MailAlert 2.50 – Read Me file

Thank you for trying MailAlert 2.5!  We have included several changes and enhancements that our customers have asked for, plus some bug fixes.  Try it out and be sure to let us know what you think. To reach us on the internet, go to http://www.MailAlert.com and click Support.

Free Upgrade for Registered Users of MailAlert 2.0+

The upgrade to version 2.5 is free to all registered users of MailAlert 2.0 or higher.  You will continue to have the full-featured version of MailAlert after upgrading.  Simply download the installation file from our web site and install it over the old version.

If you are a registered user of MailAlert 1.0 through 1.65, and would like to use the advanced features of MailAlert, please see the MailAlert web site for upgrade pricing information.

Download Note:

In order to make the size of our installation file smaller (and reduce the time it takes to download), we are no longer including Microsoft’s Windows Media Player with MailAlert.  This is required to play video or movie notifications such as the spinning ‘e’ movie.  

If you do not have Windows Media Player, or your version is too old, you can download the latest version from:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/mediaplayer/

Improvements in version 2.50 and higher of MailAlert:

•	HTML Message Previews

•	Faster POP3 Access

•	Keyboard Shortcuts in all dialogs

Here is the list of improvements in version 2.20 and higher of MailAlert:

•	The Envelope Information window now contains a toolbar with the most common functions (Run Mail, Delete, Reply, Reply All, Forward, Compose, etc.).  Some users even use MailAlert as their only mail program, since it is now like a mini-email client.

•	The list of messages in the Envelope Information window can be sorted by any column by clicking on the column heading.

•	A “Show Only New Messages” option has been added to Envelope Information Options.

•	The Message Preview window now contains a toolbar with the most common functions (Run Mail, Delete, Reply, Reply All, Forward, Compose, etc.).

•	You can Compose a new message from any of your mail accounts using a new Compose sub-menu on the main menu.

•	The Mailboxes setup screen shows all icons and mail accounts in a convenient tree format (and icons appear exactly as they will in the taskbar).

•	Icon colors can be customized by substituting any color with any other color (on the icon properties screen).  This screen shows a preview of every state of the icon (normal, new mail, checking, suspended, etc.).

•	Custom icon sets are supported -- instead of accepting the built-in mailbox icons, MailAlert taskbar icons can now come from an external icon library (.ICL) file.  Several versions of mailboxes and holiday icon sets (.ICL files) are included with the program and are in the MailAlert program folder.  Users are free to design their own icon set files and use them in MailAlert.

•	Each schedule entry now can control whether each mail account should be dialed before checking, or only checked if already connected.  This allows more or less frequent checking of mail when you are online vs. when you are not online.

•	Custom Notification conditions can now include "To" and "Cc".

•	Outlook 2000 compatibility.

•	Messages previewed in MailAlert can be automatically marked as read in MAPI and IMAP4-compliant mail programs using a new option.

•	Scheduled suspension of MailAlert is now supported.  When adding a schedule entry, it can be either a normal schedule entry or a “Suspend” entry.  This is most applicable to mail systems that are on network servers and cannot be backed-up overnight if MailAlert is left running.  It also applies to anyone who would like to leave their computer on but turn MailAlert off on a regular schedule.

•	The Help System has been greatly expanded with how-to information, how MailAlert works, inventive ways to use MailAlert, and a troubleshooting guide.

•	More video formats are supported by the Continuous Movie Player.  Besides AVI, we now support MOV, MPEG, MPG, QT, and RAM files.

•	MailAlert can now run your mail program as a default or custom notification action.  

•	When prompting whether to Stay Connected after a mail check, a sound file or other file can be played, so that you will know to come back to the computer from another location and decide.

•	Network (socket) errors are now handled more gracefully, timing out after a period rather than trying to connect indefinitely (and seeming to be hung).

•	MailAlert will warn you days before it is going to expire rather than waiting until it is already expired.

•	New and Unread message counts are more accurate for POP3 accounts, and the user can choose whether New and Unread messages from previous mail checks should remain displayed in the Envelope Information window after subsequent mail checks.

•	Activity Log messages have been improved to indicate why mail might not be checked under various dialing conditions.

•	Windows Media Player is now required for video notifications.

Features in All Versions of MailAlert

•	Checks mail without having to keep your mail program running.
•	Works with LAN-based or modem-based server connections.
•	If necessary, will dial the modem, check for mail, and hang up.
•	For MAPI-compliant mail systems, downloads and uploads full messages into the mail client program, not just message headers.
•	Incredibly flexible scheduling: there is no mail checking schedule that cannot be defined in MailAlert's scheduler.
•	Custom notifications: based on author or subject (and now message text), notify differently, such as with a beep, message window, sound or movie clip, or run ANY program with parameter passing. In particular, many users have set up MailAlert with a paging program to page them when any (or specific) mail messages arrive.
•	Multiple mail account support in one running copy of MailAlert: any combination of POP3, IMAP4, and MAPI-compliant mail accounts.
•	Each mail account can have its own checking schedule and mail client program assigned.
•	Multiple mailbox icons can be created in the system tray (taskbar), each having one or more mail accounts assigned (icons indicate new mail and give access to menus).  Each icon can have a different color and a name.
•	Icon security: each icon in the system tray can be "locked down" to prevent prying eyes from reading or composing mail with someone else's account.
•	Spinning 'e' Notification - A new video player that repeatedly plays a movie when new mail is found.  When clicked, can then optionally show the Envelope Information window.
•	Support for the newer IMAP4 mail servers such as Netscape Messaging Server.
•	Support for SMTP mail send protocol - Compose Message works for non-MAPI users. 
•	Quick forward and reply from the envelope dialog or message preview window.
•	Auto-forward and Auto-reply are custom notification options.
•	SPAM screening - automatic deletion or auto-response is a custom notification option.
•	Automatic Printing of incoming messages is a custom notification option.
•	Easier Setup - MailAlert will detect settings from most popular e-mail programs and configure itself with those settings.
•	Full preview of POP3, IMAP, and MAPI messages.
•	Envelope Information Window can be resized and moved, and its columns can be customized (order and appearance).  These settings will be remembered.
•	Envelope Information Window can be used to preview, forward, reply, delete, hide, and create custom notifications based on a selected message on the fly, without opening a mail program.
•	Custom Notifications can check against the full message text as a criteria.
•	Parameter passing (for running other programs) can include message text.
•	Check Now feature can check all accounts or selected accounts.

Supported Mail Systems

Supported POP3 and IMAP4 systems

Eudora Light and Pro
Netscape
Microsoft Internet Mail & News
Microsoft Outlook Express
Microsoft Outlook 98 Internet Mail Only version
Microsoft Outlook 2000 Internet Mail Only version
Pegasus Mail
Compuserve “classic” with POP3 mail
Any other POP3 or IMAP4 mail system

Supported MAPI systems

Inbox
Microsoft Exchange
Microsoft Outlook 97
Microsoft Outlook 98 Corporate/Workgroup version
Microsoft Outlook 2000 Corporate/Workgroup version
Windows Messaging
cc:Mail Service for MAPI
Compuserve “classic” Mail Service for the above programs
Internet Mail Service for the above programs
Lotus Notes Service for the above programs
Any other MAPI-compliant mail system

Unsupported Mail Systems

MailAlert does not work with the following mail systems because these systems do not comply with POP3, IMAP4 or MAPI standards:

AOL - America Online mail
Compuserve 2000
MSN - Microsoft Network Online Service*
Pegasus Mail for Netware LANs
Browser-only** services:
	Excite
	Hotmail
	Juno
	Yahoo
	ZDNet

* MSN is now POP3-compliant, but requires Secure Password Authentication, which MailAlert does not currently support.

** Free, browser-based email services that offer standard POP3 service for an additional charge ARE supported.

How to get started using MailAlert

MailAlert is able to set itself up by reading the settings from many popular e-mail programs.  Currently, MailAlert will set itself up for only the first mail account from any one mail program.  If you have more than one mail account in the same mail program, you will have to manually set up any accounts other than the first one.
 
1. The first time MailAlert runs, it will detect all of the Supported Mail Programs installed on your computer and present you with a list of detected programs.

2. Select the program that you regularly use to read your mail, and that you would like MailAlert to get its settings from, and press OK.

3. MailAlert will detect all of the settings for your first account only from that mail program and import them into MailAlert.  The settings will be displayed to you on the MailAlert Account Properties screens.  If you have more than one mail account in the same mail program, you will have to manually set up any accounts other than the first one.

4a. For POP3 and IMAP4 systems (see above for a list), the only setting that you must enter yourself is your email password.  Go to the Mailbox Setup page by clicking on those words on the tabs at the top.  Enter your email password in the Password field.  This is the password assigned to your email account, not your dialup account password.  The password must be filled in or MailAlert will not be able to check for mail

4b. For MAPI systems (see above for a list), the password should be left blank.  The password is not the personal folders password from your mail program.

5. Go to the Connection page by clicking on that word on the tabs at the top.  Select what type of connection you will be using to check for mail on this account.  If you are always connected to a network, select LAN from the list.  If you must dial a modem to connect, select Dial Up – Any Connection or Dial Up – Default Connection Only.  This refers to whether mail can be checked on this account when you are connected to any of your Dial Up Networking connections, or only when you are connected to the connection name specified below it.

6. Press OK and OK again.

This completes the automatic account setup process.  The above procedure can be repeated for each mail account that you would like MailAlert to check, if and only if you use a different mail program for each of those accounts.  If you use the same mail program to read mail from more than one mail account, you must use the manual set up instructions for any accounts other than the first one, because MailAlert can only automatically get the settings from the first mail account from any one mail program.  See MailAlert Help for manual setup instructions.

You should now test MailAlert to see if it correctly checks your email.  To do so, right-click on the mailbox icon in the taskbar, and select Check Now.  If there is new mail waiting, a window should pop up on the screen and the mailbox icon should begin flashing.  If there is no new mail waiting, you will not see a change.  If an error indicator (yellow X in a red circle) appears over the mailbox icon, you should go to the Troubleshooting Procedure to determine the cause.

Please see MailAlert Help for instructions on customizing MailAlert further.

The MailAlert Icon

When the MailAlert icon is visible, you have several ways to interact with it:

Mouse Action					Default Behavior
Move mouse over the icon		Displays the icon name and information about the
					number of New and Unread messages on the mail
					accounts assigned to the icon

Right-click					Displays the MailAlert menu

Left Double-click				*	Starts or activates up the mail program assigned to
					the default mail account for the icon

Shift+Left Double-click		*	Brings up a Compose Message window for the
					default mail account assigned to the icon

Ctrl+Left Double-click			*	Performs a Check Now command on the mail
					accounts assigned to the icon

Left-click and hold				*	Displays the Envelope Information window

Shift+Left-click				*	Displays MailAlert Properties settings

Ctrl+Left-click				*	Suspends or Unsuspends MailAlert

* All marked mouse actions are customizable on the Properties - Mailboxes - Icon Properties - Mouse Actions screen.  Their default behaviors are shown above

How To Register:

Price: $15 per copy. New York State Residents must add 7% Sales Tax.

Volume Pricing Schedule

Please see our web site at http://www.MailAlert.com for the latest pricing information.

Payment Methods

You can pay via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) by visiting our web site at http://www.MailAlert.com and placing a secure online credit card order.

Or - If you cannot place an online order, you can call us at the following phone number to place a credit card order:

(518) 371-0078

or - You can fax your order, including all information requested below, to:

(801) 383-5420

or - Send us a check or money order [DRAWN ON A U.S. BANK] made payable to Diamond Ridge, Inc.  Our address is:

Diamond Ridge, Inc.
Attn: Software Registration
3 Cabot Way
Clifton Park, NY  12065

Or - Contact us and we can send you an invoice if you need one for a purchase order, or arrange for a wire transfer for international orders (purchase orders and wire transfers accepted for orders of 5 licenses or more).

What You Will Receive

We will email you your registration name and number within 24 hours of receiving your order (excluding weekends and US holidays).  If you do not have an Internet email address, we will use US Postal mail to send you the information.  You should then enter this name and number into MailAlert’s registration screen, and you will then have a registered copy of MailAlert which has all features enabled and will no longer display advertisements.  We recommend that you print and save the mail message that we send you, in case you ever have to reinstall MailAlert or buy a new computer or hard drive.  Reinstallation of MailAlert is not necessary when registering.

To keep the cost of MailAlert low and to provide the fastest possible service, there are no diskettes, CDs or printed documentation available.  The email message that you receive containing your registration name and number is your proof-of-purchase, and it should be printed and filed away.

In addition to your payment, we need the following information to register the software:

Name:
Mailing address:
Telephone number:
E-mail address:
Number of copies:
Windows system and version:
Do you want to be informed of new versions of MailAlert?
Do you want to be informed of other Diamond Ridge, Inc. products?
Company:
Title:
E-mail system:
How you heard about this product:
Where you got your copy of MailAlert from:

To Remove MailAlert:

From the control panel Add/Remove programs, highlight MailAlert in the list and click the Add/Remove... button.  You can also remove MailAlert by choosing Uninstall MailAlert from the MailAlert folder under Start Programs.

MailAlert Revision History

Version 2.54, 5/21/2001

•	Removed all traces of Conducent Ad ware

Version 2.50, 12/8/2000

•	HTML Message Previews
•	Faster POP3 Access
•	Keyboard Shortcuts in all dialogs

Version 2.33, 1/4/2000

Version 2.32,

Version 2.31,

Version 2.30, 9/15/99

Version 2.20, 6/17/99

Version 2.11, 4/13/99

Version 2.10, 4/1/99

Version 2.10 Beta 3, 2/27/99

Version 2.10 Beta 2, 1/27/99

Version 2.10 Beta, 12/11/98

Version 2.02, 4/26/98

Version 2.01, 4/11/98

Version 2.00, 4/6/98

Version 1.65, 11/10/97

•	Suppressed switch-back to Windows mode while in full-screen DOS mode and MailAlert dials
•	Corrected missing RASAPI32.DLL message when running on NT and LAN-connected
•	Installed workaround for bugs in Eudora (Mac) and Solstice POP3 mail servers which prevented Preview and Delete from working with those servers

Version 1.64, 10/22/97

•	Users of a new major version will have 30 days to evaluate it (without requiring an extension number) even if they evaluated MaiAlert in the past
•	Corrected Dial Up Networking Connection name not being remembered on Mailbox Setup
•	Corrected Init error when running MailAlert twice to display Properties pages 
•	Corrected Help file for missing references to topics when pressing Help buttons

Version 1.63, 10/17/97

•	Added open and closed envelope icons to the Envelope Information window, to signify a message has been previewed
•	Corrected editable field for dial up networking Connection name
•	If Outlook or Outlook Express is chosen as mail system, Run Mail Program will activate the running copy rather than starting a new instance of the mail program
•	LAN-connected users will no longer receive a warning about an empty phonebook
•	POP3 users who do not have MAPI components installed on their PC will no longer have a problem running MailAlert

Version 1.62, 8/12/97

•	Corrected problems with automatic redial
•	Added redial for conditions other than line busy (no answer, port already open, no dialtone)
•	Restored auto-minimize of Dial Up Networking connection message box
•	Made Properties accessible while MailAlert is suspended

Version 1.61, 6/11/97

•	Fixed problem of looking for MAPI32.DLL when MAPI is not being used
•	Fixed checking for new mail on startup if ‘Check only if already connected’ is chosen

Version 1.60, 6/6/97

•	No longer requires Dial Up Networking (RAS) to be installed for network-connected users
•	NT users no longer need Administrative privileges to register or extend MailAlert
•	Mail server IP addresses, as well as names, are now accepted
•	‘Always on Top’ setting now available for Envelope Information window
•	Multiple selection of messages from Envelope Information window, for deleting or hiding
•	POP3 mail password is hidden in log, to avoid security breaches
•	Option to Stay Connected whether new mail was found, always, or never
•	Added support for ‘Redial if busy'
•	Installs to completion on Windows NT
•	‘Viewlog’ command line parameter added for shortcut key assignment
•	Author field no longer becomes corrupted in Envelope Info window after message is read
•	Activity Log window no longer appears off-screen if the taskbar is not kept at the bottom
•	Any POP3 connection problems will be indicated by an X on the MailAlert icon
•	Actions on MailAlert menu are now disabled while MailAlert is suspended

Version 1.55, 1/11/97

•	Fixed extension algorithm to properly save extension numbers so that MailAlert can be evaluated for an additional 30 days

Version 1.54, 12/31/96

•	Added copy button to View Log dialog (copies log to clipboard).
•	Added button to jump to Diamond Ridge website from registration dialog.
•	Fixed bug of being notified that MailAlert has expired after you enter the registration number.
•	Added command line parameters [checknow, runmail, activate, compose]. You can use these to send a command to a running copy of MailAlert. Most useful when used in conjuction with a keyboard shortcut on an icon (see MailAlert Help).

Version 1.53, 12/14/96

•	Fixed problem of not checking for new POP3 mail at scheduled times if directly connected to network

Version 1.52, 12/6/96

•	Preview and Delete buttons fixed
•	Fixed keys on Stay Connected dialog
•	Changing configurations between stay logged on and not stay logged on, it now immediately logs you off or on as appropriate 
•	Timing changes to prevent hangup and lockup problems

Version 1.51, 12/4/96

•	"Force MAPI Download" checkbox removed - flag determined programmatically
•	POP3 errors fixed - finds all messages, Preview and Delete work again
•	POP3: the from field contains: friendly name <machine.name> useful for custom notification rules
•	Envelope dialog is shown if checked, unless Ignore all but Custom Notifications is checked
•	Envelope dialog is put on top, but does not remain on top (this was obscuring other dialog boxes and error messages, so it seemed as if Dial Up Networking could not be accessed).
•	Envelope dialog focus is not set so Stay Connected dialog will have focus

Version 1.50, 12/1/96

•	Extensive rewrite from version 1.0x
•	POP3 support in addition to MAPI support
•	Built-in support for Dial Up Networking
•	Better error handling and Logging
•	Multiple mailbox support
•	Flexible scheduling
•	Message preview
•	Parameter passing to external applications for notification