Then the software is up and running. Now you will need to enter the parameters without which it will be impossible to send or receive messages. You will need to find out this information from your Internet provider (supplier of Internet services). It is individual to every user.

Following installation the software the database will be located by default in the same directory as the program. You can move it to any other directory and reset the path in the Options menu.

After installing and starting the software select Options from the Main menu.

The Settings dialog is then displayed.

FastTrackMail can store information on many e-mail accounts. Enter the so-called electronic mail server connection profile fields:
 

You can enter several such profiles into the software. The profile where you place the cursor mark will be the active one where you will be receiving and from which you will be sending messages. In case you need to receive mail at another external mailbox, just add the new profile or select one from the list. Thus, if you need to receive mail from different providers (ISP) you can check it without entering the user's name and password repeatedly by simply placing the cursor mark on the right line.

Options Settings

Then set the following parameters to send and receive mail. Let's start from the top

Attachment directory and database path

Before downloading messages define the path to the directory where you are going to store the attachments. Never open attachments received from unfamiliar sources. First check the directory with the attachments using an anti-virus program before you open the files.

Select the path to the database. You can locate it in any directory on your computer's hard drive. By default the database will be located in the same directory with the mail software.

Show headers

If the "show headers" option is selected, system information will appear in the "view messages" window.

SMTP Identification

In order for outsiders not to be able to use your server the server usually requires authorization before mail is sent. Enter this option if your server requires user identification.

Charset

The program supports various national message codings. This means you'll be able to maintain correspondence in almost any language.

This option is required to select the coding of messages being sent. You will need to select the appropriate coding for various national languages.

Delete messages from the server

If this option is not highlighted then even if you have read messages they will physically stay on the server and not be deleted.

Load headers only

According to our experts the majority of spam mail is deleted by users on the basis of subject of the message. The text of such messages is not even read. Thus, there is no sense in copying such messages from a server to a local computer.

The FastTrackMail system is capable of limiting the size of copied messages and even allows you to copy the message headers alone. If the header of such large messages is of no interest to you it can be deleted from the server without being copied to your computer. If it is the message you are waiting for the software will copy the remaining part of it at your request.

Load only N.. kBytes from each message

Sometimes messages are too large but you need to read all your mail at once. To be able to do this you can enter a limit on the size of the message and just load the headers first and only then load the selected messages you need to view separately.

A message consists of two parts: systemic data and the body of the message. The first part contains the subject of the message, the recipient's address, the date and other system fields.

The body of the message contains both the text and the coded attachments to the letter. This can be either files, programs or html documents.

The software provides filtering capability for both messages already received and messages which are only on the server for the time being.

For this use the following options:

The other filter is used for messages already received and allows you to process information received, for example, add data to the address book or automatically prepare replies based on a preset template.

For this use the following options:

Check for mail every __ minute(s)

If you enter a number in this field, FastTrackMail checks your POP server for new mail at regular intervals and transfers any mail addressed to you to your PC.

The number you enter specifies the number of minutes between checks of the POP server. This option only works when FastTrackMail is running.

Keep copies of outgoing mail

If this option is on, a copy of each sent message is kept in the Out mailbox (their summaries are marked with an "S" in the Status column of the Out mailbox window). If this option is off, FastTrackMail moves outgoing messages to the Trash mailbox after they are sent.

Signature and greetings settings.

The next page contains letter signature and greetings settings. You can use the following macrolanguage. The character [FieldName] means that a certain phrase from the address book database will be inserted in this place.

This option applies if you are using a message as a template for the mailing list using the address book of the program. Thus, if you want to send a personalized message to thousands of people from your mailing list, select them from your address book with a button in the "create new message" window and then create the needed template.

Use signature

If this option is on, FastTrackMail automatically attaches your signature to the end of outgoing messages.

File types

On the mime type last page you can set the needed application (program) which is going to open each type of file.

There are two methods to check your designated POP server to see if you have new mail. One method is automatic and the other is manual.

Automatic Checking

FastTrackMail automatically checks for mail if you tell it how often to do so. From the Tools menu, select Options... Then select Checking Mail. The Checking Mail settings include an option entitled Check for mail every ___ minute(s).

Type in a value and FastTrackMail automatically checks for mail at the desired interval whenever it is running. For example, if you type in 50, FastTrackMail will check for mail every 50 minutes.

If the In mailbox is not already open, select In from the Mailbox menu.

Unread messages are designated by a bullet (.) in the far left column of the message summary. Double-click anywhere on a message summary to open the message. Incoming messages are saved indefinitely in the In mailbox until they are deleted or transferred to another mailbox.

Manual Checking

You may check for mail manually at any time by selecting Check Mail from the File menu.

A Progress window is displayed momentarily at the top of the screen as the POP server is checked. If there is a problem reaching the POP server, an error message alert is displayed. To rectify the problem, review the POP server field in the Options dialog for correctness.

If there is no mail waiting at your account on the POP server, the “No New Mail” alert is displayed. Click OK. You may check for mail again later.

If there is new mail, it is transferred automatically from the POP server to FastTrackMail on your PC. A progress window is displayed at the top of your screen allowing you to monitor the mail transfer.

Mail arrives in the In mailbox. Unread messages in the In mailbox are designated by a bullet (.) in the far left column of the message summary. Double-click anywhere on a message summary to open the message. Incoming messages are saved indefinitely in the In mailbox until they are deleted or transferred to another mailbox.

Interface option

You may also select different interface layout

The program provides several options for the message viewing interface.

The mailbox window is then displayed.

To view the text of the message double click the mouse on the message. A view window will appear. The sender's address will appear at the top. If the "Options" program settings set the "show headers" option systems information will be shown during viewing. If not then this information will not be shown.

Two viewing modes are available:

Down at the bottom of the window are the attachments. To view press the "Attachments" button. You will see the path to the location of the attachment. The path to the attachment can be set under the program's general settings.

If any messages are stored in the mailbox, they are listed as individual message summaries. Each message summary is divided into six columns: Status (S), Sender (Who), Date, Size (K), and Subject.

Message Summary Columns

Each message summary is divided into six columns: Status (S), Size (K), Who (Sender/Recipient), When (Date - Time), and Subject.

The Status column displays the message status, which is one of the following:
 
 

.	The message has not been read (all mailboxes except Out),  or is queueable but has not been queued (Out mailbox only).
<blank>	The message has been read (all mailboxes except Out),  or is not yet able to be queued because it has no recipients (Out mailbox only).
R	Reply has been chosen for the message.
S	The message has been sent (outgoing messages only).

The "When" column displays the date and time the message was sent, or, for timed messages, the date and time the message is scheduled to be sent.

The "Subject" column displays the subject of the message. The sender originally typed this information into the message header, but it can be modified by you (see the "Editing Message Subjects" section).
 

Sorting Messages Within Mailboxes

It is possible to sort the message summaries in a mailbox window according to the contents of any of the message summary columns. To do this, first open the mailbox to be sorted, then select the appropriate command from the Sort submenu under the Edit menu. The messages are sorted when the mouse button is released. FastTrackMail sorts in ascending order; the smallest item first.

The original sender's address automatically placed in the To: field of the header. The original sender's text is also automatically included at the beginning of the reply message (prefixed by ">" at the beginning of each line). This text may be edited or deleted as needed. Additional text may be entered into the reply just as in any outgoing message. The reply can then be saved for further changes, or simply sent.

An incoming message for which the Reply command has been used is identified by an "R" in its message summary.

Highlight the message with the following keys:

A new message window will appear.

An outgoing message is a message you send to someone else. A message consists of two parts: the message header and the body of the message. The first part contains the subject of the message, the recipient's address, the date and other system fields.

The body of the message contains both the text and the coded attachments to the letter. They can be either files, programs or html documents.

Message Header
Outgoing message headers consist of fields: To, Subject, Cc, Bcc and Attachments.

Type the electronic address to which you want to send the message in the "To" field. There are also two additional fields to type in the "bcc" blind copy address and the "cc" ordinary copy address. In the case of bcc you need to send the letter to several addresses at the same time. Just enter the addresses in a sequence, separated by a comma. The recipients will only see the address of the first recipient. As a rule providers limit the use of this sending method to 10-20 addresses.

To move the insertion point from field to field, press the [tab] key or click in the desired field with the mouse. When entering information into the fields, you can use the standard Windows text-editing tools provided under the Edit menu.

Here is a brief description of the intended contents of each field:

To:
The intended recipient's e-mail address, or a mailing list you have. Multiple addresses are allowed, but must be separated by commas.

Cc:
The e-mail address of the person to whom a copy of the message is to be sent. Multiple addresses are allowed but must be separated by commas. This field may be left blank.

Bcc:
"Blind" carbon copy. Like addresses listed in the Cc: field, addresses listed here receive copies of the message. Unlike addresses listed in the Cc: field, addresses listed here do not appear in the message header of the recipients. This is useful when you want to send a copy of a message to someone without everyone else knowing you did so. Multiple addresses are allowed but must be separated by commas. This field can be left blank.

Subject:
Type in the subject of your message.
Brief text indicating the contents of the message. This field can be left blank.

Message Text (Message Body)
After filling in the fields, move the insertion point to the space below the message header.

Message text - you can enter it in standard text format or html format. Select the text or html message format. Be careful, it is highly recommended to use the most basic format and attach complex letters to the message since many users may not have software capable of supporting html. The text message is typed into the text window.

Attachments: List of documents being sent along with the message.

Any file can be attached to and sent with a FastTrackMail message.

An attachment can be added by pressing the "Attach" button in the lower part of the screen.

The Attach file dialog is displayed. Once the desired file is located, select it and click on the OK button to attach the file to the message.

Several attachments can be added to a single letter. After that press the "Save" button. Then press the "Send" button. The message will be sent and saved in the outbox.

Saving an Outgoing Message for Later Changes

Sometimes it is convenient to save an outgoing message either as a safeguard when typing long messages, or so you can return to it later to edit or add more text.

The outbox can be accessed through the mailbox menu item. All messages sent can be viewed in this mailbox.

A message can be created and saved without sending it right away. To save the message while the outgoing message window is open, select Save from the File menu. In the future it can be opened and edited. Only unsent messages can be edited. Sent messages are not subject to editing. However, you can use the "Send Again" button and the software will create an exact copy of the selected message, which you will be able to edit.

Address book - The program's address book contains information about your recipients or mailing list.

Mailing type:

You can use the following macrolanguage. The character [FieldName] means that a certain phrase from the address book database will be inserted in this place.

This option will be used if you are using a message as a template for the mailing list using the address book of the program. Thus, if you want to send a personalized message to thousands of people from your mailing list, select them from your address book with a button in the Create New Message window and create the needed template.

The software can have a virtually unlimited number of address books stored in separate files. The software's address book data base is maintained in .dbf format so it can be easily recognized and used by other applications, for example, Excel.

Another import function allows you to connect your corporate data base with the electronic mail exchange system. Thus, if you already have your address book data in MS Excel format you can store the data as a text delimited file or in .dbf format and then import into any FastTrackMail address book. The software has an overlapping e-mail delete function.

There are two modes for viewing: form mode and table mode. Data can be entered and edited only in form mode. In this mode a number of fields will be shown which may be needed to record data on the addressee.

Any addresses which have been entered can be added to another address book. To do this highlight the address in the table view mode and select from the name of the list where you want the address to be saved then press the "Add" button.

Otherwise you can save them as a new address book. To do this press "Save As".

A filter can be used to search for and select addresses. Press the filter button and type in the parameters. The filter can be set for a complete match or for content of a value. After the filter is applied only addresses that fit its parameters will be shown. To remove the filter you will need either to press the filter button again and clear all the parameters or close the form and open it again. You can delete duplicates or block addresses contained in the deletion list. Select the address list from the menu item and press the block key.
 

Finding Text Within One Message

To search for text within a single message, open the message and make sure it is current. Then, select Find from the Edit menu and select the Find command from the submenu. The Find dialog is displayed, with the blinking insertion point located in the text field.

Type the text you want to find in the text field. When finished entering the desired text, click the Find button.

Starting at the beginning of the open message, FastTrackMail searches the current message for the specified text. If no match is found, the not found alert is displayed.

To continue searching in the same message for the next occurrence of the text, click the Find button in the Find dialog, or select the Find Again (F3) command from the Edit menu. These commands are equivalent and limit the search to the same message. Repeating these commands cycles through the matches in the open message only.

Match Case
Normally, FastTrackMail ignores capitalization when searching. If you want FastTrackMail to consider capitalization when searching, check the Match Case option in the Find dialog. When this option is checked, FastTrackMail searches for exact matches of character strings, including any capitalization.
 
 
 

FastTrackMail allows automatic sorting of incoming messages based on preset criteria and their placement in individual folders or mailboxes where they can be viewed at a later time. In such a system only those folders can be viewed, for example, where only the most important messages are directed. The mail filter processes incoming messages based on header fields, for example, using the sender's address or the content of the Subject field. Advanced filters can be applied both to any field of the message header or the body of the message itself.

The options can be set in such a way that they will work after each message is received. The filter can also be used manually. Use the "Add", "Delete" or "Edit" rules.

Then indicate which word the message subject field should contain or an address to filter messages. By filtering, a message can be moved to a specified mailbox.

You can filter data depending on the subject of the message and text, contained in it.
You can consistently impose different filters on the same mailbox.

The following actions are available:

A field identification algorithm can be specified in a special setting mode.

The rule may be temporarily blocked. The rule can be used by pressing the "Apply" or "Apply This" button. The progress bar will reflect performance process.
 

The preliminary filter is designed to filter messages right on the server before their loading. Here you can enter a list of key words so that if they appear in the headers field the message will be neglected or deleted depending on the program settings. The filter performs an exclusive function, i.e. you either enter a list of undesirable addresses or message subjects which should preclude their receipt or any other header field.

Clicking on any of the mailboxes in a list opens that mailbox window on the screen. Individual messages can be selected, opened, and otherwise manipulated from there.

By default the program contains only three mailboxes:

When you select a mailbox from the main menu it will show the list of messages corresponding to that mailbox.

Creating a Mailbox

To create a new mailbox, select New... from the Mailbox menu. The New Mailbox Dialog is displayed.

Type in the new mailbox name and click OK. The mailbox is created and added to the Mailbox and Transfer menus.

You can also create mailboxes using the Mailboxes window under the Tools menu

Creating a Mail Folder

FastTrackMail allows you to create mail folders in which you may keep one or more mailboxes and even other subfolders that hold additional mailboxes. In other words, not only can mailboxes be organized into folders, but folders can be contained one within another.

To create a new mail folder, select New... from the Mailbox menu. The New Mailbox Dialog is displayed. Type the name of the new mail folder and check the Make it a Folder option. Click OK to create the folder.

Creating a Mailbox Within a Folder

To create a new mailbox within a particular folder, select that folder from under the Mailbox menu and choose New... from the submenu that is displayed. The New Mailbox Dialog is displayed. Type in the new mailbox name and click OK. The mailbox is created and added to the Mailbox and Transfer menus. You can also create subfolders in the same manner. Just check the Make it a Folder option.

The excluded addresses list is input into the address book similarly to data (see item). This data can also be imported from a text or a .dbf file. To activate the list (i.e. to use it) press the "Block" button.

This is a convenient location for you to keep a list of individuals who have requested to be excluded from your mailings. Entries should be formatted as e-mail addresses, such as: [email protected]. An entire group can also be de-selected. For example, if you wish to exclude all contacts with e-mail addresses at softwarea.com, enter: softwarea.com

Every time you receive a request to subscribe to your web-based news site the software will not just simply add the electronic mail address and name to the address book, but also a multitude of other fields, for example, the name of the company, name of the product it is interested in, comments, etc.

Being able to collect marketing information allows you to properly allocate the company's resources, and accurately position it on the market. This will ultimately yield tangible benefits in terms of cost reduction and/or increased sales. If your website enables you to collect statistical data on potential customers, their description, preferences and tastes, you will definitely save money on opinion polls, telephone or other surveys.

The future content of the site will need to be brought in line with the objectives and description of the target group.

File 1

Company 1

Telephone 800-1-124-52-23

Name: John

Website: www.cnet.com

File 2

Company 2

Name: Mike Address: New York Telephone 900-1-421-25-33

Etc.

In order to make a database out of these files you will need to define the field and record identifiers.

In other words, you need to figure out after which symbol a record or field value begins (in our example the first field value comes after the Name symbol, and the second one after the Telephone symbol, while the record is the sum total of these two values).

For example you know that after the word "mailto:" should be a value for the email address, then you can specify as a field identifier a character set like:

" mailto: ". Look at the example "bizcard.cnd".

You can use the following parameters to adjust a data search.

1) Field Name - Enter any name you would like to give to the field.

2) Field Begin - The symbol to identify the beginning of a field. Allows you to define the set of symbols after which the value of the database field will follow.

3) Field End - The Symbol to identify the end of a field. The field value will be located in front of this symbol. In the bizcard.cnd example this parameter is "<".

4) Identifier Number - The identifier number inside one record if there are many identifiers which are the same within a single record.

5) Number of symbols - The number of symbols to extract. It can be used if there is a large text after the field identifier.

6) Number of words - The number of words to extract. You can enter the number of words which are to be considered the field value after the Field Begin identifier.

7) Number of lines - The number of lines after the Field Begin identifier of the field to be extracted.

8) Line Number - The number of the line after the Field Begin identifier of the field to be analyzed.

9) Unique - If this option is checked the program will search only for unique records. Double click the mouse on this cell to initiate a unique record search. For example, if you want your database to contain only unique emails, use this field option.

Other search options

The program also enables you to search for email address and URL in any given part of a document.

To do this go into Field Begin and choose

^Find@ - to search for email

^FindUrl - to search for URL

or right click the mouse and choose the following options on your local menu

Find E-mail

Find URL

The same way you can assign a sequential number to an email address or URL in the document which is being scanned.

DB Maker will then automatically find the web addresses you have requested in a document based on @ and http:// symbols.

This option is highly convenient when you need to make distribution lists for your partners or customers.

Saving results. Exporting data.

In the registered version you can save the results you have downloaded for subsequent use, for example using electronic tables. To do this, select the appropriate Field Delimiter).

The field delimiter defines the character separating the fields in a text file. By default ";" is used.

Press "Save results into addressbook"  or "Save results" to retain the data which have been selected.

The resulting file will look like this:

Vista; [email protected]; Sergey

Asona; [email protected]; Joe

When you open the file at a later time in MS Excel, make sure you choose the same delimiter you used when the file was created. Data are more manageable in table format. They can be more manageable, and can be more readily quantified and modified.

Data Filter

Before saving data you can delete duplicate records by pressing the Remove Duplicates key or use the filter key to perform filter functions.

In the former case you should show the column numbers in which there are to be unique values, and in the latter, the list of words which are exceptions. If these words are included in the assigned fields of the database, the corresponding records will be deleted from the resulting file. The filter will remove all the records which contain the symbols which have been entered. Therefore, if you enter aaaa into the filter, all the records containing these symbols in the assigned field will be removed.

Small changes must frequently be made to databases. For example, you might need to remove quotation marks, special symbols or otherwise modify the fields, for example in the following way:

“Telephone 9235523” -> 9235523 etc.

Here the menu window shows the initial value and the modification requested.
 

The record in a database is a certain piece of information. There can be many records in a database. The entire record consists of a number of separate fields.

Let's use an example to illustrate these ideas.

For instance, you write down the names of your friends in your note book (a paper planner of daily agenda), as follows:

Name: John Telephone 800-1-124-52-23

Name: Mike Telephone 900-1-421-25-33

Thus the Name will be the first field in our database, Telephone the second field, etc. The fields in databases must also be named. So, we will call the first field Name, and the Telephone field 800-1-124-52-23 and 900-1-421-25-33.

Name and Telephone are properties for John which will serve as records in our database.

Now let's see what our data look like in terms of a computer database.

Record 1

In this form, our notepad information can be considered to be part of a database.

This information can be illustrated as the following table:

You will need to remember these terms when working with databases as they are required to make property settings in data processing systems.
 

The DB Maker operates on the source code in such a way that to work with it you need to view the source document, not the way it is displayed in the browser.

This can be done with the key View Source or View Html Source of your Browser, or View as Text in the DB Maker.

You now need to find the information in this text that you would like to analyze. For example, let's say you have found a value in the telephone field and a set of Telephone symbols are located in front of the values. Highlight and copy the Telephone using Ctrl + Ins and then place the field identifier in the Begin field by pressing Shift + Ins.

New Message
Open new message composition window.

Reply
Reply to the sender of the current message.

Resend
Resend a message rejected by the mail system. Be sure to fix whatever caused the problem before you queue the message.

Send Immediately
Save the message in the Out mailbox and send it immediately.

Send Queued Messages
Send all messages that have been queued for delivery.

Check Mail
Pick up new mail from the POP server. The time in parentheses (if displayed) indicates the next time FastTrackMail will automatically check for mail.

Attach File...
Attach file(s) to the current message.

Close
Close the current window.

Save
Save changes to the contents of the topmost window. This applies to composition windows

Delete
Transfer the current message to the Trash mailbox; also used for deleting messages from the Trash mailbox.

Print
Print the current message(s).

Exit
Exit the FastTrackMail application.

Edit
This menu provides text editing and sorting tools.

Undo
Reverse the last editing action performed on a piece of text.

Cut
Delete selected text and place it on the clipboard.

Copy
Copy selected text and place it on the clipboard.

Paste
Place contents of clipboard at insertion point.

Clear
Delete selected text.

Select All
Select entire contents of message or mailbox.

Find
Search for designated text or character string within message(s).

Sort submenu
Sorts message summaries in a mailbox. Hold down the [Shift] key to reverse the order of the sort.

Mailbox
This menu lets you open a mailbox, or bring an open mailbox to the front.

In
Open mailbox where incoming messages are stored until deleted or transferred to another mailbox.

Out
Open mailbox where messages you compose are stored, and where queued messages are held until actually sent, and where copies of sent messages may be initially stored.

New...
Display New Mailbox dialog to create a new mailbox.

[Your Mailboxes]
Mailboxes you create are also displayed in this menu.

Transfer
This menu lets you transfer current message(s) to the selected mailbox.