Email Attachments
Although the main part of
most email messages is text it is often valuable to send files as well. These files can be
Xrays, drawings, arthroscopy photographs, or html files, even sound or video files.
Virtually all mailing programs have the capacity to "attach" one or more files
to a message and these files will be sent to all recipients of the message.
In Outlook Express the
attachment of a file to a message which you are sending is simple. While writing the
message click on the "Attach File" Icon or open the Insert/File menu. The
standard Windows file selection dialog box is opened and you can then select the file you
wish to send (below) The files attached to a message you are sending are indicated on a
line below your message.
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The file you select is then
sent with your message.
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Whether a mailing list
will accept email attachments depends on how the list is set up. The "Orthopod"
family of mailing lists all do accept attachments.
When you receive a message
with an attachment the mailing program will normally denote this by a small icon beside
the message.
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In Microsoft Outlook
Express the default setting of the program means that you can see attached image files at
the end of the text message. In addition the file names are noted below the message and
these files are stored on your computer. Outlook Express stores them in \WINDOWS\TEMP\
folder so this folder can get quite full of files you have forgotten about. Other mailing
programs store the attached files
elsewhere, but the principle is the same.
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Note that .exe files can be
sent as attachments. These are executable (usually machine language) programmes. As such
they are viewed with suspicion as they could be a way in which a virus can be introduced
into your machine. Running an executable file (.exe) which was sent to you by someone you
don't know is asking for trouble. The safest thing to do is delete the message without
opening it as some malicious attachments to email may be activated by opening the
message, not only by running the programme. See the section on viruses.
If you want to continue the subjects in order this was # 9
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