Display Preferences

Theme

SquirrelMail offers several different colour themes. There is a University colour scheme, plus two others to choose from. The recommended theme is the University scheme. The others are intended for those whom have visual impairments.

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Language

You can use this option to change language settings.

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Use Javascript

By default SquirrelMail does not use Javascript, as this would create accessibility issues for some users, such as those using screen readers. However, if possible, it is recommended that you make use of the utilities that use Javascript, (such as Javascript versions of the Address book search tool, the Spellchecker, New Mail Alerts and the Compose in HTML option), you can enable this option. If you have no preference for Javascript, select 'Autodetect'.

Please note: if Javascript is enabled on your browser, but the 'Use Javascript' option is disabled, some Javascript utilities will still work, such as the Spellcheck or New Mail Alerts. However, you won't be able to customise their behaviour as the options page links will not be displayed.

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Number of Messages per Page

This is the number of messages to display on the folder view page. If there are more than this number in the folder, you will see a 'Previous' and 'Next' link above and below the listing which will take you to the previous or next page of messages.

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Enable Alternating Row Colours

This affects the folder view page. It uses a different background colour for alternate message summaries in the folder list. This can make it easier for some people to view the folder listing.

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Enable Page Selector

Setting this to 'Yes' shows page numbers in the page navigation bar, situated above and below the message list. It will allow quick navigation to a specific page of messages.

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Maximum pages to show

This will limit how many page numbers will be displayed in the page navigation bar.

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Always Show Full Date

This affects the 'Date' column in the message list page. When set, this always shows the month, day and year in the 'Date' column. When un-set, the content of the column varies according to how recent the email is. For today's emails it only shows the time, for last week's emails it shows the day of the week and time. For anything older than a week it shows the month, day and year.

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Show Message Preview Pane

This controls whether a message preview pane is displayed within the message list page or not.

Please note: when changing the selection here, you may have to use your browser refresh button to view the changes.

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Split Preview Pane Vertically

This controls the position of the message preview pane, providing it is enabled via the 'Show Message Preview Pane' option. Set to 'Yes', it displays the pane on the right-hand side, dividing the web page into three columns, one each for the folder list, the message list and the preview pane. Set to 'No', it displays the pane beneath the message list pane, dividing the web page into two columns, with the right-hand one containing the message list at the top and the preview pane at the bottom.

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Message Preview Pane Size

This controls the width, or height, of the preview pane depending on whether the pane is beside the message list, or beneath it. See the 'Split Preview Pane Vertically' option for more information.

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Always Refresh Message List When Using Preview Pane

This controls whether the message list pane is refreshed automatically or not. Set to 'Yes', it re-draws the message list whenever a different message is previewed, ensuring that it is up-to-date. Set to 'No', it does not re-draw the message list unless you refresh it manually.

Please note: setting to 'Yes' makes SquirrelMail respond more slowly because it has to re-check your current folder for new messages. The more messages you have in the folder, the longer this takes.

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Wrap incoming text at

This dictates how many characters should be displayed before wrapping the text to the next line. This prevents long lines from disappearing off the right-hand side of the window, which requires the window to be scrolled to view the rest of the line. A value of 86 is usually appropriate.

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Width of editor window

This is the number of characters per line that you can type before wrapping occurs in the 'Compose' text box.

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Height of editor window

This is the number of lines that are displayed before scrolling is required in the 'Compose' text box.

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Location of Buttons when Composing

This option controls the position on the 'Compose' page of the 'Addresses', 'Save Draft' and 'Send' buttons.

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Addressbook Display Format

This option controls how the 'Address Book Search' tool is displayed. Options are HTML or Javascript. If you want maximum compatibility with all browsers, use HTML. The Javascript version uses a pop-up window and is preferred by some users. The Javascript version of this tool is recommended.

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Show HTML Version by Default

If you receive a message you in dual text and HTML format, you can choose to see the HTML version (Yes) or the text version (No).

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Enable Forward as Attachment

This allows you to forward a message as an attachment, rather than just an in-line quote.

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Include CCs when Forwarding Messages

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Include Me in CC when I Reply All

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Enable Mailer Display

When viewing a message, this displays which email program the sender used.

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Display Attached Images with Message

If someone sends you a message with one or more images attached and you have set this to 'Yes', the images are displayed immediately (depending on size of image) when you view the message.

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Enable Printer Friendly Clean Display

This changes the screen display to a format more appropriate for printing.

Please note: there is already a facility on the 'read message' page (the 'View Printable Version' link) to display a simple printable page.

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Enable Mail Delivery Notification

This sends a delivery notification request with each email you send. If the recipient has enabled delivery notification then you will be sent back a confirmation.

Please note: notification can not be guaranteed as it is dependent on the recipient's email application configuration.

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Compose Messages in New Window

This option controls whether the compose page is displayed in the current window or a new one.

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Width of Compose Window

If a new window is opened for the compose page then this sets it's width in pixels.

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Height of Compose Window

If a new window is opened for the compose page then this sets it's height in pixels.

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Append Signature before Reply/ Forward Text

This option controls where your signature is placed in emails that you reply to or forward. Setting to 'Yes' causes the signature to be placed before the included text. Setting to 'No' causes the signature to placed after the included text, at the bottom of the email.

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Prefix for Original Message when Replying

When replying to an email the original text is quoted by prefixing every line of it with a series of characters. Conventionally this is "> ", but you can change this to something else.

Please note: some email applications rely on the prefix being the conventional one and colour the quotes accordingly. Changing the prefix may break this colouring scheme for some of your recipients.

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Cursor Position when Replying

This controls which field the input cursor is placed in when the reply message page is opened.

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Sort by Received Date

When enabled ('Yes') the folder view lists messages in the order they were received.

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Enable Thread Sort by Reference Header

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Show username under folders list

When enabled ('Yes') this displays your username on the information bar beneath the mini icon menu bar.

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Show IP address under folders list

When enabled ('Yes') this displays the IP address of the computer you are using on the information bar beneath the mini icon menu bar.

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Show hostname under folders list

When enabled ('Yes') this displays the hostname of the computer you are using on the information bar beneath the mini icon menu bar.

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Address Book Take

When the 'Try to verify addresses' check box is set, SquirrelMail attempts to check that the email address is a valid one.

Please note: the success of the verify process is no guarantee that the address is actually valid. It only checks to see if the mail server responsible for the domain in question will accept an email with that address.

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Default Email Composition Format

This controls the content format of emails you send. You can chose to send plain text emails, or ones created using HTML. HTML allows you to format the text with colours and different fonts. This lets you develop more elaborate email content, however if presentation is important you may wish to consider using an alternate form of presentation, such as a PDF file, and attaching the document to the email.

Please note: plain text offers the greatest compatibility with other mail clients that your recipients may be using. Remember that is it unlikely that you will know what they are using, especially in the academic sector.

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Only Reply In HTML When Viewing HTML Format

This option can be used if you only want to compose HTML formatted email when you reply to someone who has sent you an HTML formatted email. Setting this to 'No' means that your replies are composed in the format determined by the 'Default Email Composition Format' option (see above).

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Only Allow Unsafe Images In HTML Replies When Viewing Unsafe Images

Unsafe images refer to images that form part of an email, but are not included in the email itself. Instead in the HTML email there is reference to the image which is stored on a web server, somewhere on the Internet. There are information security issues for the following reasons:

• spammers can abuse this to validate your email address
• the sender can know instantly if you have read their email or not (privacy concern)
• finding out information about your browser, operating system, and your mail server (security concern)

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