FAQ - How can I read and write e-mail offline?

Many users aren't aware that it's possible to read and write email offline while they're not actually connected to the Internet. You only need to be connected for the few seconds it takes to collect your new mail and send any new messages you've written. The most time consuming part of email - reading and writing it, especially for "hunt-and-peck" typists, can be performed offline. You can take your time and enjoy reading or writing several messages, then log on just to send and receive new messages.

This frees up your phone line so that the rest of the family can use it for voice calls. At the same time you are doing your part by not tying up one of Local Access's modem lines unnecessarily. The result of this will be continued reasonable prices and very few busy signals for everyone.

It's well worth the trouble to learn and it's easy. Here's how to do it with 3 popular E-Mail programs!

Eudora Lite - Both PC & Mac

1. Start Eudora then click on the "Special" menu, then on "Settings". (Note: Some versions of Eudora will require you to click on the "Tools" menu, then on "Options" instead)
2. You will see a row of icons along the left side of the window.  Scroll down until you see the "Checking Mail" icon and click on it.
3. Where you see "Check for mail every _____ minutes", type 0.
4. Now click on the "Sending Mail" icon and make sure the "Immediate send" box is unchecked.
5. Finally, click on "OK".
6. Only Windows 95 users will need to perform one additional step. Mac and Windows 3.1 users can skip it:  If you do not already have a "Shortcut to Local Access" icon on the desktop area of your computer screen, double-click on "My Computer", then on "Dial-up Networking".  Use your mouse to drag the "Local Access" icon out onto your desktop.  When you release your mouse button, Windows 95 will complain and pop up a message which reads: "You cannot move or copy this item to this location.  Would you like to create a shortcut to the item instead?".  Simply click "Yes".  The shortcut you have just created will come in handy, as you will soon see.

The above steps are a one-time process and will only need to be performed the first time, but they are important if you are going to do your mail offline with no problems.  The following steps will lead you through how to write mail offline, then logon to send it and check your mail:

1. Start Eudora Lite without dialing in to your Internet account.
2. Compose a new message just as you normally do. 
3. When you are finished writing your message, you'll notice that, instead of the "Send" button you normally see on your message, the button is labeled "Queue".  This is because of the configuration changes we made in the first part of these instructions.  Click on this "Queue" button".
4. Your message will be sent into your Outbox instead of being sent immediately to its destination. You can write and "Queue" as many messages as you like.
5. When you are ready to actually send the messages you have written you'll need to either minimize Eudora's window or close the program.
6. Dial in to your Internet account in your normal manner.  (Windows 95 users should dial with the "Shortcut to Local Access" created earlier in this lesson).
7. Once you are connected, restore or start Eudora.
8. Click on "File", then on "Send Queued Messages".  Any messages you sent to your outbox while you were offline will now be sent to their respective recipients.
9. You can also use this opportunity to check your mail, then hang up your modem connection and take your time reading any new messages
10. That's it!

Netscape Mail - PC & Mac

1. Start your Netscape browser.  If you are using Windows 95 or a MacIntosh computer your dialer may pop up when you start your browser.  It may even begin to dial in on its own.  If this happens, click "Cancel" or "Quit".
2. When Netscape's screen becomes visible click on "Stop" as quickly as possible.  Occasionally with MacIntosh computers the dialer is rather persistent and continues trying to dial.  If your Mac does this just keep clicking on "Quit" and "Stop" until it gives up.
3. If Netscape tells you it cannot locate the server or gives you some other error message, click "OK".  This is normal.  The reason is: You are not connected to the Internet, so of course Netscape can't locate the server.
4. Click on the "Envelope" icon in the lower right corner of your screen to enter Netscape Mail.
5. Note:  This item is a one-time process to configure the program correctly for Local Access's system.  Click on "Options", then on "Mail and News Preferences", then on the "Servers" tab.  Toward the middle of the screen there is an item labeled "Check for Mail".  In the space provided you should change the number to 30 or greater.  It may now have a lower number but you should change it.  Click on "OK".
6. Click on the "To: Mail" icon to begin a new message.
7. On the "Netscape - [Message Composition]" window click on the "Options" menu. (Note: do not confuse this with the "Options" menu that also appears at the top of your Netscape Mail window.)  From the "Options" menu click on "Deferred Delivery".  This step will only need to be performed the first time you write mail offline.
8. Write your message, then click  the "Send" button. (or in the case of MacIntosh computers the button will now say "Send Later")  Your message will be sent to your "Outbox" rather than to it's recipient.  You can take your time writing as many messages as you like and sending them to your "Outbox".  All the while you are doing this your phone line is available for your family to use for normal phone calls and Local Access's line is free for other users to enjoy!
9. Now minimize or close Netscape.  A window may pop up asking if you would like to send the messages in your "Outbox".  Click "No" (You are not online yet so it's not possible to send messages).
10. When you are ready to send the messages in your "Outbox" to their destinations, dial in to your Internet account just as you normally do. (Windows 95 users can dial with the "Shortcut to Local Access").
11. Restore or start Netscape and click on the "Envelope" icon in the lower right of your screen.
12. Click on the "File" menu, then on "Send Messages in Outbox".
13. You are finished!

Microsoft Internet Mail Version 3 - Windows 95

1. Start Microsoft Internet Explorer.  If your dialer window pops up, click "Cancel".  Wait until your Internet Explorer window has finished loading.  If you receive an error message just click "OK".  Your Internet Explorer is not able to find the home page because you are not connected to the Internet and this is normal.
2. Click on "Mail", then on "Read Mail".
3. Note:  This item is a one-time process to configure the program correctly for Offline mail.  At the top of your Internet Mail window click on "Mail" then on "Options", then on the "Send" tab.  Make sure the box labeled "Send Messages Immediately" is NOT CHECKED, then click on the "Checking Mail" tab and make sure the "Check for New Messages every ____ Minutes" box is either unchecked, or if it is checked, that the number entered here is 30 or higher, then click on "OK".
4. Now click on "New Message" and compose your message.  When you are finished click the "Send" envelope in the upper right corner of your message window.  Your message will be sent to your outbox.  
5. You can take your time writing and "sending" as many messages as you like.  Your phone line will be free for your family to use for normal voice phone calls and Local Access's modem line will be free for some other user to enjoy.
6. When you are finished writing messages you can either minimize or close your Internet Mail/Internet Explorer program(s).  If a window pops up asking if you would like to send the messages in your Outbox, choose "No" (because you aren't connected to the Internet, so it's impossible to send any messages until you dial in and establish a connection.
7. When you are ready to send your mail to it's final destination, dial into your Internet account like you normally do, then restore or start your Internet Explorer.  Click on the "Mail menu, then on "Read Mail" and click on the "Send and Receive" button to send the messages in your "Outbox" out onto the Internet and at the same time receive any new mail that might be waiting for you.
8. Thats all there is to it!

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"Offline E-Mail FAQ" by Mark Carrier

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