Sun Java System Portal Server, Secure Remote Access 6 2004Q2 Netmail Online Help |

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> # Using NetMail in Disconnected Mode

> Use NetMail in disconnected mode to read, compose, and organize your messages while you are disconnected from the mail server, either while using a NetMail local installation or from the regular NetMail program. After you reconnect, NetMail resynchronizes with your mail server to reflect changes you made and any new messages you may have received. This section discusses the following topics:

> - Installing NetMail Locally
> - Using a NetMail Local Installation
> - Using Disconnected Mode
> - Manually Caching NetMail Messages
> - Enabling Automatic Caching

> ## Installing NetMail Locally

> Once you install the NetMail applet locally, you can connect and read your email without having to download the applet each time. You can also save your email to an encrypted file on disk, so that you can continue working while you are disconnected from the server. When you reconnect, all the changes you have made to your local email cache will be reflected on the server, synchronizing their states. Any mail you have composed for sending is also sent when you connect.

> ### To Install NetMail Locally

> 1. Click the NetMail Local Installer link on the Sun Java System Portal Server standard desktop.

> The NetMail Installation window appears.

> 2. Specify the destination directory, select the type of browser and click Next.

> After the installation applet is loaded, you are prompted to grant permissions so that the applet can access your local disk. This is necessary to complete the installation. The NetMail local version is now installed in the directory that you specified.

> ## Using a NetMail Local Installation

> Use the local installation of NetMail to read and write messages (as you usually work in connected mode) without downloading NetMail each time you want to read mail. Using a local installation of NetMail can save some time in downloading the NetMail applet as well as making it easier to read and compose mail without being connected to the server.

> Note | The NetMail browser window does not indicate the changed status when you exit the NetMail local installation.

> ### To Start the Local Installation of NetMail

> 1. Select NetMail from your browser's bookmark or favorites list.

> Click Grant if you are prompted to grant security permissions for NetMail. The main NetMail window appears.

> - If you saved a cache file when you last exited NetMail locally, you are prompted for the cache password that you specified during your last exit.
> - If you did not save a cache file, NetMail connects.
> - If you have forgotten your cache password, you can choose to Discard file and NetMail will connect to the server.

> Note | If you forget your cache password, you will be unable to access your messages until you connect to the server again.

> Use NetMail to read, compose, or manage your messages, just as you usually would. Choose Connect from the Session menu if you want to work in Connected mode, or see Using Disconnected Mode for information about working in the disconnected mode.

> Note | NetMail does not send or retrieve messages in disconnected mode. However, you can compose messages and queue them for sending. To send messages that you compose in disconnected mode, or to retrieve new messages, choose Connect from the Session menu and NetMail resynchronizes with the server.

> ## Using Disconnected Mode

> Disconnected mode can make working with your messages much faster and easier through the following options:

> - Manually caching messages for later access. Use this method (in conjunction with your local NetMail installation) if you want to save selected messages to be accessed later, even in a different session or after restarting your computer.
> - Automatically caching your messages for later access. This lets you easily preload your messages for faster reading during the same NetMail session, or during subsequent sessions if you are using a local NetMail installation.

> ## Manually Caching NetMail Messages

> 1. Select the messages you want to cache.

> Click to select a single message, press Ctrl+click to individually select multiple messages, or click the top message of a group and press Shift+click till the last of the group to select a group of messages.

> 2. From the Messages menu, choose Load Selected Messages.
> 3. Choose Without Their Attachments or With Their Attachments to indicate whether to cache the message attachments.

> If you are using a local installation of NetMail, you can keep the cached messages for later access. After you disconnect, choose Session Save Cache to Disk. The first time you cache messages locally, you are prompted to enter a password in the NetMail Cache Validation dialog. Enter the password again in Verify.

> Note | Remember your cache password. When you restart NetMail in disconnected mode, NetMail prompts you for the cache password instead of your user name and IMAP password. You can now end your browser session or even turn off your computer, restart it later, and use your local installation of the NetMail applet to read, compose, and organize your mail offline.

> ## Enabling Automatic Caching

> You can configure NetMail to always cache your messages for later use when you disconnect.

> ### To Enable Automatic Caching

> 1. Select Preferences from the Session menu.

> The Preferences dialog appears.

> 2. Choose the Cache tab.
> 3. Select the Cache entire folder list? option to cache all the messages across all folders.
> 4. Select the type of message that you want to cache from the Cache messages of type drop-down list.
> 5. Specify the maximum size of the attachments that you want cached using the Cache attachments smaller than (KB) field.
> 6. Click OK to save your preferences.

> Tip | If you set NetMail to automatically cache your messages when you disconnect, you can speed your mail reading considerably. Just connect, then immediately disconnect. NetMail loads all your messages. Reconnect and read your messages without the delay of each message being loaded from the server when you open it.

> Note | You need to use NetMail to access cached messages. If you want to access these messages through other programs, you should save these messages as files.

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