Webmail Composing Messages

The Composing Messages preferences allow you to set up the new message tools the way you want them. Decide on the type of email to send, whether to include a signature, and how to spellcheck your message.

Main Options

Compose in a New Window

By default, if you click on the Compose button, the compose form will replace what's currently displaying in Webmail.

You can force the form to appear in a new window (or tab, depending on your browser settings) by adding a check to this checkbox.

Compose HTML Messages

If you prefer to send rich text (fonts, special formatting, different headlines) in your emails, select from always, on reply to HTML message or on forward or reply to HTML message.

If you prefer not to send HTML-formatted messages, select never.

Whatever option you select, there is always the option to change it on a message by message basis...

Composing message with HTML

Composing message with plain text

Automatically Save Draft

You can set the interval that Webmail saves a draft of your message. The default is 5 minutes. Go down to 3 minutes, 1 minute, or never, or go up to 10 minutes.

Always Request a Return Receipt

If you request a return receipt, the person receiving your email will see a message, asking him/her to take a simple action to report back to you that he/she received the message.

Return receipt requests are seldom used these days. We recommend that you not set this as the default.

If you send a very important email where you must know that the other person received it, add this option to that particular email while composing it.

Always Request a Delivery Status Notification

A delivery status notification request forces the receiving mail server to send you a notice that the message was delivered to the server.

It does not, however, tell you that the message made it to the recipient's mailbox, nor does it tell you if the recipient opened the message.

We recommend that you not turn this on for all emails. If you need a delivery status notification for a particularly important email, add this option to that email while composing it.

Place Replies in Folder of Message Being Replied To

By default, all the messages you send are stored in the Sent folder. You can, however, store reply messages in the same folder that holds the message you're replying to.

Add a check to store them in the folder of replied-to message.

When Replying

You have the option to always quote the message you're replying to, or not to quote it.

If you want to quote it, you can choose to place that message above your reply, or below it. Below it is the most common place for quoted text.

Select the option you want to use from the menu.

Messages Forwarding

You have two options when forwarding messages to another person (or to yourself at another email address).

Forward inline copies the message text to the text editor, where you can remove or edit the text of the message you're forwarding.

You can also remove any attachments from the original, and add new ones. Note, however, that using this option may cut off or reformat HTML-formatted messages.

Forward as attachment converts the message you're forwarding into an attachment. It includes any attachments that the original contained.

This method does not allow you to change any of the text of the message, or delete the attachment. You can add other attachments, if desired.

Default Font of HTML Message

If you send HTML-formatted messages, you can select the default font that all messages will be sent in (unless you change it while composing the message).

There are 13 fonts to choose from, and 7 sizes, ranging from 8pt to 36 pt. We recommend sending your emails as either 12pt or 14pt.

Default Action of [Reply all] Button

When composing a reply to more than one person, you can set the Reply all button to automatically reply to all or to reply to mailing list only (if found).

The second option will only send a reply to people on a list, if there is a list. This can help ensure that the previous sender does not receive your reply twice.

Everyone on the list receives your reply. However, everyone else copied on the original email who are not on the list will not receive your reply.

What you set here becomes the default for a click on the Reply all button. But you can also select the other option on an individual reply basis

When you're done, click on Save to save the changes you made to your Composing Messages preferences.

Signature Options

Automatically Add Signature

You have several options for adding your signature (your name, physical address, website URL, or anything else you want others to know about) to emails that you send.

By default, your signature is added to every email. You can change that to never, to new message only (you're not replying to or forwarding messages), or replies and forwards only.

When Replying Remove Original Signature From Message

When you reply to a message, you can remove the sender's signature from your reply. Add a check to do this.

When you're done, click on Save to save the changes you made to your Composing Messages preferences.

Spellcheck Options

Check Spelling Before Sending a Message

Spellcheck is off by default. You can have it always check every email before you send it by adding a check to the box here.

Ignore Words With Symbols

If you turn spellcheck on, you can have it ignore words with symbols (such as @Twitterhandles and email addresses), and hashtags (#hashtag). Add a check to this box if you send emails with lots of symbols in words.

Ignore Words With Numbers

If you turn spellcheck on, you can have it ignore words with numbers in them (such as domain names that use "4" instead of "for"). Add a check to this box if you send emails with lots of numbers in words.

Ignore Words With All Letters Capitalized

If you turn spellcheck on, you can also ignore any words that are typed in ALL CAPS. If you send emails with lots of words in ALL CAPS (not recommended), add a check to this box.

When you're done, click on Save to save the changes you made to your Composing Messages preferences.

Advanced Options

Click on the left-pointing arrow to the right of Advanced options to view them.

Attachment Names

Leave this as is, unless you know that you need to switch it to another option.

Use MIME Encoding for 8-bit Characters

Leave this box unchecked.

When you're done, click on Save to save the changes you made to your Composing Messages preferences.