Frequently Asked Question

How much does SnapMail cost? How can I purchase copies or add more copies to my existing network?

Why aren't SnapMail 4 users visible in SnapMail 5?

Why can't I see all the other users on the network?

Can SnapMail take advantage of fast user switching offered by Windows XP and Mac OS X?

Why would I want to volunteer a computer on my system as a server?
How do I go about doing it?

How can I use templates in SnapMail?

How can I set up icons for a template?

I've already used SnapMail 5. Is there any way I can import my SnapMail 4 mail, keeping the SnapMail 5 mail I've accumulated?

How do I set up SnapMail to operate over multiple LANs using the Internet?

What is Bonjour and how can I enable it for user discovery?

Q: How much does SnapMail cost? How can I purchase copies or add more copies to my existing network?

A: SnapMail is sold on a per-user basis with volume discounts as you increase your purchase quantity (current pricing)

When you first install SnapMail it will run in full working demo mode for 45 days. Once you purchase SnapMail and receive your registration code via e-mail you simply enter that code directly into SnapMail (use the "Registration.." option in the Edit menu). Note that you only need to enter in this code on one computer and SnapMail will take care of informing all the other SnapMail users that they are now fully registered!

You can purchase more licenses at any time to increase the number of SnapMail users on your network. Just make sure you are connected to the Internet, go to the About Box or the Help menu and choose "Purchase More Users" and buy number of extra users you want right from our Web Site. We will send you a new registration code for you to enter just as above.

Q: Why aren't SnapMail 4 users visible in SnapMail 5?

A: SnapMail 5 runs independently of previous versions of SnapMail. You can install the new version, play with it and test it, but still use your current version of SnapMail. While you can import your mail from SnapMail 4 into SnapMail 5, SnapMail 4 users cannot send mail to SnapMail 5 users, or visa versa.

Q: Why can't I see all the other users on the network?

A: There are a number of possible reasons:

• All users on your network need to have the same port listed in
  their Networking window. We recommend port number 3762, assigned to us by IANA for SnapMail 5's use. You can check which port SnapMail 5 is using by opening up the SnapMail Networking window using menu item Edit/Networking and looking at "Listen for connections on port."
• If you are configuring your network TCP/IP settings manually you need to make sure that the Subnet Mask is exactly the same for all the computers on your network. Sometimes people mistakenly enter in both 255.255.0.0 and 255.255.255.0 at the same time. This won't work!
• If your computer is protected by a firewall you need to add the SnapMail port number (3762) to the firewall's list of allowed ports (both for TCP and UDP packets). Mac OS X and Windows XP have built-in firewalls. Additionally many wireless routers (including Airport) may act as firewalls. OS X users can check this in the Sharing panel of System Preferences. Windows XP users, open Network Connections, located in the Network and Internet Connections Control Panel. Choose "Change settings of this connection" for the desired network. On the Advanced tab, note whether "Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet." is checked. If it is, make sure to add a Service for SnapMail by clicking on Settings. Also make sure any third party firewalls are configured properly.

Q: Can SnapMail take advantage of fast user switching offered by Windows XP and Mac OS X?

A: With fast user switching, multiple users are logged on to the same computer simultaneously. It is not possible at this time for multiple users of SnapMail to be logged on to the same computer. When you switch users and would like to access SnapMail, you'll need to log out of the previous user first.

Q: Why would I want to volunteer a computer on my system as a server?
How do I go about doing it?

A: SnapMail can only send a message between computers which are on at the same time. Suppose Sue wants to send a message to John and John's computer is off. If there is no computer on the network volunteered as a server, the message will wait on Sue's computer until John launches SnapMail. If Sue has turned her computer off by then, John won't receive the message, yet. If instead a computer on the network is volunteered as a server, Sue's computer would have sent the message to the server if John's was off. The next time John launches SnapMail, the server will forward the message to him.

To volunteer a computer as a server, simply open the Networking window via menu item Edit/Networking. Check "Volunteer this computer as a server" and you're all set. You should choose as a server a computer which can be left on as much time as possible.

Q: How can I use templates in SnapMail?

A: SnapMail allows you to set up templates, which are pre-configured forms used for setting up email. Each template can have an icon associated with it, as well as specific message text and pre-selected recipients. Open up the Templates window using menu item Edit/Templates or choosing "Edit Templates..." from the contextual menu for the Templates bar. Notice that there are three icons included as defaults with SnapMail 5. To set up your own template, click on "New". SnapMail will open up a template editing window. You can enter the text you'd like to be preset, choose individuals or a group to send to, as well as create an icon (see below). Note that any line of text ending in ":" can be traversed using the Tab key. To select this template, choose "OK" to close the Templates windows and then select the icon representing the template immediately above the out box.

Q: How can I set up icons for a template?

A: Open up the Templates window via menu item Edit/Templates or choosing "Edit Templates..." the contextual menu on the Templates bar and choose either to edit an existing template or create a new one. The simplest way to create an icon is using the "Capture icon from the screen" button. Click on this button and follow the directions for capturing a picture from your screen. SnapMail 3 users can use this method to import their icons. Simply launch SnapMail 3 and grab them using this screen capture.

Another way to create icons is to drag or paste a picture into the icon image well of the editing window. Icons are made up of a square, 16 pixels on a side. If you drop in a bigger picture, SnapMail will create the icon out of the top and left 16 pixel square.

Q: I've already used SnapMail 5. Is there any way I can import my SnapMail 4 mail, keeping the SnapMail 5 mail I've accumulated?

A: You can definitely merge your SM4 and SM5 mailboxes. Here's the procedure. First we have to trick SM5 into thinking you're opening it for the first time. SM5 uses a folder to store all of the information you accumulate, like folders, groups, preferences and messages. First find that folder in the following location:

After you've found it, drag it onto your desktop. Launch SM5 and when it asks if you'd like to import your SM4 messages, say yes. You'll also need to type your user name in again. Now close SM5 again. Go to the desktop and locate three things in your saved SnapMail 5 folder: the "Messages" folder, the "Envelopes" folder and the "folders" file. Drag the contents of these items back into the correct locations which SM5 just created in the new SnapMail 5 folder. For the Messages and Envelopes folder, you can simply move the files within. If you have folders from SM5 you'd like to merge with SM4 folders, you'll have to open the two copies of the folders file and append the text. If you don't mind losing your SM4 folders, you could just replace the "folders" file with the desktop version.

Q: How do I set up SnapMail to operate over multiple LANs using the Internet?

A: Here are 10 easy steps to networking remote LANs. Suppose you have two LANs, home and office. Let's start with your office LAN: