Managing IMAP

Outlook Express

Outlook Express (OE) comes bundled with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser. Like Netscape Messenger, OE is popular by virtue of being free.

One drawback is that, in order to install Outlook Express, you’ll have to install the entire Internet Explorer (IE) package. That may be daunting to those who don’t have copious hard drive space to spare. The “standard” installation, which is the most basic installation you can use and still install OE, requires 72 MB of disk. The disk space required to run IE/OE once it’s installed is 47 MB.

Although many people prefer Netscape Messenger over OE, OE generally behaves better with IMAP servers. Overall, OE works well for users who are looking for a bare-bones IMAP client that is quick, intuitive, easy to set up for the first time, and easy to use. Internet Explorer and OE are available for Windows 95/98/NT, Macintosh, and Unix. To download a free copy of Outlook Express, visit http://www.microsoft.com/ie/.

Features

Ease of use

Outlook Express is incredibly easy to install, set up, switch to from other email clients, and use. In fact, OE has a facility for importing mail client configurations and address books from other mail clients (the next section, “Configuration ,” shows you how).

Supports SSL

A great benefit of using Outlook Express is that it supports SSL. You may be concerned about sending passwords in cleartext over your network. Your users can use OE and connect via SSL to your SSL-enabled IMAP server—and passwords will cross the net encrypted.

Advanced searching

OE offers more than just simple searches on message headers. OE allows you to search for a message in a folder and all of its sub-folders. In addition to standard searching by message header fields (sender, recipient, subject line, date), you can also search the message body and certain types of message attachments for a text string.

Performance over slow connections

To improve performance, OE downloads mail in the background, leaving you free to do other tasks while your INBOX is being populated. You also have the option of setting a size threshold on messages to prevent long downloads if you’re on a slow connection.

Configuration

If you’re running Outlook Express for the first time...

When you launch OE for the first time, a Wizard will automatically appear and prompt you for the information it needs to set up your configuration. If you have not run OE before, then getting started is easy. Simply launch Outlook Express, answer the questions the Wizard asks you—and that’s all there is to it!

If you’re switching from another client to OE, OE will allow you to import your data from that client to OE. OE will import mail, address books, and configuration settings from the following clients:

• Eudora Light (through Version 3.0)

• Eudora Pro (through Version 3.0)

• Netscape Mail (Version 2.0 or 3.0)

• Netscape Messenger (Communicator)

• Microsoft Exchange Client

• Microsoft Windows Messaging

• Microsoft Internet Mail and News

To import existing data from one of those clients:

1. Select File/Import.

2. Select either address book or messages.

3. Select the application you are importing the mail messages or address book entries from.

4. A Wizard will appear to assist you through the rest of the process.

If you can’t conjure up the Wizard...

If you’ve run OE before with POP and now wish to begin using it to read your IMAP mail, or if the Wizard does not appear when you start it up for the first time for whatever reason:

1. Select Tools/Accounts.

2. Click on the Mail tab.

3. Click on the Add button and select Mail....

The Wizard will appear and ask you for your name, the name of your IMAP server, and the name of your outgoing SMTP server.