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STANFORD UNIVERSITY

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  1. Why don't I see my address book on each computer I have setup for IMAP mail?
  2. What does "synchronizing" or "resyncing" do?
  3. Why don't my messages disappear when I delete them?
  4. I added a new folder from my other computer, why don't I see it on this one?
  5. If I wanted to change to a different email client when I convert to IMAP, how would I do that?
  6. Why do I have to store all my IMAP mailboxes under my Inbox?
  7. Can I use IMAP on one computer and POP on another?
  8. Can I use Pine with IMAP?
  9. My school has an IMAP server. Can we use Webmail to read mail there?

Eudora Questions

  1. Where did my folder go that I created on my computer at home (or other computer)?
  2. After converting to IMAP, why did I wind up with thousands of old messages in my new Inbox?

Outlook Express Questions

  1. How do I automatically purge deleted messages?

Quota Questions

  1. How can I tell how much of my IMAP quota I've used?
  2. How can I see how big each folder is?
  3. Can I pay for extra quota with my own money?

Attachment Questions

  1. What happens to the attachment when I delete a message with one?
  2. Can I delete just the attachment, and not the message?
  3. If I save an attachment does it automatically delete it from the server?

Answers to General Questions

  1. Why don't I see my address book on each computer I have setup for IMAP mail?

    Address books are only available on the computer and the client (i.e., Eudora, Outlook) that you initially set them up on. They do not automatically transfer to your IMAP account. If you want your address book on another computer, you need to copy it to that computer.

    Other functions that are "local" (that is, don't transfer with your account) to other computers: filters, message flags, and preferences like color, sound and layout.

  2. What does "synchronizing" or "resyncing" do?

    Because IMAP email can be read from any computer, the only way to ensure that you are seeing the same thing on each computer is to synchronize the mailboxes. This is usually done automatically when you start the email client, but you can also do it manually.

  3. Why don't my messages disappear when I delete them?

    You may have your client set to "mark for deletion", meaning that your messages won't actually be deleted until you "Purge Deleted Message" or "Compact Mailboxes". Some email clients may have a setting to automatically do this when you quit. Eudora does not.

  4. I added a new folder from my other computer, why don't I see it on this one?

    You probably need to synchronize the folders.

    Outlook Express for Windows - Tools, IMAP Folders, Reset List
    Eudora for Windows - Right click on Inbox in Folder view then select Refresh Mailbox list. (To view Folder list: Tools, Mailboxes)

  5. If I wanted to change to a different email client when I convert to IMAP, how would I do that?

    It is easiest to convert you current POP client first, move existing mail from your local hard disk to the IMAP server, then configure your new client for IMAP.

  6. Why do I have to store all my IMAP mailboxes under my Inbox?

    This is part of the Cyrus mail server architecture, which is what we use.

  7. Can I use IMAP on one computer and POP on another?

    Technically, yes. Practically, no. POP downloads email to the hard disk on the computer on which you read mail. That mail is no longer available to the IMAP client. To avoid confusion configure all computers you read email with to IMAP, or use Webmail on all but your primary computer (http://webmail.stanford.edu)

  8. Can I use Pine with IMAP?

    Yes. See Using Stanford IMAP with Mutt and Pine.

  9. My school has an IMAP server. Can we use Webmail to read mail there?

    No. Webmail can only see @stanford (Leland) mail.

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Answers to Eudora Questions

  1. Where did my folder go that I created on my computer at home (or other computer)?

    You may need to Reset your folder list on any other computers you have set up to use IMAP.

    Eudora for Mac - Click the Envelope button at the bottom of your Mailboxes window to Refresh IMAP Cache.
    Eudora for Windows - Right click the INBOX folder and then click Refresh Mailbox List.

  2. After converting to IMAP, why did I wind up with thousands of old messages in my new
    Inbox?

    You had checked "leave mail on server" in Eudora while in POP mode. Even though you couldn't see them before converting, IMAP thinks these are all new messages and shows them to you. You can select and delete these old messages.

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Answers to Outlook Express Questions

  1. How do I automatically purge deleted messages?

    To automatically purge deleted messages, on the Tools menu, click Options. On the Maintenance tab, select the Purge deleted messages when leaving IMAP folders check box. You must be connected for the deletions to occur; if you are not connected, the purged messages will be deleted the next time you connect.

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Answers to Quota Questions

  1. How can I tell how much of my IMAP quota I've used?

    Go to the following URL: https://webapp-is.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/auth/mailinfo

  2. How can I see how big each folder is?

    Outlook (Windows) - Right click the Inbox folder, then click Properties, Folder Size.
    Eudora (Mac and Windows) - A horizontal rectangular button located at the lower left of the Eudora mailbox displays three numbers, which give size information for that mailbox. The format is xx/yy/zz, where xx represents the number of messages in the mailbox, yy represents the mailbox size, and zz indicates the amount of fragmented space in the mailbox.

  3. Can I pay for extra quota with my own money?

    Not at this time. We can only bill departmental accounts. If your department is willing to pay this for you, then ask you to reimburse them, that's OK.

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Answers to Attachment Questions

  1. What happens to the attachment when I delete a message with one?

    If the message with the attachment is on the server, it will also be deleted.
    If you had previously used Eudora in POP mode, and the attachment was downloaded
    to your hard disk, deleting the message will not remove the attachment on your
    local hard disk.

    Note: Some email clients (Outlook, Outlook Express) allow you to keep the message
    and delete the attachment. Eudora does not.

  2. Can I delete just the attachment, and not the message?

    Some clients (Outlook, Outlook Express) allow this. Eudora does not.

  3. If I save an attachment does it automatically delete it from the server?

    No. You have to delete the message. If you want to keep the message, but have already saved the attachment to your hard drive, some email clients allow you to remove the attachment separately (Outlook, Outlook Express.)

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Last modified Wednesday, 22-Aug-2007 02:24:33 PM

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