User Guide/9/Communications
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Communications (Email, IM)
Fedora can be used to send electronic mail and communicate in real time with people around the world. In GNOME, Evolution is used to send electronic mail (email), and Pidgin (previously Gaim) is used to send instant messages (IM) by default.
Evolution is more than an email program. It is also a personal information manager. You can maintain a calendar, manage a list of tasks, and keep an address book of contacts.
Pidgin is an instant messaging program (client) that can access MSN, AOL, Yahoo!, Jabber, and other IM and chat networks.
In KDE Kmail is used to send electronic mail (email), and Kopete is used to send instant messages (IM). While Kmail does not include calendaring functionality, a calendar software called KOrganizer is included in KDE as part of the KDE PIM suite. There is also an application called Kontact which groups KMail, Korganizer and other KDE PIM tools into a single interface (comparable with Evolution).
Pidgin requires an existing account on some of the IM networks, created via the normal account creation process. For example, Pidgin cannot be used to create a Yahoo Instant Messenger account. Instead, visit http://messenger.yahoo.com to set up the account, then access it using Pidgin.
Evolution
Configuring Evolution
This information is specific to using Evolution on Fedora. Additional documentation for Evolution is available at:
http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution/documentation.shtml
To configure an e-mail account in Evolution follow these steps:
- Start Evolution in GNOME, using the Applications > Internet > Email menu entry, or use the application launcher icon from the menu panel:
- Start Evolution in KDE, using KMenu > Applications > Internet > Email menu entry:
- Running the software for the first time displays the Evolution Setup Assistant wizard. Answer these questions using information provided by the ISP or e-mail provider.
- The Identity screen relates to personal information about the account, including Name, Organisation and Address. There is also a Reply-To field, which will allow you to specify that recipients of mail from this account reply to a different address.
- The Receiving Email and Sending Email screens both require information from the e-mail provider.
- To add a new account in the future, or to modify an existing account, launch the preferences dialog from the Edit > Preferences menu entry. In the dialog that appears, press the [Add] button to launch the Evolution Account Assistant again.
Using Evolution
Evolution allows you to create, store and send email by clicking the appropriate buttons located on the menu.
| Button | How the button functions |
|---|---|
| Send/Receive | This will allow Evolution to send and receive all email. |
| New | Open a new email message dialog box. |
| Reply | Reply to the person who has sent you an email. |
| Reply to All | Replace to everyone who was included in the email that you have received. |
| Forward | Forward the email message to another person. |
| Print the email. | |
| Delete | Delete the email. |
| Junk | Mark the email as junk. |
| Not Junk | If you accidentally set the email as Junk, pushing this button removes the Junk tag. |
| Cancel | Cancel whatever you are doing. |
| Previous | Move to the previous email in your folder. |
| Next | Move to the next email in your folder. |
Kmail
Kmail is the standard email client used in KDE it is installed by default from the live-cd and is also included in the DVD. Loading Kmail in KDE is done by clicking on Kmenu > Applications > Internet > Mail Client menu entry or alternatively Applications > Internet > Kmail in GNOME
Configuring Kmail
- Running the software for the first time displays the main Kmail page with links to appropriate help locations.
- To configure your account you will need your email information from your internet service provider or your e-mail provider.
- Setting up your account requires you to open the Configure Kmail dialog box from the Settings > Configure Kmail menu entry.
- Selecting Accounts and pressing the [Add] button will launch a dialog that will ask you for the type of account you wish to configure.
- After selecting the appropriate account type you will be greeted with a dialog that shows the different settings available for your account. Add your personal email configuration information to Account Name, Login, Password, Host. The other default settings could be left alone.
To add a new account in the future, or to modify an existing account, launch the configure Kmail from the Settings > Configure Kmail menu entry. In the dialog that appears, select Accounts press the [Add] button to launch the Kmail Account Assistant again.
Using Kmail
Kmail allows you to create, store and send email by clicking the appropriate buttons located on the menu.
| Button | How the button functions |
|---|---|
| New Message | Open a new email message dialog box. |
| Save as | Save the email. |
| Print the email. | |
| Check Mail in | Sends the email. |
| Reply | Replace to the email. |
| Forward | Forward the email message to another person. |
| Previous | Move to the previous unread email in your folder. |
| Next | Move to the next unread email in your folder. |
| Trash | Delete the email. |
| Find Message | Search for a specific email. |
| Create Task | Creates a new task in KOrganizer. |
Kmail has additional options with the green arrow pointing down. While not covered specifically in this topic clicking the button and holding it down for a few seconds will show additional options.
Pidgin
Configuring Pidgin
This section is specific for Pidgin in Fedora. For further information and documentation on Pidgin, refer to:
To start and configure Pidgin, select Applications > Internet > Internet Messenger from the menu panel in GNOME or KMenu > Applications > Internet > Pidgin in KDE. Starting Pidgin for the first time goes directly into the Accounts dialog. To configure a new account follow these steps:
- Click on the [Add] button to bring up the Add Account dialog.
- In the Add Account window, under Login Options, click on the right side of the Protocol dropdown menu to show the available protocols and select the network appropriate for the account being created.
- Enter details for the selected account, including Screen name, Password, and Alias. Select Remember password if desired. Click on the [Save] button to add the account to the account list.
- Once the account is added, the Accounts window displays the new account.
- New accounts can be added in the future by navigating to the Accounts > Add/Edit menu entry in the main Pidgin window.
Using Pidgin
Select one of the enabled accounts to see the Buddy List window. In this window, menus allow the user to add additional IM contacts.
All 15 supported protocols are available at the same time within Pidgin.
Pidgin also allows you to have multiple accounts, using the same protocol, connected simultaneously.
Pidgin does not support features of all included protocols. Pidgin is useful for chatting via text across 15 different IM protocols, but not all the features in each IM system are supported. For example, video is not supported at this time.
For more information on using Pidgin see:
http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Pidgin
Kopete
Kopete is the Internet Messenger that is installed in KDE by default.
In KDE Kopete can be found in Kmenu > Applications > Internet > Instant Messenger
In GNOME Kopete can be found in Applications > Internet > Kopete
Configuring Kopete
This section is specific for Kopete in Fedora. For further information and documentation on Kopete, refer to:
To start and configure Kopete, select Applications > Internet > Kopete from the menu panel in GNOME or KMenu > Applications > Internet > Kopete in KDE. Starting Kopete for the first time goes directly into the creating accounts dialog. To configure a new account follow these steps:
- Click the selected messaging service you desire.
- In the Account Information window, enter your details that you are using to connect to the services.
- Make sure to fill out the details on the other tabs.
- Once the account is added, click [Next] ' you should have an option to connect to the service tick then then click [Finish] .
- New accounts can be added in the future by navigating to the Settings > Configure > menu entry in the main Kopete window then clicking the [Accounts] button after it has loaded.
Kopete comes with a wide range of messaging services some examples are:
Gadu-Gadu AIM GroupWise ICQ IRC Jabber Meanwhile MSN Messenger Testbed WinPopup Yahoo
Accounts for the services can be added to kopete using the steps listed earlier.
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