Copyright: (C) Copyright 1997 Nevis Systems


Specifies the Internet address of the POP3 mail server on which you have your mail account. You can enter the server's address in name (e.g. "mail.your.com") or IP (e.g. "192.168.1.2") form.


Specifies your mail account username.  This is usually the same as the part of your e-mail address to the left of the `at' sign (@).


Provides a space for your mail account password.


Specifies the Internet e-mail client you want to use with CheckPOP.


Click this to indicate that you use your LAN to connect to your mail server.


Click this to indicate that you use Dial-Up Networking to connect to your mail server. CheckPOP can establish a connection itself to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or can use an existing DUN connection to check for new mail.  When the check is complete CheckPOP can, if appropriate, disconnect the connection.


Specifies the Dial-Up Networking (DUN) entry used to connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).


Check this to only allow mail checks to proceed if there is an existing DUN connection in progress. CheckPOP will not attempt to establish a connection to your ISP but will only use an already established connection.


Check this to disconnect from your Internet Service Provider once checking is complete.  Note: CheckPOP will only disconnect connections that it established.


Check this to stop CheckPOP from disconnecting from your Internet Service Provider if you are reading new mail that has arrived in your mail account.


Check this to allow CheckPOP to establish Dial-Up Networking connections itself.  Uncheck this to use a Dial-Up Networking autodialer that you may have installed on your system (e.g. AutoDial).


Low frequency - period between checks.  Used with Dial-Up Networking when a connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has to be established in order to communicate with your POP3 mail server.  A typical value is 60 minutes, allowing CheckPOP to check mail hourly.


High frequency - period between checks.  Used with a connection that already exists, as is the case with an existing DUN connection, or when you use your LAN to communicate with your POP3 mail server.  This value is typically of the order of 5-15 minutes.


Specifies if you wish CheckPOP to automatically enter checking mode when run.

On entering checking mode the first check will occur within 1-minute. However, whenever checking mode is entered CheckPOP looks at the time of the last successful check and schedules this first check to occur relative to this time and with reference to the period you have specified to elapse between checks.


Specifies if you wish CheckPOP to be run when your system starts.


Specifies if you wish an alarm sound to be continuously played until acknowledged.  Click on the tray icon to acknowledge the arrival of new mail.


Specifies if you wish a sound file (".wav") to be played whenever new mail arrives.


If checked, display a dialog box listing the authors of the newly arrived mail. From this dialog box you may launch your mail client unless automatically launched.


Specifies if your mail client should be automatically launched on the arrival of new mail.


Specifies the location of the sound file (".wav") to be played on the arrival of new mail.


Click this to have CheckPOP attempt to automatically find the correct entries for "Server" and "Username" from your selected Internet e-mail client.  Ensure that you have selected the e-mail client that is currently used with your POP3 account.


Specifies the location of the sound file (".wav") to be played continuously on the arrival of new mail.


Specifies the Internet mail client that will be launched on the arrival of new mail


Welcome to CheckPOP
CheckPOP (32-bit) v1.0

For Windows 95 and NT 4.0

(Final release)

Welcome to CheckPOP!

Thank you for downloading  the CheckPOP e-mail notification software for Windows 95 and NT 4.0.

This software is available on a free 14-day evaluation period.  If you wish to continue to use the software after the evaluation period you must register the software.  Details of registration can be found in the "Registration" section.

ENSURE that you read the "Getting Started" and accompanying sections of this help file BEFORE continuing.

Please check by the homepage for the latest information and updates.

Mark Hay

Nevis Systems

July 1997


About

About "CheckPOP"

Briefly…

CheckPOP is an e-mail utility that maintains a watch over a POP3 mail account for the arrival of new e-mail.  When new mail arrives you can be informed of its arrival by audio or visual notifications and your mail client can either be automatically or manually launched from CheckPOP for you to read the new mail.  CheckPOP supports Dial-Up Networking and principal email clients from Microsoft, Eudora, Netscape and Pegasus.


License

Use of the CheckPOP software (the "Software") is at your sole risk.  The Software and its documentation are provided "AS IS" and without warranty of any kind and MARK HAY AND NEVIS SYSTEMS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND AGAINST INFRINGEMENT.  MARK HAY AND NEVIS SYSTEMS DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, OR THAT THE OPERATIONS OF THE SOFTWARE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION WILL BE CORRECTED.  FURTHERMORE, MARK HAY AND NEVIS SYSTEMS DO NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY MARK HAY OR NEVIS SYSTEMS SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY OR IN ANY WAY INCREASE THE SCOPE OF THIS WARRANTY.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL MARK HAY OR NEVIS SYSTEMS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE OR ITS DOCUMENTATION, EVEN IF MARK HAY OR NEVIS SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY.


Release Notes

CheckPOP (32-bit) v1.0

This version is the final release of version 1.0. If you have any problems with this version, suggestions for incorporation or custom modifications then please do not hesitate to contact us.  Contact details can be found in the "Contact" section of this help file on the next page.


Contact

All enquires regarding CheckPOP should be directed to:

m.hay@bigfoot.com

or

m.hay@virgin.net

Ensure that you visit the CheckPOP web site for updates, support and further information:

http://checkpop.home.ml.org

or

http://business.virgin.net/m.hay/checkpop.htm


Getting Started

Once you have installed CheckPOP using "setup.exe" you are now ready to configure CheckPOP.

IF YOU ARE RUNNING CHECKPOP FOR THE FIRST TIME the configuration dialog will appear after installation allowing you to modify settings for "Account", "Connection", "Checking" and "Notifications". ENSURE that you fill-in the details of your POP3 account (try the "Autoconfig" button), and ALSO select your DIAL-UP NETWORKING entry if applicable.

Ensure that you have read "The CheckPOP tray icon" and "Configuring CheckPOP" in the next sections to get going.


The CheckPOP tray icon

The CheckPOP icon is located in the task tray situated at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen.  Normally all you will see of CheckPOP is an envelope icon being displayed.  If you place the mouse pointer over the icon a tool tip will display saying "CheckPOP" just to remind you of what it is!

From this icon you can:

Check for mail

Enter checking mode

Leave checking mode

Configure CheckPOP

Run your mail client

Close CheckPOP

And also:

List mail in your POP3 mail account

Bring up this help file

Mail the author of this software

Display CheckPOP's homepage on the Internet

A single right-click on the envelope icon in the tray will display the CheckPOP menu.  This is CheckPOP's tray menu.  Below is a brief description of each menu item:

Open

Display the mail list window.  This lists all mail in your POP3 mail account on the mail server.  The principal mail headers are displayed (date received, date sent, author, subject, recipient, and size of mail item) in list view format and can be sorted in ascending or descending order by clicking on the column header.  This window can also be displayed by double-clicking on the envelope icon.

Check now

CheckPOP to attempt an immediate check for mail.

Start checking

Enter checking mode.  CheckPOP will check for mail at intervals specified in the "Checking" options dialog.

Stop checking

Leave checking mode.  The icon in the tray will fade out and a red circle with a white interior will appear on the icon.

Options

Displays the options dialog where you can configure CheckPOP.

Read mail

This choice will launch the mail client you have selected for your mail account (from "Account" options).  Supported Internet mail clients include Eudora, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Internet Mail, Pegasus Mail and others.

About

Displays CheckPOP's "About" box that shows your installation serial number and version.

THE MEANING OF THE DIFFERENT CHECKPOP ICONS

Normal icon indicating that CheckPOP is in checking mode.

CheckPOP not in checking mode and is stopped following user request to do so.

Check for mail in progress.  Establishing Dial-Up Networking, if necessary, logging-in to POP3 server and retrieving mail information.

New mail has arrived (flashing).  This is the minimum notification that CheckPOP will provide indicating the arrival of new mail.

An error has occurred during checking for mail.  This could be due to an authorisation failure when checking mail account or a failure relating to Dial-Up Networking.


Options - Account

CONFIGURING OPTIONS

ACCOUNT

The account section of the options dialog allows you to provide CheckPOP with details of your POP3 e-mail account and the mail client which you wish to use with the account.

Mail Client

Optionally required by CheckPOP is the choice of mail client that you use, or wish to use, for reading received mail.  The selection provided is a list of mail clients installed on your system.  The mail client that you select can be automatically launched when new mail arrives, or launched on demand from the tray menu's "Read mail".  CheckPOP can also use the mail client that you select to determine the mail Server and Username (below) for your mail account.  However, this autoconfiguration is only possible for a number of mail clients. Supported Internet mail clients include Eudora, Netscape, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Internet Mail, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook Express, Pegasus Mail and others.

Server - Username - Password

This is where your POP3 mail account details are entered in order to tell CheckPOP where to check for mail.  These details should be readily available to you either from your mail client's own configuration or obtainable from your IT department.

Autoconfig

If you have previously used a particular mail client on your system to retrieve your mail, CheckPOP may be able to retrieve the Server and Username settings from the mail client's configuration.  For security reasons you are required to supply the password that is used with this POP3 account.  Currently supported mail clients for autoconfiguration are Microsoft Internet Mail, Microsoft Outlook Express, Eudora and Netscape Messenger.


Options - Connection

CONFIGURING OPTIONS

CONNECTION

Use this dialog to tell CheckPOP about how you wish to communicate with your POP3 mail server.  Some computers, especially in commercial or educational environments, are directly connected to their POP3 mail server via a Local Area Network (LAN) connection attached to the computer.  Others may have to dial their ISP (Internet Service Provider) using a modem or ISDN TA connected to the computer in order to gain access to the POP3 mail server.  The latter method typically requires Dial-Up Networking (DUN).

If you are connected to your mail server via a LAN then you don't need Dial-Up Networking (DUN).  In this case you should select "I do not use Dial-Up Networking".  Otherwise, select "I use Dial-Up Networking" to indicate that you have to dial into your ISP to reach your mail server.

Use the following Dial-Up Networking connection

Select the phonebook entry that connects to your ISP.

Use only an existing connection

When CheckPOP is in checking mode and using DUN, in order to connect to the POP3 server to check for new mail an existing connection may not be available and it may be necessary to dial into the ISP.  CheckPOP can be set to only check when there is an existing connection.

CheckPOP establishes DUN connection

When it is necessary to check for new mail, CheckPOP can either dial your ISP or allow an autodialer to dial.

Disconnect after check

Once a check is complete, a DUN connection that CheckPOP established can be dropped.  CheckPOP will only drop a connection that it established.  A connection that was in-progress when CheckPOP started a check will be used and will mean that no connection has to be established; and that CheckPOP will not drop the connection when its check is complete.

Do not disconnect if reading new mail

If you have set CheckPOP to disconnect after a check, no disconnection will be performed if you choose to launch your mail client from the "New Mail" dialog in order to read the new mail.


Options - Checking

CONFIGURING OPTIONS

CHECKING

Offline

Used with Dial-Up Networking when a connection to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has to be established in order to communicate with your POP3 mail server.  A typical value is 60 minutes, allowing CheckPOP to check mail hourly.

Online

Used with a connection that already exists, as is the case with an existing DUN connection, or when you use your LAN to communicate with your POP3 mail server.  This value is typically of the order of 5-15 minutes.

Run CheckPOP on Windows start-up

If you set this option, CheckPOP will automatically be loaded when Windows starts or when you log-in to Windows.

Enter checking mode as soon as CheckPOP loaded

If you set this option, CheckPOP will enter checking mode as soon as it is loaded.

* NOTE *

Whenever CheckPOP enters into checking mode it calculates how long it has been since it last performed a check on your mail account.  It will then set its timer(s) to schedule a check to occur in line with the interval(s) between checks that you have specified.  For example, if entering checking mode and the last check was at 2.00pm, the interval between checks is 60 minutes and the time is now 2.45, then a check will be scheduled for 15 minutes time at 3.00pm.

If the time elapsed since the last check is greater than the interval that you have specified, a check will automatically be scheduled to begin within a minute of entering checking mode.  For example, if entering checking mode and the last check was at 6.00pm and the time is now 8.00am the following day, then a check will be schedule for within the next minute - the earliest a check can be scheduled for.


Options - Notifications

CONFIGURING OPTIONS

NOTIFICATIONS

Alarm

When new mail arrives CheckPOP will play an alarm sound of your choice (default is a file called "alarm.wav" which comes with CheckPOP).  This alarm will play until you acknowledge the arrival of new mail by a single click on the CheckPOP tray icon.  Click on "Test" will allow you to listen to the alarm sound.  The test will play the alarm at a faster rate than normal.

Play wave file

As soon as new mail arrives a wave file of your choice can be played once to announce that new mail has just arrived.  CheckPOP comes with a wave file that will announce "you've got mail".  Clicking on "Test" will allow you to listen to the wave file.

Display dialog box

A dialog box will be displayed when new mail arrives listing who the mail is from and giving you the option to launch you mail client to read the mail.  If you don't want to read the mail you can just click on "Later" to read the mail later.

Run mail client

The arrival of new mail will trigger the automatic launch of your mail client.


Microsoft Exchange

CheckPOP and your mail client

Microsoft Exchange

Users of Microsoft Exchange should have the Internet Mail service installed in order to receive mail over the Internet or an intranet.  CheckPOP can launch Microsoft Exchange on demand and when new mail arrives but is currently unable to autoconfigure from Exchange.

Manual configuration of CheckPOP "account" options from Microsoft Exchange

Follow the instructions below to find the "Server" and "Username" entries that you are required to enter into CheckPOP's "account" options dialog.  You should already know the password for the POP3 mail  account.

1) From the "Tools" menu select "Services".

2) Select the "Internet Mail" service entry and then click on the "Properties" button.

A dialog will then appear with the "Internet Mail" title and some account details.  The details you require from this dialog are displayed in the "Mailbox Information" section.

CheckPOP "Server" entry can be found from the "Internet Mail Server" entry of the Exchange dialog.

CheckPOP "Username" entry can be found from the "Account name" entry of the Exchange dialog.

You must enter the password for your mail account on the server.

When new mail arrives

Launch Microsoft Exchange either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Exchange has loaded just press Ctrl+M, or select "Tools" followed by "Deliver Now" from the menu, within Exchange for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Microsoft Internet Mail

CheckPOP and your mail client

Microsoft Internet Mail

CheckPOP can launch Microsoft Internet Mail on demand and when new mail arrives, and can autoconfigure from Microsoft Internet Mail.

When new mail arrives

Launch Microsoft Internet Mail either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Microsoft Internet Mail has loaded just click the "Send and Receive" icon within Microsoft Internet Mail for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Microsoft Outlook

CheckPOP and your mail client

Microsoft Outlook

Users of Microsoft Outlook should have the Internet Mail service installed in order to receive mail over the Internet or an intranet.  CheckPOP can launch Microsoft Outlook on demand and when new mail arrives but is currently unable to autoconfigure from Outlook.

Manual configuration of CheckPOP "account" options from Microsoft Outlook

Follow the instructions below to find the "Server" and "Username" entries that you are required to enter into CheckPOP's "account" options dialog.  You should already know the password for the POP3 mail  account.

1) From the "Tools" menu select "Services".

2) Select the "Internet Mail" service entry and then click on the "Properties" button.

A dialog will then appear with the "Internet Mail" title and some account details.  The details you require from this dialog are displayed in the "Mailbox Information" section.

CheckPOP "Server" entry can be found from the "Internet Mail Server" entry of the Outlook dialog.

CheckPOP "Username" entry can be found from the "Account name" entry of the Outlook dialog.

You must enter the password for your mail account on the server.

When new mail arrives

Launch Microsoft Outlook either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Outlook has loaded just press the F5 key, or select "Tools" followed by "Check for new mail" from the menu, within Outlook for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Microsoft Outlook Express

CheckPOP and your mail client

Microsoft Outlook Express

CheckPOP can launch Outlook Express on demand and when new mail arrives, and can autoconfigure from Outlook Express.

When new mail arrives

Launch Outlook Express either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Microsoft Outlook Express has loaded have Outlook Express check for mail for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Eudora Light/Pro

CheckPOP and your mail client

Eudora Light/Pro

CheckPOP can launch Eudora on demand and when new mail arrives, and can autoconfigure from Eudora.

When new mail arrives

Launch Eudora either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Eudora has loaded have Eudora check for mail for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Pegasus Mail

CheckPOP and your mail client

Pegasus Mail

CheckPOP can launch Pegasus Mail on demand and when new mail arrives but is currently unable to autoconfigure from Pegasus.

Manual configuration of CheckPOP "account" options from Pegasus Mail

Follow the instructions below to find the "Server" and "Username" entries that you are required to enter into CheckPOP's "account" options dialog.  You should already know the password for the POP3 mail account.

1) From the "File" menu select "Network Configuration".

A dialog will then appear listing the properties for "Network Configuration".  The details you require from this dialog are displayed in the "For receiving mail" section.

CheckPOP "Server" entry can be found from the "POP3 Host" entry of the Pegasus dialog.

CheckPOP "Username" entry can be found from the "User name" entry of the Pegasus dialog.

You must enter the password for your mail account on the server.

When new mail arrives

Launch Pegasus Mail either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Pegasus has loaded just click the "Check your POP3 host for new mail" icon (a globe with a right-facing red arrow), or select "File" followed by "Check host for new mail" from the menu, within Pegasus for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Netscape Messenger / Mail

CheckPOP and your mail client

Netscape Messenger / Mail (3.x and 4.x)

CheckPOP can launch Netscape Messenger / Mail on demand and when new mail arrives, and can autoconfigure from Netscape Messenger / Mail.

When new mail arrives

Launch Netscape Messenger / Mail either by clicking on the "Read Now" button of the notification dialog or "Read mail" from the CheckPOP tray menu.

Once Netscape Messenger / Mail has loaded just click the "Get Mail" icon within Netscape Messenger / Mail for the new mail to be downloaded from the POP3 mail server.


Registration

CheckPOP (32-bit) v1.0 requires to be registered after an evaluation period of 14-days.  After this evaluation period you are required to register if you wish to continue to use the software.

Why Register?

Registration will allow the use of CheckPOP after the 14-day evaluation period, minor version (1.x) updates, support for CheckPOP and technical advice on related e-mail issues.  Registration is inexpensive and simple.

Pricing

Pricing for the final release of CheckPOP (32-bit) v1.0 is as follows (all prices are in US Dollars):

Single	Multiple
$15	First copy -	$15
	Additional copies -	$10
Volume discounts are available for registration of 20 or more copies.  Please contact the author directly for details at m.hay@bigfoot.com.

How to register (ordering)

You can order by credit card through PsL, a credit card order service based in the United States.

Once your order has been processed you will receive a registration code that will unlock your CheckPOP software.  The registration code is usually dispatched by email within 24-hours but please allow up to 48-hours.

As soon as you have placed your order through PsL please mail m.hay@virgin.net with your "installation serial number(s)" for the number of copies that you have registered with PsL.  This will allow a quicker response to your order.

On the Internet, go to our web page at http://business.virgin.net/m.hay/products/checkpop/registration.htm and click on "Order Now".  You will be linked through to PsL's web site where you can place your order on a SECURE WEB SERVER.

Alternatively…

[THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS LISTED BELOW ARE THOSE OF PsL.  NO TECHNICAL INFORMATION OR SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FROM THESE NUMBERS.]

Call tollfree in the US on 800-242-4775 extension 15310

Or call 713-524-6394 extension 15310

Or you can FAX your order to PsL at 713-524-6398

- when FAXing an order please write in BLOCK CAPITALS. If possible, please print the CheckPOP order form on PsL's site, fill in all the required details and fax this back to PsL.  You'll find this form by clicking on "Order Now" from the CheckPOP registration web page (URL above).