Ximian Evolution 1.4 Sun Microsystems Edition User Guide

Part II Customizing Evolution

If you want to find out how to use Evolution, see Part I. This part of the manual contains the following chapter:

Chapter 9 Configuring Evolution

This chapter describes how to configure Evolution.

Selecting Functionality to Configure

To select the functionality that you want to configure, perform the following steps:

  1. Choose Tools -> Settings.

  2. Select the functionality that you want to configure from the left pane of the Evolution Settings dialog. The preferences for that functionality are displayed in the right pane.

Use the right pane to modify the preferences for the functionality.

The Evolution Settings dialog contains buttons. The following table describes the buttons:

Button 

Description 

Apply

Click on this button to save any changes that you have made in the Evolution Settings dialog, and to implement the changes immediately.

Close

Click on this button to close the Evolution Settings dialog. Any changes that you made are not saved.

OK

Click on this button to save any changes that you have made in the Evolution Settings dialog, and to close the dialog.

Configuring Mail Accounts

To configure your mail accounts, click on the Mail Accounts icon in the left pane of the Evolution Settings dialog. Table 9–1 lists the dialog elements that you can use to configure your mail account settings.

Table 9–1 Mail Account Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Accounts table 

This table lists your mail accounts. Double-click on a mail account to edit the mail account. 

Add

Click on this button to add a mail account. The Evolution Account Assistant is displayed. The Evolution Account Assistant guides you through the process to add a mail account.

For more information on how to add a mail account, see Using the Evolution Setup Assistant.

Edit

To edit a mail account, select the account in the accounts table, then click on the Edit button.

For more information on how to edit a mail account, see To Edit a Mail Account.

Remove

To delete a mail account, select the account in the accounts table, then click on the Remove button. A confirmation dialog is displayed. Click Delete on the confirmation dialog to delete the mail account.

Default

To make a mail account your default mail account, select the account in the accounts table, then click on the Default button.

Enable, Disable

To disable a mail account, select the account in the accounts table, then click on the Disable button. Alternatively, click on the check box in the Enabled column for the account.

To enable a mail account, select the account, then click on the Enable button. Alternatively, click on the check box in the Enabled column for the account.

To Edit a Mail Account

You can customize your mail account in the following functional areas:

Identity Details

Use the Identity tabbed section to specify identity details for a mail account. For information on the elements in the Identity tabbed section, see Configuring Account Management Settings and Entering Your Identity Information. Table 9–2 lists the identity details that you can specify that are not described in Configuring Account Management Settings and Entering Your Identity Information.

Table 9–2 Mail Account Identity Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Default signature

Select a signature to use as your default signature from the drop-down list. The signature that you select is added to all your messages. 

Add new signature

Click on this button to add a signature to the list of signatures.  

To add a signature to the list of signatures, perform the following steps: 

  • Click on the Add button to display the Edit signature dialog.

  • Type a name for the signature in the Name text box.

  • Type the signature in the content area of the dialog. For information on how to format the signature, see Composing Messages.

  • Choose File -> Save and Close to save the signature and close the dialog.

Receiving Mail Details

Use the Receiving Mail tabbed section to specify details for receiving mail for a mail account. For information on the elements in the Receiving Mail tabbed section, see Configuring a Mail Server From Which to Receive Email.

Receiving Mail Preferences

Use the Receiving Options tabbed section to specify options for receiving mail for a mail account. For information on the elements in the Receiving Options tabbed section, see Configuring Receiving Email Options.

Sending Mail Details

Use the Sending Mail tabbed section to specify details for sending mail from a mail account. For information on the elements in the Sending Mail tabbed section, see Configuring How to Send Email.

Defaults Preferences

Use the Defaults tabbed section to specify default preferences for a mail account. Table 9–3 lists the default preferences that you can specify.

Table 9–3 Mail Account Default Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Drafts folder

When you choose File -> Save Draft from the Compose a message window, the draft message is saved. Use this preference to specify the folder in which to store your draft messages.

Click on the folder button to open the Select Folder dialog. Select the folder in which to store your draft messages from the Select Folder dialog, then click OK.

Sent messages folder

When you send a message, a copy of the message is saved automatically. Use this preference to specify the folder in which to store your sent messages.  

Click on the folder button to open the Select Folder dialog. Select the folder in which to store your sent messages from the Select Folder dialog, then click OK.

Restore Defaults

Click on this button to restore the Evolution default settings for the Drafts folder and Sent messages folder preferences.

Always carbon-copy (Cc) to

Select this option if you want to copy all of your messages to an address. Enter the address to which you want to copy your messages in the field. If you want to copy your messages to more than one address, separate the addresses with a comma. 

Always blind carbon-copy (Bcc) to

Select this option if you want to blind-copy all of your messages to an address. Enter the address to which you want to blind-copy your messages in the field. If you want to blind-copy your messages to more than one address, separate the addresses with a comma. 

Security Preferences

Use the Security tabbed section to specify your PGP or GPG security preferences for a mail account. PGP and GPG are applications that are used to encrypt and decrypt messages.

Table 9–3 lists the security preferences that you can set.

Table 9–4 Mail Account Security Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

PGP/GPG Key ID

Type your public key in the text box. 

Always sign outgoing messages when using this account

Select this option to attach an encrypted signature to all messages that you send from this email account. 

Don't sign meeting requests (for Outlook compatibility)

Select this option if you do not want to attach an encrypted signature when you send meeting information to attendees in Calendar.

Outlook cannot accept meeting requests with encrypted signatures. Select this option if any of the meeting attendees use Outlook.

Always encrypt to myself when sending encrypted mail

Select this option to always send a copy of your encrypted messages to yourself in encrypted form. 

Select this option if you want to be able to decrypt the encrypted messages that you send, for example, in your Sent folder or Outbox folder.

Always trust keys in my keyring when encrypting

Select this option if you do not want to validate the public keys of contacts who are in your public keyring when you encrypt a message. A public keyring is a file that lists all of the public keys that you know.

Setting Folders Preferences

Use the Folder Settings dialog to specify folder preferences. You can customize the folder preferences in the following functional areas:

Default Folders Preferences

Use the Default Folders tabbed section to specify default folders for Evolution components. Table 9–5 lists the default folder preferences that you can set.

Table 9–5 Default Folder Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Mail

Use this preference to specify the folder to which you want incoming messages delivered. This preference relates to POP email accounts only. 

Click on the folder button to open the Select Default Folder dialog. Select the folder to which you want your messages delivered from the dialog, then click OK.

Contacts

Use this preference to specify the default folder where you want to store your contact information. 

Click on the folder button to open the Select Default Folder dialog. Select the folder where you want to store your contacts from the dialog, then click OK.

Calendar

Use this preference to specify the default folder where you want to store your appointments and meetings. 

A summary of the default calendar folder is displayed in your Summary. When you synchronize a PDA, the PDA synchronizes with the default calendar folder.

Click on the folder button to open the Select Default Folder dialog. Select the folder where you want to store your appointments and meetings from the dialog, then click OK.


Note –

To use your Personal Calendar folder from your Sun Java Enterprise System Calendar Server account, select the Personal Calendar folder from the Select Default Folder dialog.


Tasks

Use this preference to specify the default folder where you want to store your tasks. 

A summary of the default tasks folder is displayed in your Summary. When you synchronize a PDA, the PDA synchronizes with the default tasks folder.

Click on the folder button to open the Select Default Folder dialog. Select the folder where you want to store your tasks from the dialog, then click OK.


Note –

To use your Personal Tasks folder from your Java Enterprise System calendar server account, select the Personal Tasks folder from the Select Default Folder dialog.


Offline Folders Preferences

Use the Offline Folders tabbed section to specify your offline folders. When you switch from online mode to offline mode, Evolution creates copies of the folders you select, on your system. For more information on offline mode and online mode, see Working Offline.

Use the mail folder tree to select the folders that you want to work with offline. Click on the plus sign (+) beside a folder to expand the contents of the folder. To collapse the contents of a folder, click on the minus sign (-) beside the folder.

Autocompletion Folders Preferences

Use the Autocompletion Folders tabbed section to specify contact folders to search when Evolution attempts to autocomplete addresses in the To, Cc, and Bcc fields of your messages.

To specify an address autocompletion folder, click on the Add button. Select the folder that you want from the Add a Folder dialog, then click OK.

To remove a folder from the list of address autocompletion folders, select the folder in the Extra Completion folders list, then click on the Remove button.

Setting Mail Preferences

Use the Mail Preferences dialog to specify general mail preferences, preferences for HTML mail, and to customize labels and label colors. You can customize your mail preferences in the following functional areas:

General Mail Preferences

Use the General tabbed section to set general mail preferences. Table 9–6 lists the general mail preferences that you can configure.

Table 9–6 General Mail Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Use the same fonts as other applications

Select this option if you want Evolution to use the font settings that are specified in the Font preference tool. Evolution uses the font settings in the Font preference tool for the Evolution user interface, and for messages in HTML format.

Standard Font

If you deselect the Use the same fonts as other applications option, use this preference to select a font to use for the Evolution user interface, and for messages in HTML format. Click on the font selector button. A Select HTML variable width font dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to select the font that you require.

Terminal Font

If you deselect the Use the same fonts as other applications option, use this preference to select a font to use in the preview pane. Click on the font selector button. A Select HTML fixed width font dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to select the font that you require.

Mark messages as read after n seconds

Select this option if you want to mark messages as read automatically after the message is displayed in the preview pane for a specified period of time. 

Use the spin box to specify how long to wait before the message is marked as read. 

Default character encoding

Select the default character encoding for your messages from the drop-down list. For information on character encoding and international messages, see Sending and Receiving International Messages.

Highlight quotations with color color

Lines in messages that begin with a greater-than sign (>) are quotations from other messages. Select this option if you want quotations in your messages to appear in a particular color. 

Click on the color selector button to select a color for quotations. A Pick a color dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to select the color that you require.

Empty trash folders on exit

Select this option to delete permanently the contents of your Trash folders when you quit Evolution.

Confirm before expunging a folder

Select this option to display a confirmation message before you remove permanently from a folder the messages that you deleted from that folder. 

Do not notify me when new mail arrives

Select this option to give no audible feedback when a message is received. 

Beep when new mail arrives

Select this option if you want Evolution to make a sound when a message is received.

Play sound file when new mail arrives

Select this option to play a sound file when you receive a message. 

Enter the name of the sound file to play in the Specify filename drop-down combination box. Alternatively, click Browse to display an Execute Command dialog. Use the dialog to select the sound file to play.

HTML Mail Preferences

Use the HTML Mail tabbed section to set preferences for HTML mail. Table 9–7 lists the HTML mail preferences that you can configure.

Table 9–7 HTML Mail Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Loading Images group

You might receive messages that contain images in the body of the message. You might also receive messages that contain links to images on the Internet. Linked images might be slow to load, and in some cases might provide information to senders of spam email. 

Select one of the options from this group to specify what Evolution does with linked images. Select one of the following options:

  • Never load images off the net: Select this option to never download linked images.

  • Load images if sender is in addressbook: Select this option to download linked images only if the sender is in your list of contacts.

  • Always load images off the net: Select this option to download all linked images.

Show animated images

Select this option to show animated images that are either inserted into, or attached to, messages that you receive. 

Prompt when sending HTML messages to contacts that don't want them

Select this option to display an alert when you send a message in HTML format to a contact who does not want to receive messages in HTML format. The alert is displayed when you send a message in HTML format to a contact in your contact list that does not have the Wants to receive HTML mail option selected.

Color Preferences

Use the Color tabbed section to set color preferences for labels.

To change the color of a label, click on the color selector button at the right side of the label text box. Use the Pick a color dialog to select the color that you require for the label.

To create a new label, you must overwrite one of the current labels. Type a name for the new label in the text box of the label that you want to overwrite. To change the color of the label, click on the color selector button at the right side of the text box. Use the Pick a color dialog to select the color that you require for the label.

To restore the Evolution default settings for labels, click on the Restore defaults button.

Setting Composer Preferences

Use the Composer Preferences settings to specify color. You can customize the composer preferences in the following functional areas:

General Message Composition Preferences

Use the General tabbed section to set message composition preferences. Table 9–8 lists the message composition preferences that you can set.

Table 9–8 General Message Composition Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Forward style

You can select different styles in which to forward messages. Select the default forward style for your messages from the drop-down list. 

For more information on the styles in which to forward messages, see To Forward a Message.

Reply style

You can select different styles in which to reply to messages. Select the default reply style for your messages from the drop-down list. 

Select one of the following options: 

  • Quote original message: Select this option to insert the original message in the body of the new message, and insert greater-than signs (>), before each line of the original message.

  • Do not quote original message: Select this option to exclude the original message from the reply message.

  • Attach original message: Select this option to attach the original message to the new message.

Character set

Select the default character encoding for your messages from the drop-down list. 

Format messages in HTML

Select this option to make HTML format the default format for your messages. If you do not select this option, the default format is plain text format. 

Automatically insert smiley images

Select this option to insert emoticon images automatically as you type. For example, when you type :-), a smile icon is inserted automatically.

This option applies only to messages in HTML format. 

Prompt when sending messages with an empty subject line

Select this option to display an alert message when you send a message that has an empty Subject text box.

Prompt when sending messages with only Bcc recipients defined

Select this option to display an alert message when you send a message that only has addresses in the Bcc field, but not in the To field or Cc field.

Signature Preferences

Use the Signatures tabbed section to set signature preferences. Table 9–9 lists the signature preferences that you can set.

Table 9–9 Signature Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Signature list 

Displays a list of signatures that you can insert into your messages. When you compose a message, you can select one of the signatures from the Signature drop-down list.

Add

Click on this button to add a signature to the list of signatures.  

To add a signature to the list of signatures, perform the following steps: 

  • Click on the Add button to display the Edit signature dialog.

  • Type a name for the signature in the Name text box.

  • Type the signature in the content area of the dialog. For information on how to format the signature, see Composing Messages.

  • Choose File -> Save and Close to save the signature and close the dialog.

Add Script

You can use a script to generate your signature. Click on the Add Script button to add a script to generate your signatures.

To add a script to the list of signatures, perform the following steps: 

  • Click on the Add Script button to display the Add script signature dialog.

  • Type a name for the script in the Name text box.

  • Enter the filename of the script that you want to use in the Script drop-down combination box. Alternatively, click Browse to display a Select file dialog. Use the dialog to select the script that you want to use.

  • Click OK.

Edit

To edit a signature or a signature script, select the item from the signature list, then click on the Edit button.

Remove

To delete a signature or a signature script, select the item from the signature list, then click on the Remove button.

Spell Checking Preferences

Use the Spell Checking tabbed section to set spellchecker preferences. Table 9–10 lists the spellchecker preferences that you can set.

Table 9–10 Spellcheck Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Language table 

Displays a list of languages for which you have a dictionary installed. 

To enable a language, select the language in the language table, then click on the Enable button. Alternatively, click on the check box in the Enabled column for the language to display a check mark in the check box.

Check spelling while I type

Select this option if you want Evolution to check your spelling while you type. Evolution checks your spelling against the dictionaries for the languages selected in the languages table.

Color for misspelled words

If you select the Check spelling while I type option, Evolution underlines words in your messages that do not match terms in the dictionaries for the languages selected in the languages table.

Click on the color selector button to change the color of the line under words that do not match. Use the Pick a color dialog to select the color that you require.

Setting Calendar and Tasks Preferences

Use the Calendar and Tasks settings to specify preferences for your calendar and your tasks. You can customize the Calendar and Tasks preferences in the following functional areas:

General Calendar and Task Preferences

Use the General tabbed section to set general calendar and task preferences. Table 9–11 lists the general calendar and task preferences that you can set.

Table 9–11 General Calendar and Task Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Time zone

Select a time zone for Evolution. To select a time zone, click on the globe button. A Select a Time Zone dialog is displayed.

The dialog shows a map of the world. Use the dialog to select theEvolution time zone. When you select a time zone, click OK.

For information on how to use the dialog to select a time zone, see Selecting a Time Zone.


Note –

Evolution uses the following time zones:

  • Sun Java Enterprise System calendar server time zone

  • System time zone

  • Evolution time zone

The time zones must be the same for Evolution to function correctly.


Time format

Select the time format for Calendar. Select one of the following options:

  • 12 hour (AM/PM): Select this option to display the time in the a.m./p.m. format.

  • 24 hour: Select this option to display the time in the 00.00 to 24.00 format.

Week starts

Select the day to use as the first day of the week in the date pane.  

Work days

Select the days to include in your work week. The days that you select here are the days that are displayed in Work Week View.

Day begins

Use the drop-down combination box to specify the time at which the day begins in the schedule pane.  

Day ends

Use the drop-down combination box to specify the time at which the day ends in the schedule pane.  

Ask for confirmation when deleting items

Select this option to display a confirmation message when you delete appointments and tasks. 

Show a reminder time before every appointment

Select this option to display a reminder message before your appointments. Use the spin box and the drop-down list to specify how long before the appointment to display the reminder. Use the spin box to specify the number, and use the drop-down list to specify the units of time. 

Display Preferences

Use the Display tabbed section to set calendar and task display preferences. Table 9–12 lists the calendar and task display settings that you can set.

Table 9–12 Calendar and Tasks Display Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Time divisions

Select the time intervals that you want to use in the schedule pane.  

Show appointment end times in week and month views

Select this option to display the end time of appointments in Week View and Month View.

Compress weekends in month view

Select this option to display the information for Saturday and Sunday in one column in the schedule pane in Month View.

Show week numbers in date navigator

Select this option to show the week number in the year in the date pane. 

Tasks due today

If a task is due today, Evolution displays the task in colored format.

Click on the color selector button to change the color in which tasks that are due today are displayed. Use the Color for tasks due today dialog to select the color that you require.

Overdue tasks

If a task overdue, Evolution displays the task in colored format.

Click on the color selector button to change the color in which tasks that are overdue are displayed. Use the Color for overdue tasks dialog to select the color that you require.

Hide completed tasks after time

Select this option to hide completed tasks after a specific period of time. Use the spin box and the drop-down list to specify how long after the task is completed to hide the task. Use the spin box to specify the number, and use the drop-down list to specify the units of time. 

Sun Java System Calendar Server Accounts

The Sun Java System Calendar Server connector for Evolution allows you to use Evolution as a client for Sun Java System Calendar Server calendar server. For information on how to configure your Sun Java System Calendar Server account in Evolution, see Configuring Your Sun Java System Calendar Server Account.

LDAP Servers

Use the Directory Servers dialog to specify LDAP servers.

Table 9–13 LDAP Server Settings

Dialog Element 

Description 

List of LDAP servers 

Displays a list of the LDAP servers to which Evolution can connect.

Add

Click on this button to add an LDAP server. For information on how to configure an LDAP server, see Configuring an LDAP Server.

Edit

To edit an LDAP server, select the server in the list of LDAP servers, then click on the Edit button. For information about using the Edit LDAP Server dialog, see Configuring an LDAP Server.

When you have entered the information in the dialog, click OK to apply the changes to the LDAP server and close the dialog.

Remove

To delete an LDAP server, select the server in the list of LDAP servers, then click on the Remove button.

Setting Summary Preferences

Use the settings in the Summary Preferences dialog to specify summary preferences. You can customize the Summary Preferences in the following functional areas:

Summary Mail Preferences

Use the Mail tabbed section to specify which mail folders to display in the Summary. Table 9–14 lists the mail folder preferences that you can configure for the Summary.

Table 9–14 Summary Mail Folder Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

Mail folder tree 

Use the mail folder tree to select the folders that you want to display in your summary. Click on the plus sign (+) beside a folder to expand the contents of the folder. To collapse the contents of a folder, click on the minus sign (-) beside the folder.  

To select a folder to display in your summary, click on the check box to the left of the folder to display a check mark in the box. To deselect a folder, click on the check box again to remove the check mark. 

Show full path for folders

Select this option to display the full path to the folders that are displayed in your summary. 

News Feed Preferences

Use the News Feeds tabbed section to specify which news feeds to display in the Summary. Table 9–15 lists the news feed preferences that you can configure for the Summary.

Table 9–15 Summary News Feed Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

All news feed list

Displays a list of all the news feeds that you can display in your summary.  

Add

To add a news feed to your summary, select the news feed in the All news feed list, then click on the Add button. The news feed is added to the Shown news feed list.

Remove

To remove a news feed from your summary, select the news feed in the Shown news feed list, then click on the Remove button. The news feed is removed from the Shown news feed list.

Shown news feed list

Displays a list of the news feeds that are displayed in your summary.  

Refresh time (seconds)

Use the spin box to specify how often you want to refresh the display of news headlines in your summary.  

New Feed

Use this button to add a news feed to the All news feed list.

To add a news feed to the All news feed list, perform the following steps:

  1. Click on the New Feed button.

  2. Type a name for the news feed in the Name text box in the New News Feed dialog.

  3. Enter the URL for the news feed in the URL field.

  4. Click OK.

Max number of items shown

Use the spin box to specify the maximum number of headlines to show for each news feed.  

Delete Feed

To delete a news feed that you have added, select the news feed, then click on the Delete Feed button. The news feed is deleted from the All news feed list.

Weather Preferences

Use the Weather tabbed section to specify the locations whose weather you want to view in the Summary. Table 9–16 lists the weather preferences that you can configure for the Summary.

Table 9–16 Summary Weather Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

All location tree

Use the location tree to select the locations whose weather you want to display in your summary. Click on the plus sign (+) beside a location to expand the contents of the location. To collapse the contents of a location, click on the minus sign (-) beside the folder.  

Add

To add a location to your summary, select the location in the All location tree, then click on the Add button. The location is added to the Shown location list.

Remove

To remove a location from your summary, select the location in the Shown location list, then click on the Remove button.

Shown location list

Displays a list of the locations whose weather is displayed in your summary. 

Show temperatures in

Select whether to display temperatures in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit. 

Refresh time (seconds)

Use the spin box to specify how often you want to refresh the display of weather information in your summary.  

Summary Calendar and Task Preferences

Use the Schedule tabbed section to specify the calendar and task information that you want to view in the Summary. Table 9–17 lists the calendar and task information settings that you can configure for the Summary.

Table 9–17 Summary Calendar and Task Preferences

Dialog Element 

Description 

How many days should the calendar display at once?

Select how many days of your calendar to display in your summary.  

Show all tasks

Select this option to display all your tasks in your summary. Completed tasks that are hidden are not displayed. To hide completed tasks, use the Hide completed tasks after time option. For more information on how to hide completed tasks, see Setting Calendar and Tasks Preferences.

Show today's tasks

Select this option to display only the tasks for today in your summary. Completed tasks that are hidden are not displayed.