SENS Webmail

Introduction

The SilkyMail software used by SENS for webmail has been well-received by our user community. However, the documentation and help messages are a bit sparse, and do not address some common questions we have received, nor do they address local configuration and customization issues. We hope that this web page will provide additional assistance for some common questions and issues.

Frequently-Asked Questions (With Answers)

We've structured this document in the form of a FAQ (Frequently-Asked Questions) listing to help clarify the kinds of questions you may have with our webmail system.

Q: Who can use the SENS Webmail system?

A: Anyone with a valid Engineering or Natural Sciences & Mathematics account can use the SENS Webmail system.

Q: Is SENS Webmail the preferred way to read email?

A: No, it is simply an alternative, but is useful for users who are off-campus and/or cannot use a standard email client such as Microsoft Outlook, Ximian Evolution, Netscape/Mozilla, DtMail, pine, or mutt. By the way, for assistance with those programs, we have another web page which you might find useful.

Q: How do I connect to the SENS Webmail system?

A: Use this web address if you are an Engineering user: https://webmail.eng.buffalo.edu/

Use this web address if you are an NSM user: https://webmail.nsm.buffalo.edu/

If you are going to be using SENS Webmail frequently, we suggest you right-click the appropriate link above and save it as a bookmark or favorite.

Q: Why can't I connect to the SENS Webmail system?

A: If you typed in the address, instead of clicking on one of the links shown above, make sure you are not forgetting the "s" in "https"; this is different from the "http" you are probably used to typing, and establishes a secure connection to the SENS Webmail system.

Q: I'm an NSM user; what does that certificate security error message mean?

A: If you see a message that says something such as, "Security Alert: there is a problem with the site's security certificate", or, "Security Error: Domain Name Mismatch", it's OK to click "Yes" and continue to the web site. We are working to resolve this problem, but for now it is a harmless, though annoying, error.

Q: Why don't my web browser's "Forward" and "Back" buttons work properly?

A: The Webmail system seems to have issues with traveling through it using the browser's navigation buttons. So, the best way is to use the icons provided by Webmail, such as the "Mailbox" button to return to the list of messages.

Q: How do I save contacts in an address book?

A: Right now, there is no way to save contacts in SENS Webmail; we are looking into a solution, and hope to have one shortly.

Q: Why can't I include attachments in my messages?

A: This was a recently-discovered problem, and has been fixed. Please note that the SENS mail relay system limits the size of email messages to 10 megabytes, so please don't attach large files, or your message will be rejected by the system.

Q: Is there a spell checker?

A: Yes, this was just added. We are using the GNU "aspell" program, for which some documention is available (although this is probably not useful unless you are using aspell directly from a Unix shell). We cannot guarantee that any of the non-English dictionaries work properly, although we have made every attempt to install and configure them correctly.

Q: Why does the Microsoft Word viewer display documents incorrectly?

A: SENS Webmail uses the wvWare Microsoft Word document converter. It makes a valiant attempt to process ".DOC" files, but is limited due to the need to reverse-engineer the format without formal documentation, the lack of necessary fonts used by some documents, limitations in the ability of HTML to perform page layout functions, and similar considerations. The intent of the SENS Webmail viewer is to allow users to view the contents of documents, but not necessarily to preserve the original format (although it tries its best to do so).

Q: How do I check for new mail?

A: SENS Webmail automatically checks for new mail every five minutes. However, you can press the "Check" button at any time to immediately check for new mail.

Q: What does the "Expunge" button do?

A: When you delete messages in your inbox, they aren't really deleted, just marked that you want to delete them. The Expunge button actually removes messages from your mailbox that are marked for deletion, just like the "Purge Deleted Messages" function in Microsoft Outlook.

Q: Why don't I see the "Expunge" button referenced above?

A: The buttons that are displayed depend on your user level. By default, new users are set to the "Medium" level, but this can be changed by clicking on "Preferences" in the top blue bar, and changing the menu under "User Level" in the window that appears; click the "OK" button when you are done setting your user level. Shown below are the buttons you will see at each user level (there are other differences between user levels that show up elsewhere):

Low:

Medium:

Delete, Undelete, Expunge, Reply, Forward, Move to, Check

High:

Delete, Undelete, Expunge, Reply, Forward, Bounce, Move to, Check

Q: What's the difference between the "Forward" and "Bounce" buttons?

A: "Forward" sends a copy of a message to another person, but marks it to show it came from you. "Bounce" also sends a copy of a message to another person, but attempts to make it look as though it came directly from the original sender.

Q: What do the colors on the mailbox page mean?

A: Certain kinds of messages have background colors like these:

Messages you haven't read yet have a light blue background color;
Messages you have answered have a light cyan background color;
Messages flagged as "important" by the sender have a light red background color; and
Messages tagged for deletion by you have a light gray background color, and are also crossed-out like this;

Note that you can change these colors via the "Preferences" menu.

Q: What do the symbols on the mailbox page mean?

A: Here are some of the symbols you are likely to see:

: You have answered this message;
: You have marked this message for deletion;
: This is a draft message;
: You have read this message;
: You have not yet read this message;
: This message has "alternative text" (usually HTML);
: This message is encrypted;
: This message contains an attachment or attachments; and
: This message was digitally signed by the sender;

Q: How do I access my saved folders?

A: We are still working out issues related to where the software looks for your email saved messages. Some folks put them in their home directory, some in a subdirectory named "Mail", some in "mail", some in "nsmail", and so on. We prefer the use of "Mail", with a capital "M", but you may need to go into the folders menu and subscribe to any alternate location where you have stored your email. To do this, go to the drop-down menu at the top of the folder screen and change the view from "Subscribed" to "All". This generates a list of folders under the "~" folder (your Unix home directory). Check the directory containing your saved email and subscribe to it, then change the view back to "Subscribed".

Q: How do I report problems with the SENS Webmail system?

A: Your feedback is always important to us, so please send us your concerns. Thanks!

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