mail program cannot find the postoffice when you start Mail. The usage display is as follows:

   Usage:  mail [options] [mailbox]

      -<25-50>       Specify number of lines on screen
      -c             Indicate use of color monitor
      -d<drive>      Specify database location
      -e<drive:path> Specify location of graphics executables
      -h,-?          Show help
      -i<drive:path> Specify location to create temporary graphics files
      -n<1-999>      Set polling period in seconds
      -n0            Disable polling
      -p<password>   Specify password
      -sCGA,-sEGA,   Specify monitor type
      -sHERC,-sVGA,
      -sMONO
      -v             Reduce screen snow
      -x             Set notification method (see documentation)
      -w<1-15>       Set color scheme

Border Color Command-Line Option

The -w command-line option can now be used to set the border color. It must be followed by a number from 1 to 15, which corresponds to the following colors:

   Parameter   Color
   -----------------------------
       1       Blue
       2       Green
       3       Cyan
       4       Red
       5       Magenta
       6       Brown
       7       White
       8       Gray
       9       Bright blue
      10       Bright green
      11       Bright cyan
      12       Bright red
      13       Bright magenta
      14       Yellow
      15       Bright white

Message List Selections and Scroll Maintained

When you press the ESC key after reading a message from the Inbox or folder list, you will be returned to read mode with the same selections and scroll position maintained. To get back to the main menu, you must press the ESC key again. This behavior minimizes keystrokes for reading many messages and is consistent with the notion that using the ESC key brings the user up one level in the menu hierarchy. The previous behavior was to escape immediately to the main menu, clear all selections, and reset the scroll position.

Default Confirmation Preference

The preference screen now displays the following:

   What is default response to confirmation?

NOTE: To get to the Preferences screen, press the F3 key while you read a message.

Erase Changed to Delete

All occurrences of the word "Erase" have been changed to "Delete."