The America Online File menu has unique items specially designed to help you capture and save the information you gather when you are online. It also contains options you are familiar with from your use of other Macintosh software products.
New Memo (cmd-N)
This option allows you to create a new document in which you can type notes or paste text you found online that you want to print or save. A text document can be up to 28K in size. If you want to mail a new file you created, you can transform any text document into a Mail memo by selecting "Address Memo" from the Mail menu on your horizontal menu bar.
If you prefer, you can save and close the text file, and then attach it to a Compose Mail memo using the Attach File option.
Tip: Unless you are sending a very long document (or one that is formatted in a word processor) to an America Online member, consider transforming your text document into an Mail document as described above. This will make the recipient of your mail happy, since they won't have to go to the trouble of downloading your memo before reading it -- they can read it and respond to it online!)
Open . . . (cmd-O)
Use this option to open various files that will be recognized by America Online, such as text files, mail files, and sound files.
Close (cmd-W)
. . . closes a file. If you have modified a file, you will be asked whether or not you wish to save the changes first.
Save (cmd-S)
. . . writes the contents of a modified file to your disk. If you have never saved this file before, you will be prompted to choose a file name. You can use this option to save text files that you find online. America Online also allows you to save "lists" that you see online, such as menus, message board and software lists.
Save As...
. . . saves the current file under a new name that you specify.
Save Selection As...
. . . allows you to save any portion of a text field directly into a file. This is particularly useful when you are browsing online; for example, you may wish to save part of an encyclopedia article, a news story, or a message board posting. Simply highlight the text you wish to save before choosing this option.
Revert
. . . allows you to "turn back the clock" to the last version you saved of the file you have open.
Logs
An America Online Log is like an online tape recorder; it lets you open a file and keep a record of everything that happens during your session.
You can open a System Log to keep track of message board text, articles read, mail read -- any text that is "incoming" while you are are on America Online. Outgoing text (mail you send, for example) is not logged.
Opening a Chat Log while you are in a People Connection or conference room will record all conversation that goes on in the room (as long as you are in it while your log is open).
Opening an Instant Message Log will record all Instant Messages that you receive while you are on America Online.
When you open a log you will be prompted to choose a name and destination (where it will be stored) for the text log.
To temporarily suspend a log from recording, go back to Logs on your Edit menu. You will need to open the log again if you wish to resume recording.
You can read your log file from within America Online only AFTER you close it. However, if the log file is gets to be 28K, AOL automatically closes your log file, and opens a new one with the same name as the original log plus the number 1, 2, etc. This is so that you can always open and read your log files from from within AOL.
Page Setup . . .
Use this option when you are setting up America Online for printing.
Print . . . (cmd-P)
Use this to print text found on America Online windows. Any text that you can select you can print. If there is more than one text field on the window, move the cursor (by clicking with the mouse, or using the Tab key) to the field you are interested in printing.
Quit (cmd-Q)
When you select "Quit" while you are online, a box will appear on your screen asking you if you want to "Quit" or "Sign Off." Selecting "Quit" will take you out of the AOL application, and back to the desktop. If you select "Sign Off," you will be disconnected from America Online, but will remain in the application.
Tip: Unless you are finished using America Online for a long period of time, you may wish to select "Sign Off" rather than "Quit." If you are using MultiFinder or System 7, you will still be able to use other applications when the America Online application is open. This way, you can "multi-task" (compose mail offline, read mail in your FlashSession box, etc.) and conveniently sign on to America Online later, without having to re-launch the application.
The Edit Menu
The Undo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Clear, and Select All options on the Edit menu are standard Macintosh commands, and will work in the ways familiar to you.
Paste From Disk
In any online area in which you are allowed to enter text from the keyboard (for example, the electronic mail window, or a message board), you may also insert the contents of a text file. This command is like Paste, except you are "pasting" from a text file, rather than from the Macintosh Clipboard.
Tip: You might use this function to compose text offline, to be pasted on a message board. You may not feel this is worth the effort for a short message, but if you have a long message, it will save on connect charges, and give you the opportunity to spell-check the document within your own word-processor.
Font
Size
Style
These options allow you to be creative as you customize the fonts, sizes, and styles that you use in a mail message or in a memo.
To use these options, highlight the text you wish to change, then select the option you want from the Edit menu. You will have every font and size available to you that you have installed on your Mac. If the recipient of your mail or memo has the same fonts installed, they will be able to see your customized fonts. (If they do not have the font installed, they will still be able to read your mail or memo, but the font will default to a standard.)
Tip: If you love fonts (and what Mac user doesn't?) you can have a lot of fun with this feature. You can use underlines, bold and italic (even outlines and shadows) for emphasis in your electronic mail ("I'm so very glad to hear from you!"). Special mail (such as party invitations, wedding or birth announcements, and love letters) can be composed with special fonts from your collection. If you are using your Email for business purposes, you can give the mail you send a crisp, professional look -- and get your point across effectively -- using fonts and styling.
Tip: The Font, Size, and Style options on your Edit menu will allow you to change these formats "on the fly." If you want to change the default settings for your Email to a certain size or font that you have installed on your system, use the Preferences option located on the Members menu on your horizontal menu bar.
Tip: You can use "special" characters that are generated by holding down the Option key while typing a character in mail and memos. For example, add emphasis to your memos by using "bullets," typed by holding Option and typing '8'. Foreign language vøwéls are typêd using the Option character set, as well.
The Go To Menu
The Go To menu is designed to help you move around on America Online. You will be able to customize certain options on your Go To menu so that you can use it to go directly to the online areas that you visit frequently.
Although you can access the Go To menu whether you are online or offline, certain options on the menu will be dimmed (unavailable to you) when you are offline.
Set-Up and Sign On
If you select this option when you are offline, but within the America Online application (composing mail or reading Help, for example), the "Set-Up and Sign On" screen will appear on your Macintosh; then, you can immediately sign on to America Online, or change your communications set-up (modem and access telephone numbers).
When you select Set-Up and Sign On from within the America Online application, any windows or mail that you have open on your screen will remain open as you sign on to America Online.
Welcome to America Online
The Welcome to America Online window is the first window that you see when you sign on. You can go back to this window anytime online by selecting this option from your Go To menu. (If you are in a "free" area, you will first need to Select "Exit Free" from the Go To menu).
This window is your guide to the latest developments on America Online. Watch the Welcome to America Online window for information about the top news story of the hour, new services, special contests and events, America Online Community Updates, and conferences that may be of interest to you.
Toward the bottom left of the Welcome window, an icon will indicate whether you have mail in your mailbox. If you have new mail, you can read it simply by clicking on this icon. Also near the lower left hand side of this window is a button labeled "Departments." Click on this button to go to the menu of America Online Departments.
Departments
This option will bring up the "main menu" of America Online, the graphic screen with icons that represent the eight departments of America Online.
Keyword . . . (cmd-K)
Keywords allow you to "jump" directly to many areas of America Online. Using a Keyword is simple: Just pick "Keyword" from the "Go To" menu, or type command-K. Then type the Keyword of your choice -- you'll move directly to the area of your choice without having to traverse through multiple windows.
Choose "Keyword Help" from the form where you enter your Keyword for a list of America Online keywords. (We will mail you a Keyword Card with a list of favorite America Online keywords the next business day after you sign on for the first time.)
Directory of Services
The Directory of Services is a searchable database that helps you find where to go online to see topics of interest to you. To use the Directory of Services, choose "Search the Directory" from the list on the Directory of Services window. Then, type in a clue or key word that describes what you're looking for. You'll get a list of associated areas, and each will contain a brief description of each area and the location and keywords to move there quickly.
Lobby (cmd-L)
If you select this option, you will go directly to the "Lobby" of People Connection, America Online's social center.
Members' Online Support
This option will take you directly to the Members' Online Support department, where you can find out what's happening online, what new services are available, the status of your current bill, answers from our Customer Relations department -- and just about anything you need to know as an America Online member. Use of this area is free of connect charges.
Network News
Every so often while you are online, America Online will send you "Network News" -- small windows at the top of your screen that will let you know what is happening on America Online. If you select "Network News" from the Go To menu, you will be able to scroll through all the Network News items that have been sent to you during your current online session.
FlashSessions
Choose this item to customize and schedule online and offline "FlashSessions." To learn more about "FlashSessions," select that topic from the list of Help topics to the left of this text.
Edit Go To Menu
This feature allows you to customize the Go To menu to suit your needs and interests. You can choose the areas you frequently visit, and add the appropriate keyword to this menu, no matter where the area is online. Once you know the keywords to your favorite areas (see KEYWORD above), personalize the Go To menu using this feature, and you'll make it easier than ever to move around.
We've preselected a few keywords for your Go To menu -- items that we think you will want to try. If, however, you would like to remove or change any of these, just select Edit Go To Menu.
The Mail Menu
America Online has a full-featured electronic mail system that's easy to use, yet powerful. America Online's mail was designed to optimize both the online and offline environments to allow you to work most efficiently.
America Online offers a scheduled, offline mail system called "FlashSessions" that you can customize to automatically sign on at times you specify, retrieve your waiting mail, send mail that you composed offline, and then sign off from America Online. Your mail will be saved offline for you to answer at your convenience. To learn more about FlashSessions, select the topic from the list of Help topics to the left of this text.
Compose Mail
You can compose and address a piece of mail using the same form whether you are online or offline within the America Online application. If you select "Compose Mail" from the Mail menu, a blank mail form will appear on your screen.
From the "Compose Mail" form, you'll construct your memo and mailing information. To address your mail, simply type in the account names of the recipients in the "to" field. If you have more than one recipient, be sure to separate the account names with a comma; for example: MarshallR1, KathyR, Robin
Or, choose the Address Book from your "Compose Mail" form to access your personalized list of accounts. If you choose an address from your Book when the cursor is in the "To" or "cc" (carbon copy) box, the address (or addresses) will be transferred to that field for you. (More on the Address Book below.)
America Online provides a "blind" carbon copy feature. That means that you can send a copy of your mail to someone without anyone else on the distribution list knowing that individual received the copy. To do this, simply insert parentheses around the name of the secret recipient, as in (John1).
Tip: If you would like to send a blind carbon copy to more than one person, insert parentheses around all of the secret recipients, separating each name with a comma: (John1, KathyR, MarshallR1).
From the "Compose Mail" form, you can also request to receive a "Return Receipt" to notify you when the mail you sent has been read.
You can also send any file, including a formatted word processing, spreadsheet, graphic, or sound document to another America Online member. Simply click the "Attach File" icon; then locate the name of the file you want to send on the standard file list. When you select the file that you wish to send, the name of the file will appear on mail form, and the Attach File icon will change to "Detach File." If you change your mind about sending the file, you can click on the Detach File icon and the file will be removed from the form.
Finally, choose whether to "Send Now" or "Send Later." If you are online and you opt to send your memo later, you'll be reminded that you have mail waiting to be sent before you sign off. If you are offline and you opt to send your memo later, your mail will be stored on your disk for later delivery.
Address Memo
If you have a plain text document open (online or off), which you "Opened" from the disk or created using the "New" option on the File menu, you can transform the text into a mail format so you can easily address and send it. Selecting the "Address Memo" option accomplishes this -- then all you have to do is fill out the address portion of the memo, and send it.
FAX/Paper Mail
America Online allows you to send FAX (no special equipment needed) and US Mail. If you select the FAX/Paper Mail option while you are online, you will find instructions and a list of prices for this service.
Check Mail You've Sent
This convenient online feature allows you review mail you've sent, and check to see if it has been read. Select the "Status" button to see who has read it and when. Mail you have sent will be stored in this "outbox" for two weeks after you've sent it. (This feature is only available when you are online.)
Read New Mail
When you select "Read New Mail" from the Mail menu, a window will appear that lists your new (unread) mail. From this window, you can opt to: read each memo separately, read all, check the status of your new mail, or ignore a piece of mail. The "ignore" feature treats the mail as though you've read it, but doesn't open it up on the screen for you. It removes the mail from your mailbox, although you can still retrieve it using "Check Mail I've Read." If you ignore mail, however, the sender will still receive notification that you've read it if he or she requests the status of the mail they sent to you. (This feature is only available when you are online.)
Check Mail You've Read
America Online stores your mail for one week after you have read it. You can use this option to review mail that you may have already read, or check the status of mail you've read (to see if others on the distribution list have read it too). (This feature can only be used when you are online.)
Read Incoming Mail
Read Outgoing Mail
Select these options to review incoming and outgoing mail that you have stored in your FlashSession mailbox. To learn more about FlashSessions, select the from the appropriate Help topic from the list to the left of this text.
Edit Address Book
Your personal Address Book is a handy way to organize the mail addresses you use on a regular basis. Use this feature to compile an America Online "rolodex" to keep track of your online associates. This is how it works:
Suppose you meet a new friend online named Bart Simpson. His screen name on America Online is "BartS," and you want to add him to your personal Address Book. To do so, you would take the following steps:
• Select "Edit Address Book" from the Mail menu.
• Click on the "Create" button. A form will appear on your screen.
• In the "Name" field, type the name of your friend: Bart Simpson
• In the "Account" field, type the account name of your friend: BartS
The next time you want to send a piece of mail to Bart (or anyone else in your address book), simply bring up the Compose Mail form, click on the Address Book icon on the left side of the form, and click on the name of the person whose account address you would like to have entered in the field.
You can even list group addresses in your Address Book. For example, let's suppose you have a group of online colleagues to whom you regularly send mail -- your staff at work, or your favorite Forum Leaders on America Online. This is how you would create a group of addresses in your Address Book:
• Select "Edit Address Book" from the Mail menu.
• Click on the "Create" button. A form will appear on your screen.
• In the "Name" field, type the name of your address group (for example: My Forum Leaders)
• In the "Accounts" field, type the account addresses of everyone you would like in that address group (for example: AFLHypCrd, AFLCheryl, AFL DonR, AFL MacDev)
You have set up a group address and every time you select "My Forum Leaders" from your Address Book, the names of those accounts will appear on the field you designate on your Compose Mail form.
You can also modify your address lists, and delete names from your lists.
Tip: As you meet new friends and associates online, be sure to add their names to your Address Book. This way, you won't lose track of anyone by forgetting their "real" name or account address.
The Members Menu
Send Instant Message . . .
Instant Messages are instant, "for your eyes only," messages that you can send to anyone who is signed on to America Online at the same time as you.
When you select "Send Instant Message . . ." from the Members menu, a form will appear on your screen where you can type the account name of your intended recipient, and your message. Then select Send, and the message will be on its way.
For more information on Instant Messages, see the help topic "Using Instant Messages" in the list at your left.
Get Member Info
This option will allow you to get basic information about the member whose name you identify. If a member has created an online profile (see below), this is a quick way to view it.
Find Member
Using this option, you can find out if a member you are interested in talking to is online. If the person is in a "chat" area (People Connection, or a conference room), you will be told where he/she is. If they are not in a "chat" area, you will simply be told that they are online.
Member Directory
This option will take you to America Online's Member Directory. Once you are there, you can look up detailed information about other members, enter a profile of yourself, or search for the account names ("screen names") or "real" names of other members.
Edit Your Online Profile
Use this option to create or modify your own online profile in the Member Directory.
Preferences
By selecting this feature, you can customize several America Online functions to suit you. We shipped the AOL software with preferences preselected for you ("defaults"). We think that most members will like them the way they are; but we know Mac users are independent thinkers, and like to make these decisions for themselves! Don't worry about experimenting -- you can always select this menu item and try something else if you don't like your changes.
The "Preference Categories" will be listed in the left side of your screen. To select a Preference Category, simply click on it once. Then, you can double-click on the preference list on any item on the right side of the screen to turn it "on" or "off." A preference that is turned "on" will have a check mark next to it. This is a brief description of the functions that you can change:
System Preferences
• Sounds: The America Online software is shipped with Sounds "on." These sounds include "Welcome," "Goodbye," and "File's done." Other sounds are controlled from within their own preference category, including Chat sounds and Mail's "you've got mail." When the Chat room sounds are turned on, you will be able to receive audible "sound bites" from other members when you are in People Connection or in a Conference Room. (To learn more about sending and receiving chat sounds, refer to "Using Chat Room Sounds" Help topic in the list to the left of this text, and "Member's Online Guide" in the "Members' Online Support" department.)
• Auto-Scroll Incoming Text: If you select this option, incoming text (for example, a news article or electronic mail) will automatically scroll on your screen as it is sent from the America Online host computer. If you leave the option as is (the "default") you will be still able to manually scroll text using the scroll bar on the right on your incoming text window, even before the text has completely arrived.
• Ignore Network News: From time to time (about every 10 or 15 minutes when you are online) we send informational bulletins called "Network News" to members with information about special events happening on the service "right now." For example, if the Graphics Forum is getting ready to start a meeting while you are online, we'll send a "Network News" notice to let everyone know when and where online it is happening. You don't need to do anything to get these messages -- they will automatically appear at the top of your screen, and will not interrupt what you are doing. If you would prefer not to receive these messages while you are online, select "Ignore Network News."
• Report Line Noise
Every now and then, your telephone line may experience "noise" that interrupts the flow of information from our "host" computer to your personal computer. When this is happening, you may notice that the system appears slow; occasionally, line noise can result in an interruption in the information flowing from the AOL host computer. If you select "Report Line Noise," you will receive notices when line noise is detected.
In most cases, only severe line noise will affect America Online system performance. (In fact -- some America Online members find line noise reports more annoying than line noise. That is why we ship the software with the preference turned "off.") However, if you get a line noise report, and you are noticing performance degradation, you might wish to sign off and try another local access number. Otherwise, simply "turn off" the "Report Line Noise" report so that the reports themselves to do not interrupt your online session.
Font Preferences
Have fun with this one! America Online will allow you to change your preference for the font and size of the text you see in online text articles, in chat and conference rooms, and in your mail. For example, if you find that you have difficulty reading text online, you may be more comfortable with a larger size, or even a different font. Or, a special piece of mail (a party invitation, birth or wedding announcement) may call for a special font.
You can select any font and size that you have installed on your Macintosh system. The font that you select as you mail font will be seen when you compose mail, and when you receive mail from someone who has not specified specific fonts using the Font selections under the Edit menu. If you want the send mail with specific Font/Size/Style information, then use the Font/Size/Style selections under the Edit menu when composing the mail.
Tip: A few areas of America Online use a "tabular" arrangement for information (i.e., heavily formatted columns and rows). If you receive or send a lot of mail in this format, or if you access it frequently on the service, you may prefer to use a "monospaced" font, such as Monaco or Courier.
Chat Preferences
Here you can opt to have incoming text in chat rooms (such as People Connection, or other conference rooms located throughout AOL) appear on your screen double spaced. Also, you can turn sounds that other members might send you in chat areas "off."
Mail Preferences
• Mail Voice Announcement: If you have mail when you first sign on, or if you receive a piece of mail into your empty mail box when you are online, a voice will announce "You've Got Mail." If you don't like this character, you can silence him by turning off the Mail Voice Announcement.
• Mail Waiting Notice: When you have mail in your AOL mailbox, a little mailbox icon will flash on your menu bar. If you don't like this notice, you can turn it off here.
• Close Mail After Sending: AOL is automatically set to close a mail document after you have sent it to the recipient. If you would like to keep a sent mail document open on your screen, turn this preference off.
• Close Mail On Next/Previous: America Online automatically closes mail in a series that is open on your screen when you use the "Next/Previous" arrows located at the bottom right side of your mail screen. (This prevents leaving a "bread crumb" trail of open windows across your screen.) If you want to these windows to stay open, you can make that adjustment here.
Member Preferences
• Instant Message Notice: If you receive an Instant Message (IM) while you are online, an IM icon will flash on your menu bar. You can turn it off here if you don't want to get the notice.
Tip: If you see the IM notice flashing, but you don't see the IM at the top of your screen, select the "Windows" menu on your menu bar. You may find that your Instant Message is hiding under your active window. (This happens if you receive your Instant Message while you are typing text.)
Downloading Preferences
The America Online software is shipped with a "decompression" utility called "StuffIt." You will find that many AOL files that are available for downloading are "stuffed" -- that is, they have been compressed so that they take up less space. The advantage to this is that they take less time to download, which saves you time and money.
Before you can use these files, however, they must be "unstuffed" using the StuffIt utility that comes free with your America Online software.
• Auto-Unstuff Files: AOL will automatically unstuff any stuffed files that you have downloaded when you sign off from America Online. We hope you find this feature convenient. If you would prefer that these files not be unstuffed, you can take care of that by turning off this preference. (But remember -- the first time you try to use a file that is stuffed, you will have to take the time to unstuff it.)
• Delete StuffIt files: If you turn on this preference (which is defaulted to off), America Online will automatically delete the stuffed version of any file that is unstuffed. This will save space on your hard drive.
Edit Screen Names
This option allows you to add or delete new screen names to your "master account" (the name you created the first time you signed on.) Although the screen name of your master account cannot be changed, you can use this option to add or delete "alter egos" for yourself, or create up to four additional "sub-accounts" for members of your family. (Keep in mind that only one of these accounts can be signed on to America Online at the same time.)
You can have these additional accounts (each with their own password) at no additional charge. All online charges accumulated by these additional accounts will be charged to the billing method the master account holder selected when first signing on.
