This has nothing to do with having a complex about your e-mail. It concerns files which may be transmitted as part of e-mail.
To attach a file to an e-mail, you click on the Attachment (paper clip sign) on the new mail display. You then browse for the file you want to attach, and click on it. When you send the e-mail, the attachment travels with it to the addressee's mailbox and then to her computer. Of course, it pays to know where you have placed a file for attachment. I usually put them on the desktop temporarily, because they are so easy to find there. They can then be moved to a permanent location if I wish.
Another method is to have your e-mail composition open, then find the file to be attached, using either Start > Find or Explore. Then put your mouse on the file icon and drag it into your e-mail - anywhere will do. The file will then attach itself to your e-mail.
Usually your "Find" display occupies a smaller window than your e-mail, but if not, drag the file icon on to the task bar button representing your e-mail, and hold it there until the e-mail window opens. Then, still holding your mouse button down, drag the icon into the e-mail window.
Photographs are usually sent as .jpg or .gif files, because they are much shorter than .bmp files, with hardly any loss of detail. Depending on the settings on your copy of OE, the picture may be visible without even having to "open" the attachment.
MSWord files are .doc files, and can be attached. However, a .doc file is very long, and you should always consider sending the material as a plain text file (.txt) or even cutting and pasting it into the body of the e-mail.
Sound and video files can also be sent as attachments, but they also can be very long. Always consider zipping a long attachment so as to save in transmission time on the first and last legs of the journey. These days, nearly everyone has a copy of Winzip or an equivalent program.
When you receive an attachment, this should be evident when you see the paper clip icon. Also when you open the e-mail there will be something like this in the display.
To open the attachment, click on the file name, in this case 980731draft.doc. Provided you have MSWord installed, this will cause that program to be called to display the contents of the file.
Warning. Some types of e-mail attachments can carry dangerous viruses. It is strongly recommended that you install reliable anti-virus software and keep it up to date.
Click here for some anti-virus rules worth following:
© James Nelson, 2001.