This document contains frequently asked questions about the Mailto Converter program.
Please email me if you have any other questions!
My server supports forms and send me the result via email. Do I still need Mailto Converter?
Yes, sometimes. I uses MailtoConverter myself, for example. I think that it's much easier to read a merged file of all results, than reading a lot of single emails. Also, I can change the delimiters and that kind of stuff, which makes it possible to use it in a datebase or similar.
How do I save all files in the clipboard?
If you save the text in the clipboard, only the last converted file will be kept in it. To save all files in the clipboard, choose 'Combined file' and continiue in the Combined settings dialog.
In the settings dialog, I can save files using the same attributes if possible, what is that?
When you're converting a file, the saved file will have the same type and creator as the converted one. If you're saving the clipboard content in a file, the custom attributes will be used instead.
I think the program is a bit hard to setup. Am I stupid?
Probably, we're all a bit stupid soemtimes.. But to be serious, Mailto Converter's setup dialog are a bit confusing. I have no problems, but I've written the program myself and knows everything about it. If you've any tips to make it easier, please share them with me!
Where can I find the latest version?
On my website only, don't look in Info-Mac, at c|net or stuff like that. They've a lot of things to do and it takes a while until new releases will be avilable that way. (It's the same problem with most software by the way). If you're added to the free mailinglist, you'll get information as soon as new versions are released.
What is 'convertion method' and which one should I use?
The w3 organization's HTML standard talks about the BinHex option which is used by default. Here in Sweden, and in most other countries in Europe, the ISO Latin-1 method is more used. I'm really not sure about this, but the program works fine and that's most important. If you're an expert in those questions, let me know!
Can I merge the text with an existing file?
Yes. Tell your email client, for example Eudora, to save all attacments in a special folder. Then convert this folder in Mailto Converter. Set the program to delete the handled files and save the result in a new one and put it in the same folder. Next time you'll use the program, the saved file will be converted as the others. The result will be a merged file containing all the converted files.
When I merge with an existing file, the text sometimes looks a bit strange. Why?
When the file contains a '=' character for example, the program converts the '=' character into the selected title delimiter. Also, "&" will be converted. There is nothing I can do about it. Return characters will be removed when a file is converted because usual form result doesn't contain those line feeds.
I've some files to convert, but the program seems to ignore them. Why?
In the 'Input (File or folder)' settings dialog, there is an option where you can select the filetypes to read. By default, Mailto Converter will open TEXT files and ???? files, which is the filetype of Eudora's files. You may open the file with a program such like ResEdit or similar to check it's filetype, then type this four-character code into the settings dialog and try again.
Are there any shortcuts or hidden features?
Shortcuts yes, hidden features no. Or, I wouldn't tell you if there is any. You can use the option-key while clicking on most of the buttons, read the 'About' dialog for more. In the main window, you can type command-V to paste, command-F to convert a file, command-M to read a mailbox, command-A to open the About dialog and command-Q to quit.
What about the "Powered by Mailto Converter" logotype on your pages? Do I need to use it?
No, you don't have to. I made that graphic just to put on my own pages, but you're free to add it in your forms if you like. If you do, please link it to http://www.calle.pp.se/nisseb/index.html#nmc. It looks better if you set border to 0. The logotype can be found and grabbed on my webpages.
Is Mailto Converter accelerated for PowerPC?
No. A PowerPC version wouldn't be so much faster but instead taking about 800 K, and I think that is too much. A PowerPC version could be confusing if it is putted on a 68K Mac and a FAT application would take at least 1.4 Mb which I think is really to much, so I've decided to just release 68K versions for now. I've a PowerPC myself and I'm satisified. If you need a PowerPC version anyway, everything is possible if ou pay the shareware...
Threre is an option to read an Eudora® mailbox, but Eudora save the text in files. Why?
Most browsers, including Netscape, will send the result as an attachment to Eudora. Some browsers (AOL and Prodigy for example) will put the code inside the mail instead, very stupid.. A tip is to put all incoming mail with the subject "Form posted from Mozilla" or similar into it's own mailbox. Set Mailto Converter to use this mailbox, and click "Mailbox" frequently to scan it for new formresults. If you're using Netscape to receive email, all results will be saved inside the mailbox.
Where is the mailboxes located?
The Eudora mailboxes are located in the same folder as Eudora or in a folder named "Eudora folder", located in the systemfolder and the Netscape mailbox in the Netscape folder located in your preferences folder.
Can the program read other mailboxes, for example those created by Claris Emailer?
When I've tested Emailer, the program use to save form results as attachments. If I'm wrong, the program can probably read the mailoxes since they looks about the same as Eudora boxes. If you're using any other email client, try to scan the mailbox. If it works, or it it doesn't, please let me know! I'd be glad to add support for more programs in future releases of Mailto Converter.
The mailbox is really big. Do I need to give Mailto Converter more memory?
No. The program does not put the mailbox into the memory, it just read it in sequences. Even if the mailbox is over 1Mb, the program only takes about 0,5K to read it. When saving into a combined file, however, the combined file is placed in the memory until you quit the program. This may take some memory, but you should never use combined files which are 30K or bigger, since those files won't be opened by SimpleText and most other programs.
I've converted a mailbox, but the result looks very strange. Why?
Make sure that you doesn't mix form emails with usual mails. Even of you do this, there can probably be problems with international versions of Eudora. Please let me know if you have any problems.
Is it safe to scan a mailbox? Does the program make any changes to the mailbox?
Yes and no, it just read it. No changes will be made to the mailbox at all. There could maybe be a cool feature if Mailto Converter made the converted mails "unreaded", but since that requires the program to edit the mailbox, Mailto Converter doesn't have that feature. It's complete safe to read a mailbox with Mailto Converter.
There is no option to save the mailbox records in the clipboard. Why?
It would be useless. It's useless to save a folder of files in the clipboard too, since only the last record will be saved. You should save them in a combined file and save the combined file in the clipboard instead.
What is 'start at char...'?
After the program has scanned a mailbox, it won't scan the same records again. To know how much of the mailbox which has been scanned before, it remembers the character to start at. You don't need to worry about this number, just remember to not delete files in the mailbox or make any other changes to it. For example, the program scans a mailbox containing 10 mails. The next day, you get three new mails which you put in the same mailbox. Mailto Converter will just read these three new mails and skip the old ones that are already proceeded.
How do I setup a form? Can you help me?
It's easy. There is a sample HTML page enclosed in this folder, containing a form. You can open this file, it's not hard to understand after a while. Many HTML editors has built-in tools to create a form, just make sure to set ACTION to mailto:your@email.com. You can also download HTML Vocabulary from my webpage which contains every tag you need to know about to write your own custom form.
Will a new page be opened when the user has clicked the "submit" button in the form?
No. That's another difference between common CGI forms and mailto-forms. A CGI form is sent to a CGI script which usually open a new page, but there is no way to do this wil mailto forms, sorry!
The visitors of my page doesn't have a Mac. Will Mailto Converter work fine anyway?
Yes, absolutely! The visitor can have any platform at all, but the browser most supoort mailto forms. Netscape 1.1 and higher does this, and Internet Explorer 2.1 and higher does it too. Most other browsers should since it have been a standard HTML feature for a pretty long time. Mailto Converter will jut start work on your machine when you've received the emails.
I've set the 'Save titles' option off, but there's still delimiters left in the text. Why?
If you want to remove the titles (object names) from the result, you should leave the title separator field empty, since the text will look more readable then. Otherwise, the title delimiter will appear, but not the title.
What do I get if I pay the shareware?
Please read the enclosed "Shareware license" document, it will tell you everything you need to know. When you've used this program for a while, an annoying shareware reminder dialog will popup before you quit it until you've paid the shareware fee. Please support the shareware idea.
My company would like to use the program on a lof of machines. How much should we pay?
What do you think? If you're working on a big company which always have the latest models and newest releases, you probably have a few dollars to pay me too. If your company always want the cheapest programs and use Mailto Converter just because there are no freeware utilities which does the same job, you don't need to pay thousands of dollars to me.. The most important for me is to get anything at all, so please ask yourself how much you think the program is worth. And email me if you don't find out any good answers to that questions.
I've paid the shareware and want to copy the program to a friend. How to I unregister it?
By option-clicking 'Settings' in the About dialog, but you doesn't need to. All settings are saved in the preference file, not in the program itself. If the program can't find the preference file, all settings will be resetted and a welcome-dialog will pop up. Be sure to inlude those read me files when you copy the program!
Can I modify the program? Can I put it on a CD? Can I trash those read me files?
No, yes and no again. You can modify the programs, but you're not allowed to (what a silly question!). You can put the program onto shareware CD's and stuff like that, I'd just be happy. If you do, please send me an email and tell me, be sure to add the latest version (which only can be found on my webpage, not at Info-Mac or similar!!) and send me a copy of the CD if it's ok. I'd recommend you to not trash those files since you must include them if you copy the program to somewhere. Just the same rules as with any other program..
Is there a similar program for DOS or Windows?
That is probably the most frequently asked question.. Yes, there is a program named Mailto Formatter, try to search for it in a netsearch engine. If you've tried both and miss some features in this Mac program, I'd be happy to know. I haven't tried Mailto Formatter myself.
Have you really got all those questions? Why isn't the file named FAQ?
No, I've asked most of them myself to make it easier for those who're using the program. The file is named Questions & answers just because I think it looks better then FAQ. And don't ask any silly questions like that...
I've seen Elvis..
Lucky you :-)
What other stuff have you made?
Currently, there are five internet-related programs. HTML Vocabulary is a fast HTML tags library. HTML LinkChecker scans you documents for broken links and missing anchors, and Calles Eudora Plugins adds some features to the email client Eudora. Finally Mapper lets you easily create imagemaps (webmaps) for the WWW. Visit the website for more information about these and some other programs.
I've a lot of more questions, what should I do?
Email me, of course! carl.backstrom@gfk.se. The address has changed since the recent versions, but the old address will still work (this one is just shorter).
Visit http://www.calles.pp.se/nisseb/index.html for more information and to subscribe to the mailinglist.
