Sending E-Mail Attachments

Here is the procedure for sending an E-mail attachment in Outlook Express.   Hopefully your procedure is similar, if not identical.

1.  Open the new E-mail that you are going to send.  You can do this by either (1) clicking on COMPOSE MESSAGE (inside outlook express), (2) click on REPLY, or (3)FORWARD, etc.

2.  Write your message.

3.  Click on the "paper clip" icon to attach a file.

4.  Find the file that you want to send, and click on attach. 

This might be the most difficult part, depending on how well you understand the file and folder directory structure of your computer.  Normally, you will set the "LOOK IN" box to the hard drive (c:?) and then find the file from there.

I have a small simple tutorial that should help you understand basic disk layout if you are having problems finding files on your computer.

5.  Click send and the file is on the way. 

Please don't send gigantic files without compressing them first using a utility such as WinZip 95.  Note, you can see the size of a file by RIGHT button clicking on the file (from the My Computer icon) and then LEFT button clicking on properties.   Anything over 500,000 bytes is starting to get big.

  Opening E-Mail Attachments

1.  Open the E-mail within Outlook Express (single or double click, depending on setup) that has the attachment inside. Note, this must open in a window by itself.   If not, try double clicking.  E-mails with attachments have a paper clip displayed just to left of the "FROM" name.

2.  Scroll down to the bottom of the window and double click on the file (attachment) name to open it.  You can save it, if you like, after you open the file.

3.  WARNING:  Some people think it is funny to send you damaging file attachments (viruses) in your E-mail.  Fortunately, some of these hilarious people are being sent to jail.

If you don't know the person who sent the attachment, or are not sure that they sent it to you intentionally, you might want to skip opening the attachment.  Note: Some viruses are set up to automatically send out E-mails in order to spread themselves.  If the wording in the E-mail doesn't sound like something your friend would say, you might want to check and make sure they sent you a file attachment intentionally before you open it. If still in doubt, turn on the Excel macro virus protection using .....Tools .... Options.... General .... [X] Macro Virus Protection.... before opening new Excel files. It might guard  you from a boat load full of trouble.