Frequently Asked Questions

Advanced stationery:
Here's a list of questions (and answers) that have occured or might occur when using my advanced stationery. In case you have any problems, please read them carefully.

1) Who can use this advanced stationery?
2) Who can receive the advanced stationery?
3) What happens if I send the stationery to somebody whose e-mail client does not show the stationery as intended?
4) How come that some people cannot see the stationery properly?
5) How do I know what email software somebody uses?
6) How do I use your stationery?
7) When I open the downloaded ".eml" file it looks kind of funny...have I done anything wrong?
8) How can I check the look of my e-mail before I send it?
9) How come I cannot see the stationery correctly, not even in the preview mode?
10) I changed my settings but still cannot see the stationery as intended...
11) Is it dangerous to change the security settings?

1) Who can use this advanced stationery?
All those who use Outlook Express (5.0 or higher) for sending their mails and have not deactivated "Scripting". Actually Netscape users (6.1 and higher) can send this sort of stationery also as I offer mine as ".eml" files I think they cannot open it. (Outlook should work also, just try...I don't have Outlook.) If you use the AOL e-mail software you cannot use this stationery!

2) Who can receive the advanced stationery?
Everybody who receive their mail with Outlook Express (scripting enabled), Netscape (6.1 or higher) or IncrediMail. (Outlook should work also.) Recipients who use the AOL software cannot view the stationery correctly! Do not use it for writing to people who use yahoo or hotmail webmail, they cannot even see your text.

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3) What happens if I send the stationery to somebody whose e-mail client does not show the stationery as intended?
The recipient doesn't see the effects and some images might be missing also. They see your mail as you see it in the compose mode. They see an explaining message at the top of the mail but usually can still read your text. Do not use it for writing to people who use yahoo or hotmail webmail, they cannot even see your text. The best is if you only use this stationery for recepients who use Outlook Express or IncrediMail for their emailing.

4) How come that some people cannot see the stationery properly?
Because it includes so called java scripts that are not run by all e-mail clients. AOL is one of them, also webmail services like yahoo or hotmail. (Not unless you receive your yahoo and hotmail mails with OE.)

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5) How do I know what email software somebody uses?
Hightlight an e-mail you received from this friend and then click on "File" and "Properties". In the next window you click on "Details". Scroll down to the line "X:Mailer:", there you can read what mail program was used.
Samples:

screenshot

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Second sample is for AOL, it only tells you the version but there you know from the e-mail address that AOL was used.

6) How do I use your stationery?
Nothing easier than that: you unzip the downloaded file, it contains an ".eml" file. Save this file somewhere on your hard drive where it's easy to find. (I myself have a "stationery" folder on my desktop.) If you doubleclick on the e-mail file it opens as a new "compose window". Just type your text in the text area, then send your mail.

7) When I open the download ".eml" file it looks kind of funny...have I done anything wrong?
No, you haven't! It's absolutely normal that your mail looks strange in the compose mode. Your mail will look ok when you send it. To check the look of your mail you can click on "Preview" at the bottom of your e-mail window. (If you don't see it, first click on "View" and then on "Souce Edit". Then you find the options "Edit", "Source" and "Preview" at the bottom of your screen.)

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8) How can I check the look of my e-mail before I send it?
see 6)

9) How come I cannot see the stationery correctly, not even in the preview mode?
In this case your security settings do not allow scripting. To change the settings of your OE, go to the main window and click on "Tools" and "Options". Then click on the "Security" tab, under "Virus Protection" select "Internet Zone". Click "OK" to exit. Now you should be able to view your stationery as intended. (Now you have the same settings for OE and Internet Explorer.)

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10) I changed my settings but still cannot see the stationery as intended...
The the default security settings for your Internet Explorer have been changed, so that scripting is disabled. Run the IE and click on "Tools" and "Internet Options" and then on the "Security" tab. Click on "Restricted Sites" and under "Security level for this zone" on "Custom Level".
In the window for "Security Settings" scroll down to the top level entry "Scripting" and then enable "Active Scripting". Click on "OK" and then "Yes" when you are asked if you really want to change your settings. Clik "OK" again to close the window.

11) Is it dangerous to change the security settings?
There's always a risk, nobody is "safe" in the internet. You have enabled scripting but personaly I think that the chance of getting a virus by scripting is very low. Much more important than this setting is having an updated antivirus programm and a firewall.
I once disabled scripting and gave up after a while. On every other website I had little windows popping up telling me the website could not be displayed properly, or my window simply remained empty. Most webmasters use little java scripts on their websites and surfing without scripting was just no fun. So I returned to the default settings...

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For more info please visit the Scrippy homepage


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