Attaching a File to an Email

• Sending a file with an email file (understanding folders)
  • Preparing the File
  • Attaching the File
    • Outlook Express
    • Thunderbird or Netscape
    • Windows Mail
• Receiving an attached file - protecting your self from a virus or worm
• Finding an attached file after it is downloaded

 

Sending a file with email

NOTE: If you have not yet made the acquaintance of the folder and file organization on your computer, you will find the following site very helpful.
http://cit.information.unl.edu/tips/filemgt-manage.htm

Plain text (when an attachment is not necessary)

If what you are sending is just plain text and the formatting is not important, you can cut and paste text from your word processor. That is select the part of the your document that you wish to send, chose cut (or copy if you wish to retain the text in your word processor), go to your email message screen and paste it where you wish it to be. (If there is no paste option, tapping Ctrl-V or Shift-Insert will paste the text.)

Preparing the file to send as an attachment:

1. Save the file in the program used to create it. Note the file name and the folder where it is located. (If you are new to computers and are using a Windows computer the folder is probably called "My Documents" or in VISTA "Documents.") The name of the folder will be in the box after "Save in" near the top of the window you use to save the file.
2. If the person to whom you are sending the file does not use the same program as you do, save the file as an rtf file or as a text (.txt) file.
3. Close the file.
4. Attach the file:
   • In Outlook Express
   • In Thunderbird or Netscape
   • In Windows Mail

 

Attaching the file in Outlook Express

1. Open Outlook Express.
2. Click on the Create Mail icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
3. Enter the email address of the recipient of the email and a subject.
4. Create the message.
5. Attach the file by:
   1. Clicking on Insert on the menu line
   2. Click on "File Attachment."
   3. Locate the file
   4. Select it by clicking once on it.
   5. Click on "Attach file."
6. The file is now listed in the attachment box.
7. Click on Send.

 

Attaching the file in Thunderbird or Netscape

1. Open Thunderbird or Netscape Mailer
2. Click on the "Write" icon in the upper left of the screen.
3. Enter the email address of the recipient and a subject.
4. Create your email message.
5. Attach the file by:
   1. Clicking on the paper clip icon on the top of the screen with the word "Attach" below it.
   2. Locating the file.
   3. Clicking on the file name.
   4. Clicking on "Open."
   5. The name of the file will appear in the attachment area of the message.
6. Send the message.

 

Attaching the file in Windows Mail (VISTA or Windows 7)

1. Open Windows Mail
2. Click on "Create Mail"
3. Enter the email address of the recipient and a subject.
4. Create your email message.
5. Attach the file by:
   1. Click on the tiny paper clip on the same line as Send.
   2. Locating the file.
   3. Clicking on the file name.
   4. Clicking on "Open."
   5. The name of the file will appear in the attachment area of the message.
6. Send the message.

 

Receiving an attached file

A word of caution - be very careful opening file attachments - they can be a vehicle for a virus.

1. If you do not know the sender do NOT open the attachment.
2. If you know the sender, but are not expecting a file, you may wish to write to the sender first and ask what is in the file.(See Safe Computing).
3. Or you can save it to disk and scan it with your anti-virus program before opening it. (Some of the .pps [power point shows] making the email rounds lately are full of worms.)

Receiving a file in:

• Outlook Express
• Windows Mail
• Thunderbird or Netscape

 

Outlook Express

1. A paper clip will be before the file name in the file list.
2. Open the email message and click on the name of the attachment on the attachment line.
3. A window giving you a choice of either saving the file to disk, or opening it appears. Make your choice and click "OK."
4. If you select opening the file:
   1. Delete it if you don't want it.
   2. If you wish to save you will need to change folders. First, select Save As. (Save will place it in a weird way down folder)
      1. Click the down triangle after the name of the file.
      2. Click on the Documents and Settings folders
      3. Click on "All users"
      4. Click the name of your account on the computer (Administrator if only one account) and select My Documents and the folder in that folder where you wish the file to be saved.
5. To save the file before opening it, select the appropriate folder in My Documents.

Windows Mailer

1. Open the email message.
2. To open the file
   1. Click on the icon before the file name on the Attach box.
3. If you want to save the file before opening it:
   1. Right click icon denoting the file name before the name of the file.
   2. Click on "Save All.
   3. To change the folder from the Documents folder, click on Browse near the bottom of the screen.
   4. Click on the plus before the Documents folder and select the appropriate folder.

Thunderbird (A Mozilla mailer) or Netscape

1. If there is an attachment to the email, an icon like this will appear before the file name. Open the email message.
2. On the bottom of the screen will be this image with the name of the file following word "attachment." If you click on the arrow head outlined in red you will get a menu that provides the options in the next step. If there is more than one attachment, clicking on the "Save all" arrow on the lower right side of the screen will allow you to save all the files with one click.
3. Select either "Open With" or "Save to Disk"
4. If you select open with and then decide to save the file you will need to:
   1. Select Save As (Save puts it in a temporary folder that is difficult to access).
   2. Navigate to the folder where you wish to save the file.
   3. Save the file. You can rename it if you wish.
5. If you select save before opening navigate to the appropriate folder.

 

Created November 8, 2011