Getting Attached to E-Mail

Just about any file (word processing document, graphic, video clip) can be attached to an e-mail message.  It can basically "go along for the ride" and be received and used by the message recipient.  Simple steps for each of the major e-mail handlers make this possible.  Below are links to a brief set of instructions for four such services:

Key Point - Naming Files:  In addition to the instruction links above, an additional word should be considered for all e-mail attachments.  PCs require proper file names to be read and interpreted.  When sending files from one platform (say, Mac) to another (say, PC), the file must be saved in a format the second platform can read.  And files to be opened on a PC must include the appropriate extension (a three-character suffix that tells the PC what software created and can read the file).  For instance, saving a Mac Microsoft Works file as a Word for Windows 6.0 document requires a file name of eight characters (or less) followed by ".doc" extension. 

Key Point - Graphics:  Even if a file is saved with the correct extension, it may still not be readable by the receiving computer.  Sending a file named "mypicture.jpg" will not be readable by the receiving computer unless it has software that can read a ".jpg" graphics file.  Sometimes there are free or shareware resources on the Internet that may be downloaded to open files of various formats and other times, you may just have to break out the wallet and buy some software!  Oh, well.

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Contents of this site are copyrighted (2000) by Dr. Blake West, Blue Valley Schools