nPOPuk

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  Globla Options Dialogue

  Recv Tab

  Send Tab

  Reply Tab

  Forward Tab

  Filter Tab

  View Tab

  Check Tab

  DialUp Tab

  Sort Tab

  Other Tab

  Advanced Tab

  Mail Checker

Page updated 1 December 2022

The Global Options Dialogue

Program options that apply globally are adjusted through the multi-tabbed dialogue, described below. This can be reached from the Main Window. (Menu: FILE > GLOBAL OPTIONS). Options set here affect all Mailboxes set up through the process described on the Quick Start page and section on Mailboxes in the User Guide. Notes on the most efficient way to set up nPOPuk as a Mail Checker appear below.

Recv

The default options are illustrated.

Lines to be downloaded:

Sets the number of lines to be downloaded when checking accounts. Setting a smaller number risks losing all information in a message. Setting it at zero is acceptable if you plan to use nPOPuk as a Mail Checker. Setting a larger number may waste connection time without downloading a complete file attachment.

This option is disabled when the entire body is to be downloaded.

Download entire body when checking

When checked, complete mail items, including all attachments, are downloaded, with the consequent increase in time spent connected. This option disables the option above

Keep all header lines

The full mail headers are downloaded. They may be seen by selecting the View Source option on the extended version of the Edit menu of the Mail View window . Enabling this option can help in determining the best filters to create or tracing the source of spam.

Get messages in reverse order

Fetches the most recent message found on the server first, instead of the usual method of fetching the oldest message first. This may option be useful for those who only use nPOPuk on expensive mobile connections and who want to retrieve recent messages and avoid downloading a complete mailbox with many large attachments.

Account messages

Header and body are saved

The content of all Mailboxes, is saved between nPOPuk sessions. Subject to the "Number of lines received" option (see above), mail can be viewed when nPOPuk is next run, without the need to reconnect to the server. This option is the most useful where nPOPuk is being used as a normal e-mail program.

Only header is saved

Only the headers, as shown in the mail list, are saved between nPOPuk sessions. On re-launching nPOPuk there are no read/unread icons shown beside the items. To re-read them items must be marked for download and the server updated, or the Initialise option for the account used, to retrieve all items in the account . This option may be useful where space on a disk is at a premium.

Nothing saved

No record of mail is kept between sessions with nPOPuk. This option is useful where nPOPuk is being used as a mail checker and the contents of mail is not of interest once checked using nPOPuk.

Send

The default options are illustrated.

Word wrap at [  ] characters

Sets the number of characters for the line length. Words typed beyond this limit are automatically moved to a new line when the message is saved/sent. By default, whilst editing, text in the Mail Edit window will wrap to the window. This behaviour can be turned off via the Edit menu.

The default 70 characters is designed to produce line lengths of eight to ten words, the number recommended for easy reading, and when printed with a mono-spaced font at 10-12 characters per inch and with margins of between half to one inch, neatly fills Letter and A4 paper in landscape orientation. Change this setting to suit other paper, font or margin sizes.

A setting of 0 switches off word wrapping. This can be useful if you or your recipients use a window size or printing options that do not cope well with fixed width lines or when you wish to display your mail in a proportional font. When using a zero setting a null quotation character can also be useful in some circumstances.

Quoted lines do not word wrap

If checked, any quoted lines are excluded from the limit set above. If cleared, although the wrapping takes place at the set point, the "Quotation char", set on the Reply tab, will still only appear before hard returns within the quoted text.

Send 'Message-id'

If checked, nPOPuk will generate this mail header line. If cleared the SMTP server will add the line.

Send 'Date'

If checked, nPOPuk will generate this mail header line. If cleared the SMTP server will add the line.

Show 'Outbox' on 'Save to Outbox'

If checked, when a Mail Edit window is closed by selecting any of the options Send now, Save and Mark or Save to Outbox, the Main Window will display the Outbox. Having this option set offers a convenient way of checking that messages have been successfully sent. It is recommended that it remains set if you have an unreliable internet connection and either often use the "Send now" option or run multiple accounts and do not normally change focus to the Outbox before sending mail.

Check queued on exit

If checked and there is mail in the Outbox marked to be sent when the program is quite, a warning dialogue will appear. This option is worth checking if you normally Save and Mark your mail. For the command line option "/q" to work without interruption, keep this option unchecked.

(and failed send)

If checked, the warning dialogue will also appear if messages are found that were attempted to be sent but suffered an error during communication with the server. If you have multiple accounts and want to stop the Update all option aborting when there is an error on any account, select the Ignore send error option under the Check tab of the dialogue.

Encoding

This button opens a dialogue that allows you to set the MIME encoding used.

This encoding allows non-ASCII characters to be sent in e-mails, such as accented characters, Pound and Euro symbols, not normally allowed in plain text mail.

Most UK users can accept the default settings. A good explanation of MIME encoding and the effect of the various options can be found on Wikipedia.

Reply

The default options are illustrated.

Quote original message

Sets the default for the "Quotation" box on the Property dialogue of a mail reply.

Quotation Char:

This box contains the character string used to prefix quoted lines in a reply.
NOTE: The default setting includes a space after the "> " symbol.

Signature above quoted message:

The default (unchecked) option places the signature after any quoted text from the original message. This option makes it easy to delete unwanted passages and aids the style of reply where responses are inserted point by point within the original message text.

If checked, the signature is placed above the quoted text. This option will be preferred by those who want to leave the entire contents of the original message intact, appended to their reply.

Reply header:

If quotation is enabled, the text here is pasted into the top of the Mail Edit window on creation of a reply, preceding the text of the original message. This text can include a number of Place Holders for certain predefined strings.

Close message window when reply created

If this box is checked, the original Mail View window will be closed as the new Mail Edit window is opened. This option would normally be left enabled while "Quote original message" is enabled, as there is no need to keep the original message in view if its contents are quoted in the Mail Edit window.
NOTE: This check box is always synchronised with the similar check box on the Forward tab.

Forward

The default options are illustrated.

Forward message:

Sets the default style for forwarding the text of messages:

Quoted:

The text of the original message appears in the Mail Edit window (or external editor, if invoked) preceded by the text defined in the Forward header box, with every line of the original message prefixed with the quotation character string, defined under the Reply tab.

In-line:

The text of the original message appears in the Mail Edit window (or external editor, if invoked) precede by the text defined in the Forward header box, .

As Attachment

The text of the original message is placed in an attachment.

Use signature for forwarded mail:

If checked, the signature defined for the account being used will be added to the forwarded message. Otherwise no signature is added.

Above orig msg:

If checked, the signature will be placed above the Forward header and original message text. Otherwise, the signature appears below the Forward header and original message text.

Forward header:

The text defined here appears in the Mail Edit window on creation of a forwarded message immediately above the text of the original message. This text can include a number of Place Holders for certain predefined strings.

Close message window when reply/forward created

If this box is checked, the original Mail View window will be closed as the new Mail Edit window is opened. This option would normally be left enabled while "Quote original message" is enabled, as there is no need to keep the original message in view if its contents are quoted in the Mail Edit window.
NOTE: This check box is always synchronised with the similar check box on the Reply tab.

Filter

Filters allow automatic handling of messages received from the server. Various actions, such as marking mail for deletion, copying or moving mail to defined Saveboxes can be invoked on messages that match user-defined conditions.

The Filters page provides a detailed guide on how to apply them either globally, across all accounts, or to individual accounts.

View

The default options are illustrated.

Scan all mailboxes for unread mail

If checked, the "Next unread mail" option in the Mail View window, will skip through all Mailboxes to find further unread mail items.

When message is marked for deletion, move to

Next message

If checked, when a message is marked for deletion, it will not only mark it, but also *automatically* move to the next message. This option can be useful when move filters are in use, as the original copies of mail, set to be deleted, can be skipped over.

that is unread

This option is only active if the previous option is checked and further limits the messages that will be displayed to those which are unread.

Skip deleted messages

When new mail has been received and the message headers scanned in the Main Window, unwanted mail will be marked for deletion, then the first message of interest is opened in the Mail View window. The options here control what messages will be displayed within the Mail View window when using the controls to view previous, next or next unread messages.

Never

All messages are seen, Messages marked for deletion are not skipped.

When moving

Messages marked for deletion are skipped.

When looking for next unread message

Messages marked for deletion are skipped when selecting the "Next unread" option, but not when selecting "Next" or "Previous".

Close window if no next message

If checked then, when moving between messages, on reaching the last message, the Mail View window will close. Otherwise it remains open with non-functioning movement options on the menus and toolbar buttons.

Append attachment list to message in view window

The list of attachments is always available from the Extended View Menu; by checking this box, the attachments will also be listed at the end of the message.

External viewer gets message source

By default, if the external viewer is invoked, the viewer window will receive the body of the message, as seen in the Mail View window, with added headers, as defined in the nPOPuk.ini file. Checking this option removes those headers, but instead provides the full message source to the external viewer window.

Show cursor in view window

If this option is checked then a cursor appears in the Mail View window. This allows text to be selected with the keyboard. Normally, it is only possible to select text in the Mail View window with the mouse. This option was added to assist visually impaired users.

Auto-select message for preview

If this option is checked a message will automatically be selected, and hence previewed, when changing mailboxes, starting the program, etc.

Check

The default options are illustrated.

Display message when new mail arrives

A dialogue appears if new mail is detected during a check and nPOPuk is NOT the active window.

Messages filtered to delete are not new

When a filter marks a newly-arrived message for deletion, this message is not considered new for the purposes of the new mail dialog nor the titlebar count of accounts with new mail.

Sound when new mail

A sound is played if new mail is detected and nPOPuk is NOT the active window. The default sound is the Windows "Asterisk" sound. A name and full path of a .WAV file may be entered here to be used in place of the default sound. The [...] button permits browsing for the file. The [>] button allows a preview of the sound file.

Play sound when update complete

A sound is played at the end of a server update and nPOPuk is NOT the active window. The default sound is the Windows "Asterisk" sound. An alternative sound may be defined in the nPOPuk.ini file.

Auto check: [  ] min

If checked, forces nPOPuk to check for new mail regularly. The interval, in minutes, is set in the associated box. This is the key setting for operation as a Mail Checker.

Check e-mail on start

If checked, forces nPOPuk to check for new mail when it is launched. (Also see the Dial-up tab)

Check after update

If checked, nPOPuk will automatically check for new mail after a server update operation.

Update after check

If checked, forces nPOPuk to update the server after any check for mail. (Mail will be received and filters applied before an update is applied.)

WARNING: Filters can mark mail for deletion and this option will apply that deletion immediately.

When checked the "Options" button becomes active. This will open the "Update after check" dialogue that provides options for handling messages marked for deletion. Marked messages can be:

Deleted

Use this option with care if mail is not fully retrieved and Move filters are in place. Long messages and those with attachments may be removed from the server before they can be read.

Kept until standalone Update

A safe option, as it removes the possibility of mail being deleted before there is a chance to examine it, yet still allowing mail to be sent and downloaded, whenever a check is made.

Ask each time

A flexible option more suited for those whose mail requirements do not follow a clear pattern.

Ignore receive error

If checked, server updated is not halted, when an error occurs.
If cleared, any error will stop the server update. An appropriate error dialogue will be displayed and updates to any further accounts aborted.

Ignore send error

If checked, server updated is not halted, when an error occurs.
If cleared, any error will stop the server update. An appropriate error dialogue will be displayed and updates to any further accounts aborted.

Dial-up

The default options are illustrated.

Auto-connect to process mail

If checked, and the "Check e-mail on start" option on the Check tab is active, then nPOPuk will launch and immediately dial the default server. If not checked, and the "Check e-mail on start" option on the Check tab is active, then nPOPuk does not launch until after a connection using the DUN "Connect to" dialogue has completed.

Disconnect after mail processing is completed (Conn by nPOPuk)

If checked, and nPOPuk forced a dial-up connection, nPOPuk will drop the connection. (If the connection was started by another program, the line is not dropped.)

Disconnect on exit of program (Connect by nPOPuk)

If checked, and nPOPuk forced a dial-up connection, nPOPuk will drop the connection. (If the connection was started by another program, the line is not dropped.)

Auto check only if connected

If checked (and the Auto Check option (on the Check tab) is set), and nPOPuk is not currently connected, then the server will not be checked for mail.

Pause between dial-up attempts:

Sets the delay between retries in the event of a failed connection.

Sort

The default options are illustrated.

All mailboxes in file order

Mail is listed in the order it appears in the Mailbox file.
NOTE: In most cases the effect of this setting is to sort in date order, but servers that re-number mail (such as Yahoo!) may be badly affected.

Saveboxes by column

Only the Savebox is sorted according to the settings in the Column box.

All mailboxes by column

All Mailboxes are sorted according to the settings in the Column box.

Use bare e-mail address when sorting by 'From'

When sorting by the 'From' column, nPOPuk will extract the e-mail address, ignoring the plain-text name.

Column

Subject/From/Date/Size

Selects the column on which mail is to be sorted.
NOTE: The Subject, From and Date fields are sorted in ascending ASCII value (i.e. numbers before capital letters, before small letters, etc).
No account is taken of "Re:", "Fwd:" or similar prefixes to Subject names.

Reverse Order

If checked, mail is listed in the opposite order.

When changing mailboxes select:

Controls whether the first/top or last/bottom item in the list is selected on opening a new Mailbox.
NOTE: This setting has no effect if there is unread mail in a Mailbox. Where there is unread mail the first unread item will be selected.

First column is:

Allows the position of the Subject and From/To columns to be switched in the Main Window.

Other

The default options are illustrated.

Display icon in system tray

If checked, a System Tray con is displayed while the program is running.
NOTE: The following two options are unavailable unless this option is selected

Hide to System Tray when minimised

If checked, when the program is minimised it displays as a System Tray icon and not a minimised button on the Task Bar.

Keep System Tray icon when closed

If checked, when the window is closed (via the Title Bar Button or Menu) then a System Try icon is retained for instant relaunch.
NOTE: If this option is selected only the EXIT options, accessed from either the Main Window File menu or right-click menu of the system tray icon will clear the icon, save all data and exit the program.

Password setup

Password required to open program

If checked, nPOPuk will not start until a password has been entered

Password required to open window

If checked, the Main Window will not open when currently minimised or showing as a System Tray icon until a password has been entered.

Password required to configure program

If checked a password is required to delete Accounts and access either the Global Options or Account Settings dialogues.

Password

The password to be entered in connection with the three options above.

Disable warning popup boxes

If checked, the following warning dialogues do not appear:

• Send it? (When sending a message immediately.)
• Warning! This will delete mail from the server
• Delete xx mail from the list? Is not deleted from the server
• Copy xx mail to "Savebox"?
• Move xx mail to "Savebox"?
• Previous backup directory no longer exists

Date format:

Controls how the date is presented. Valid formatting codes include:

dd	=	day 2 digits
ddd	=	day 3 letters
dddd	=	day in full
MM	=	Month 2 digits
MMM	=	Month 3 letters
MMMM	=	Month in full
yy	=	Year 2 digits
yyyy	=	Year 4 digits
/ [space] : -	=	Allowed separators

Time format:

Controls how the time is presented. Valid formatting codes include:

H M S	=	Hours Minutes Seconds
HH MM SS	=	Hour Minutes Seconds padded with leading zeros to 2 digits
/ [space] : -	=	Allowed separators

Advanced

File Format

nPOP

The format used by the original nPOP.

MBOX

An alternative format that is useful for those moving from other e-mail programs.

NOTE: When an nPOP (nakka) message file is loaded into nPOPuk it is converted to use an "X-Status" line for each message. This is not readable by nPOP should you attempt to load the file into nPOP. Information about fully downloaded or not, replied/forwarded, etc is lost, but the message should otherwise be complete and readable.
Similarly, an nPOPuk message file stores certain data that is not held in the MBOX file format. Hence the full functionality of an nPOPuk data file cannot be recovered if it is swapped to MBOX and back again. nPOP cannot read MBOX files at all.

Scramble (ROT-13)

Checking this box applies a ROT-13 scramble to the data in the mailbox file, to prevent snooping. (ROT-13 rotates the letters of the alphabet 13 positions, so "abc" becomes "nop", "nop" becomes "abc", "xyz" becomes "klm", etc. It's not encryption but does prevent the casual reader from being able to make sense of the data in the file.)

Load mailboxes

If running nPOPuk on a flash memory device, write operations can be unacceptably slow, especially if there are large Mailboxes with rarely accessed messages within them. These options control when Mailboxes are loaded and depending on the pattern of use may speed up program operation:

All at startup

All Mailboxes are loaded at startup. (Preferred option for hard disk use.)

Automatically as needed

Only the first Account and Sendbox are loaded at startup. Other Mailboxes are loaded only when they are selected, if a check is performed, or when filters reference Saveboxes. With this setting, nPOPuk will also load Mailboxes if they are needed to satisfy a Find query (with search all Mailboxes checked) or to move to a "Next unread" message or when "Scan all Mailboxes for unread mail" is set.

Auto, but not for find/next unread

As above, but will skip unloaded Mailboxes on "Find" operations scanning for unread messages.

Ask before loading for find/next unread

As above, but prompt to load, rather than skip unloaded Mailboxes.

Append to saveboxes without loading

If using an option other than "All at startup", nPOPuk can append messages to a savebox without loading it, when copying or moving messages manually or by filter. This can result in multiple copies of a message in a savebox, which nPOPuk will attempt to resolve the next time it loads the mailbox. (Normally, nPOPuk searches the savebox for a message before copying, and will replace an incomplete copy of the message with one that is fully downloaded.)

NOTE: Using this option can result in savebox files that are too large to open (mostly a concern for hand held platforms with limited memory).

nPOPuk as a Mail Checker

Some people simply want to use nPOPuk as a light-weight program to check for the presence of mail on the server, while working with other resource hungry applications. To operate nPOPuk in Mail Checker mode a number of Global Options need to be set. These appear on the Recv, Check and Other tabs of the dialogue:

Lines to be downloaded

If you are using another program to actually handle your mail and all you need to know is the subject line and sender when checking for mail then this setting can be reduced to zero.

Nothing is saved

If you use another program for handling mail then you have no need to save any mail data between sessions with nPOPuk.

Display Icon in System Tray

By itself this forces a grey envelope icon to appear in Windows' Notification Area (a.k.a. System Tray).

Hide to System tray when minimised

This is the key option. It removes the program button from the main part of the Taskbar.

Keep system tray icon when closed

Optional! With this option set, closing the main window merely minimises it (The only way to close the program is via the right-click menu of the Notification Area icon).

Display Message when new mail arrives

Optional! This places a prominent dialogue window announcing new mail on the screen. Without it you rely on a change in colour of the Notification Area icon.

Sound when new mail

Optional! Another way of alerting you to new mail.

Auto check

Select this and enter an appropriate value in the associated box. Any figure between five and sixty would be reasonable, depending on the urgency with which you need to deal with any mail.

Check e-mail on start

Optional! If you are using the auto check facility, then checking on start up of nPOPuk may not be essential.

In addition to these Global Options, if only mail from certain accounts needs to be checked, consider enabling the "Exempt from Check All" setting on the POP3 tab of the Account Settings dialogue for the appropriate accounts.

Finally, dial-up users will need to consider the appropriate options for their needs on the Dial-up tab of the Global Options dialogue.