Spamicidal Maniac ReadMe file
=============================

Thanks for downloading the latest release from Alien Donut Militia, Spamicidal Maniac.  This program can be used for the previewing of email before it is downloaded, and the alerting of the user to unsolicited junk email, better known as spam, BEFORE downloading.  You can then delete the message from the server without downloading it.  The program also incorporates simple mail sending and reading features.

How to install the program

Unpack the zip file you found this readme file in to a folder of your choice.  Then run the setup program.

How to use the program

The first thing you'll need to do in order to use the program is put in the correct information about your email account(s) into the settings boxes in the bottom left of the window.  The program comes preloaded with bogus data.  If you use Outlook Express 5 as your main mailreader, you can find the correct information to put in these boxes by:

1	From the main Outlook Express screen, click the Tools menu.
2	Select the Accounts... option.
3	From the list of email accounts that appears, click on the name of the first one you want to use with Spamicidal Maniac (Spamicidal Maniac will allow you to check up to two email accounts).

4	Click the Properties button.

5	Click the Servers tab in the Properties box which appears.

6	Copy the text of the text box labelled Incoming mail (POP3) into the clipboard by selecting it with the mouse and pressing Ctrl+C.  If this is too hard just read it and remember it.

7	If you haven't already done so, start Spamicidal Maniac by selecting it from the Start menu.  You will be reminded to fill in the correct settings.

8	Select the text in the text box labelled POP3 Server and press Ctrl+V if you pasted the server name in Outlook Express into the clipboard - otherwise just type in the 	server address you remembered.

9	Switch back to Outlook Express by clicking the button labelled Inbox - Outlook 	Express on the taskbar.

10	Copy the text of the text box labelled Account name into the clipboard by selecting it with the mouse and pressing Ctrl+C.  If this is too hard just read it and remember it.

11	Switch back to Spamicidal Maniac by pressing the button labelled Spamicidal Maniac on the taskbar.

12	Select the text in the text box labelled Account name and press Ctrl+V if you pasted the account name in Outlook Express into the clipboard - otherwise just type in the 	account name you remembered.

13	Click on the text box labelled Password, select the text in it using the mouse and type in your password for the mail server.  If you can't remember or don't know your password, you can find it out by clicking on the Password button, then moving the mouse pointer over the text box containing your password (the text box will only show asterisks).  Your password will be revealed in the pop-up window labelled Reveal'.

14	Now let's enter your SMTP settings - in other words, the settings you use in order to send email using Spamicidal Maniac.  First, click Compose Mail in the Spamicidal Maniac window.  A new window will appear.  You will see a series of small text boxes at the bottom of this window too - these contain the settings you use in order to send email.  For the Mail Server box, copy the text in the box labelled Outgoing mail (SMTP) in Outlook Express.  For the  HELO string, your best bet is probably to enter the Account name you copied from Outlook Express before.  If this doesn't work, contact your email provider.  The Datestamp box contains today's date (or, if your computer's battery is a little flat, perhaps a date a few months ago).  However, you can enter a date in the future if you want your email to appear above all the others in your recipient's mailreader program he he ;-)

15	The box labelled My email address should be fairly self-explanatory.  However, you can enter any email address and name you like if you want it to look like your email came from someone else.  The reply-to address is the email address your recipient's mailreader program will use if the recipient wants to reply to your message.  So make this address your correct address if you want a reply from your recipient.  Also bear in mind that your recipient can see your reply-to address.

16	Now click in any other text box on the screen, so that your new settings will get saved.

17	To return to the Check Mailbox window, either close the Send Email window, or move it out of the way and click on the title bar of the Check Email window to bring it to the front.

18	To quit the program, close the Check Mailbox window.

Multiple accounts

The program allows you to check email in up to two accounts on the server.  You can switch between the accounts by pressing the Account 1 and Account 2 buttons on the Check Mailbox window.  By default the program starts with the details for Account 1 loaded.  To enter settings for Account 2, press the Account 2 button and enter the details using the same process as described above.  The contents of any of the settings text boxes are saved as soon as you click outside the text box.

Checking email

To connect to the server and download headers for all the email waiting on the server for you, click Connect.  You can switch between different account settings by clicking the Account1 and Account 2 buttons.

You will see first the size in bytes of all the messages appearing in the second column of the box that looks a bit like a spreadsheet.  Then, more slowly, the titles of all of them will appear, one after the other.  As each of the headers downloads, it will appear in the big white box.  Once all the headers have downloaded, you can view the headers of any message by clicking on its row in the spreadsheet-like box.  Its subject, author and message ID will appear in the three boxes at the top of the window.  You can delete any message without downloading it by clicking on its row in the spreadsheet-like box and clicking the Delete button.  You can view the contents of any message by clicking on its entry in the spreadsheet-like box and clicking the Read button.

Sending email

The Send Email mode is entered by clicking the Compose Message button in the Check Email window.  You enter the address of the main person you want to send the message to by entering it in the Recipient Address box.  It can be carbon-copied to addresses in the Carbon Copy box.  It can be carbon copied to addresses you do not want the other recipients to know have received a copy by entering the addresses in the Blind Carbon Copy box.  The subject is entered in the Subject box.  The body of the message is entered in the big yellow box.  When you are ready to send, first connect to the server by pressing the Connect button.  Then click Send.  You can disconnect from the server again by pressing the Disconnect button.

SHAREWARE NOTICE

This program is shareware.  That means that it is provided for free download on a trial basis.  You may copy and distribute the unregistered version to your friends, neighbours and colleagues freely.  However, the registered version is function-limited.  In the unregistered version of the program, you cannot read the first email in the list in full.  In order to release the program's full functionality, and in order to clear your conscience, you should register, by paying the sum of $10.  For payment details visit the program's website at http://spamicidal.cjb.net
