nPOPuk - Windows Mobile Details

Page updated 10 September 2010

[Top]  On this page:

• Overview

• Upgrading from old versions

• Setup (installation)

• GMail

• Yahoo

• Import email

• .ini settings changed

• Low memory error

• Mailbox archived

• Mailbox file names changed

• Mailbox shared

• Mailto: URL configured

• Moving an nPOPuk installation

• Portable use via flash card

• WM help pages

[Top]   Overview

• nPOPuk requires no installation, so can be moved portably from one device/computer to another.
• nPOPuk is configurable for port numbers, smtp authentication, and SSL, that is missing on some versions of Pocket Outlook.
• nPOPuk uses a standard mbox format for email storage; can save email as text file; can send/receive attachments (but can also avoid them when on dialup); supports email addressing to groups, via To:, Cc:, and Bcc:.
• nPOPuk works well with GMail, unlike the built-in Pocket Outlook. See GMail for how to configure GMail.

[Top]   Upgrading from old versions

• Because of changes to newer versions, once you upgrade, you should delete older versions of nPOP or nPOPuk. Old copies of data will be automatically migrated when accessed by nPOPuk, but for new data accessed by older versions there are no guarantees that data loss will not occur.
• The proprietary storage format used by older versions of nPOP and nPOPuk can now be converted to the standard mbox format (see also Importing email).
• nPOP.ini is replaced by nPOPuk.ini. If you have learned how to edit the .ini file, be sure to edit the correct one! You may delete the old nPOP.ini once the new nPOPuk.ini is automatically created by nPOPuk.
• The conversion to nPOPuk.ini does _not_ clear the value of DataFileDir (see .ini settings changed). This is a recommended step if you wish to be able to make usable copies of your nPOPuk data folder.

[Top]   Setup (installation)

1. Place nPOPuk.exe in an empty folder in either the main memory (RAM), or a storage card, of the Pocket PC.
   If nPOPuk is run from the storage card instead of the main memory, be sure the program Exits completely by using File/Exit before removing the card or turning off the machine. RAM is faster and doesn't need this extra care, but must be backed up to avoid data loss if the batteries run down, on older PPC devices.
2. Using File Explorer, copy the .exe file and go to My Device > Windows > Start Menu > Programs, and then Menu > Edit > Paste shortcut. This puts nPOPuk in the Programs list that drops down when tapping the Start. This step is optional, the alternative is to navigate to the folder containing nPOPuk when starting it up.
3. Open nPOPuk.exe and choose to import an ins file with account settings, or fill them in manually.

If the settings are too difficult to figure out, email someone who knows how to set up nPOPuk with this info:

• username
• POP address
• SMTP address
• SMTP authentication requirements
• SSL requirements
• any other info needed
• only send password if you want them to test the account, otherwise you can enter the password later

[Top]   GMail

• GMail requires the use of a secure interface protocol. Be sure to use the nPOPuk.exe version with built-in SSL.
• Edit the nPOPuk.ini file with a text editor, and change UseWindowsSSL=0 (default in a new install).
• In the account settings File > Mailbox > Edit > POP3, optionally check "Disable 'RETR' command" to avoid the "vanishing GMail syndrome". In that same tab, check "Enable SSL", and verify that the Port changes to 995 (or change it to 995 manually). Optionally, tap the setup button, and change SSL Type to TLS 1.0, and/or uncheck the Verify box; these could increase performance slightly, the latter via a slight risk of man-in-the-middle attacks if used via public networks. On Windows Vista, it seems necessary to uncheck the Verify box when using SSL, but Windows XP works when it is checked.
• In the SMTP tab, check both "Enable SMTP-AUTH" and "Enable SSL", and verify that the Port changes to 587 (or change it to either 587 or 465 manually). On Windows Vista, choose setup after "Enable SSL", and turn off the Verify checkbox.
• Login to GMail's webmail interface, tap Settings > Forwarding and POP. Under the POP Download section, select either "Enable POP for all mail" (this could be large), or to enable just newly incoming email, select "Enable POP only for mail that arrives from now on"

[Top]   Yahoo

Note also that when configuring Yahoo POP or SMTP on Windows Vista, to enable SSL, but then turn off the Verify checkbox in the setup dialog.

[Top]   Import email

nPOPuk mbox files can also be directly imported back to other programs that use or import mbox format files. For Mozilla and Eudora, just place the mbox file in the proper location, and it will be found the next time the program is restarted.

[Top]   .ini settings

The .ini file can be edited in 2 ways:
1. On soft keyboard tap Shift, then File > Global Options to open advanced global options editor.
2. Use PocketNotepad to open the .ini file and change values on these lines if you wish. nPOPuk should be closed before doing this. Save the .ini file after altering, then reopen nPOPuk.

.ini options...

• Anything after the = in the line DataFileDir= should be deleted. This allows the folder to be moved to other locations, and nPOPuk will still work okay... new installs of nPOPuk v2.03 and above make this the default setting.

  DataFileDir=
  

• This helps extend the time when sending a large attachment before a warning window pops up (but for normal use, smaller timeouts may be better):

  TimeoutInterval=300
  

• GMail use is best with this setting, and use the nPOPuk.exe file with internal SSL. Built-in SSL on the PPC/SP doesn't work well. (see also).

  UseWindowsSSL=0
  

[Top]   Low memory error

***The first remedy for low memory error messages is to soft reset the device, and run only nPOPuk. Other remedies are in notes 2-4.***

2: If a pop-up says "Error loading MailBox##.dat" then...
  a) rename dat file, or
  b) move dat file, or
  c) place storage card back in PC and delete from list, or delete attachments to reduce dat file size of the particular MailBox

3: If a pop-up says "Save File error Continue?" then...
  a) tap No
  b) close all other programs (if error message followed a large download, copy or move message to a savebox, or save attachments before proceeding to C, to save the download)
  c) delete from list, or delete attachments to reduce dat file size of the oversized MailBox   d) if error message persists, select Yes to exit nPOPuk without saving latest changes

4: If a pop-up says "Initialisation failure of 'npopssl.dll'" then...
  a) close all other programs
  b) move to the Account wanted, File > Save all to unload other mailboxes from memory. Then "Check" or "Update" this account only. Not "Check all" nor "Update all".
  c) delete from list, or delete attachments to reduce dat file size of this particular Account

[Top]   Mailbox archived

Finding the appropriate mailbox files during the archive process is easier if you perform Change Mailbox file names first, or archive only Saveboxes that have recognizable names.

Setup (performed once for each new storage device to contain archives)

1. Exit nPOPuk
2. Create an archive folder on the storage device.
3. Copy nPOPuk.exe into the folder.
4. Run the new copy on nPOPuk from the archive folder. It will ask for account settings, you can just cancel the dialog, resulting in an account titled "Untitled".
5. Choose File > Global Options > Advanced Tab. For Load mailboxes, choose an appropriate option other than "All at startup", as this folder may grow large in time.
6. Exit nPOPuk (archive copy). Setup is complete.

• Make a list of which mailboxes you wish to archive, by looking at their sizes in File Manager.
• Exit nPOPuk if it is running.
• Navigate to the archive folder, and run that copy of nPOPuk.
• For each mailbox FOO that you wish to archive...
  1. Import the Mailbox from your main nPOPuk directory (File > Mailbox > Add, select "Import Savebox" and tap OK).
  2. In the File Open dialog, navigate to the directory of your main copy of nPOPuk, and open the file which corresponds to Mailbox FOO.
  3. In the Import savebox dialog, add the -YYMMDD (use numbers representing today's date) to the second and third items (Copy to nPOPuk directory as) and (Savebox name). Then tap Import.
• Exit the archive copy of nPOPuk.
• Start the regular copy of nPOPuk, and delete all messages from the archived mailboxes.

[Top]   Mailbox file names changed

1. Close nPOPuk.
2. Rename the MailBox.dat file in the nPOPuk folder to match name in dropdown list...
   example - mb.gmail account.dat
3. Edit the nPOPuk.ini text file with new filename of mailbox similar to this...

        [MAILBOX-7]
        Name="GMail account"
        ...
        Filename="mb.gmail account.dat"
        Type=1
   

   You don't need the "mb." prefix, but it might be handy to keep all the Inboxes grouped together in a sorted file listing, and some such prefix would achieve that.

[Top]   Mailbox shared

1. This is a mbox format attachment. Save it as a file, and note where.
2. Import the saved mailbox via File > Mailbox > Add, select Import Savebox, and tap OK.
3. In the file open dialog, choose the recently saved attachment file.
4. Optionally change the filename and name of the new savebox, and tap Import.
5. The messages within the new savebox should appear on the the screen for reading.

[Top]   Mailto: URL configured

Set default value for key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon to \nPOPuk\nPOPuk.exe,0
Set default value for key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\Shell\Open\Command to \nPOPuk\nPOPuk.exe %1

Or if using Resco Registry editor, here is a text file containing the settings. Edit paths, then rename to drop the .txt.

[Top]   Moving an nPOPuk installation

To move an nPOPuk installation from one device to another, simply copy the whole nPOPuk folder to the new device, using a file explorer. This works for copying an RAM installation to a flash card, or from a flashcard back to RAM, or from one flashcard to another, if your device supports multiple cards.

To make a shortcut to the program in your Start Menu is a bit trickier, but not that hard. Using the native File Explorer on your device, navigate to the nPOPuk.exe file (the one in the nPOPuk folder with the yellow envelope icon), after having placed this folder where you want to keep it on the card. Tap and hold on the nPOPuk.exe file and then tap Copy on the menu which pops up. Then go to Windows > Start Menu or to any sub-folder in Windows > Start Menu > Programs you prefer, and using the menu in the bottom-left corner of File Explorer tap the Paste Shortcut option. This will create a shortcut for easier access to nPOPuk in future.

[Top]   Portable use via flash card

When using nPOPuk from a storage card, first exit nPOPuk using File > Exit, then wait until nPOPuk closes completely before removing the storage device, or shutting off the device.

Because nPOPuk closes faster when all the mailbox files are in RAM, you may choose to keep the folder for your main PPC/SP in RAM instead of on the storage card (be sure to backup in case your battery runs down). Simply use the RAM directory for your main PPC/SP, and a directory on the storage card for the other devices in the instructions below.

To do on main PPC/SP:

1. Place proper exe (with built-in SSL if needed) to match each different type of device in empty folders created for this purpose on the storage card. You might find it handy to include the type of device in the name of each folder.
2. If Global Options > Other > Use Pocket Contacts Address Book is check marked, the Contacts from a 2nd PPC/SP will be imported into nPOPuk when used on that device. This may be good to uncheck before continuing with the next step. This can be rechecked after returning to use on the original PPC/SP.
3. Use File/Backup files to place all mailboxes, addresses and .ini file from the current working folder into the folder of choice on the storage card, the folder to be used on 2nd device, if it differs from your own PPC/SP.
4. Be sure nPOPuk is closed using File > Exit, then remove storage card.

1. Insert storage card in 2nd device.
2. Be sure 2nd device is online.
3. Use File Explorer to go to the folder of choice and run the exe file.
4. Check all accounts.
5. Update all accounts.
6. Close nPOPuk through File > Exit.
7. Close all windows.
8. Remove storage card.

1. Place storage card back in original PPC/SP.
2. Run nPOPuk from the storage folder last used on 2nd device, using File Explorer. Use File > Backup files to copy mailboxes addresses and .ini file back to the original folder on the storage card. This keeps the original folder updated, no matter in what device the storage card is used in a portable manner.
3. If desired, recheck Global Options > Other > Use Pocket Contacts Address Book.
4. Continue using nPOPuk from the original folder on the storage card of the PPC/SP as normal.

[Top]  WM help pages:

• Windows Mobile Contents

• Windows Mobile Setup

• Windows Mobile Icons

• Windows Mobile Address

• Windows Mobile Write

• Windows Mobile Tips

• Windows Mobile Details

• Windows Mobile Tools

• nPOPuk Website

• download WM Help Pages

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