SIUC Webmail Interface
SIUC Webmail provides a full featured web browser interface to SIUC E-mail. Webmail utilizes the Sendmail Mobil Message Server (SMMS) and offers improved functionality and versatility over the previous webmail interface. During the implementation of the Sendmail Mobile Message Server in July of 2004, user inboxes and folders were migrated to the new SMMS system.
To use SIUC Webmail you must have an active Network ID. If you do not have a Network ID, you may request one at https://websec.it.siu.edu/util/id_request.html. All students, faculty and staff that have a Network ID will be able to use the new e-mail system whether or not your ID was previously activated for e-mail. You can find the SIUC Webmail Interface at http://webmail.siu.edu.
In order to use SIUC Webmail, you must first enter your Network ID (username) and password at the appropriate location and click the "Log In" button. Do not enter your full e-mail address (NetworkID@siu.edu) into the "Username" field.
After your username and password are validated, your inbox will be presented and you will see your "Read Mail" screen. On the left side of the screen in the blue field you will see your folder lists. You may only see INBOX listed, but many users will see other folders such as sent-mail, drafts, trash, and/or any other folders that were created in the previous version of SIUC Webmail.
To the right of the folder lists you will see your inbox messages. Unread messages are displayed in bold red print while read messages are displayed in a non-bolded black font. If you notice a message in your inbox, or any other folder, that has the subject "DON'T DELETE THIS MESSAGE -- FOLDER INTERNAL DATA" do not be concerned. This is a message that the previous Webmail interface used to manage user mailboxes (was a hidden message present in every mailbox) and has been carried over to the new Webmail. This message is no longer used by the system and can be safely deleted.
In order to delete a message, the system default is a three step process. You must first select the message(s) you wish to delete by click on the white box to the left of the message (will place a check mark here), click the blue "Delete" button (this will place a red line through the envelope icon between the size and subject columns) and finally click the "Purge Deletions" button. The deletion process can be shortened to simply clicking the blue "Delete" button. This option will be discussed the the "User Preferences" section.
To read a message simply click on the message and a separate window will open allowing you to read the selected message. From this window you can compose another message, select the reply options, forward this message to another e-mail address, move this message into a specified folder, delete the message, print the message or save the address of the sender into your address book. Simply click on the blue buttons or select the appropriate drop down boxes for the actions you wish to take. If you have more than one message in your inbox, you will also see a "Previous" and a "Next" button that you can use to scroll down through your message list.
The search window is a powerful function that will allow you to scan your INBOX and any other existing folders for various criteria. This will allow you to quickly locate a particular message and to retrieve it. To use this function simply click the Search tab located at the top of the screen. Fill in the fields and click the "Search for Messages" button. This will return a list of your messages that match a given criteria.
In order to use the address book you need to click the My Contacts tab at the top of your screen. You will be presented with a form where you can fill in the information about the person you wish to add to your address book. After entering the desired information click the "Add Address" button. You can also edit and delete entered addresses by selecting the address and clicking either "Edit Address" or the "Delete" button.
You can add addresses directly from the "Read Message" window by clicking the "Save Addresses" button. This will give you a list of all the addresses in the message (the From: line and the CC: line) and allows you to select the ones you wish to add to your address book.
Accessing the Public Directory
SIUC Webmail also includes an interface where you can reference the SIU Directory. You can use this interface to search the database on many different criteria. To access the directory click the Public Directory tab, enter the desired information, and press the "Search" button. After performing the search, Webmail will return a list of information matching your queries. You then can add these queries to your address book, or email them directly by clicking on their email address.
The preferences feature provides a means for users to customize how SIUC Webmail functions. To modify user preferences click the light blue preferences button in the upper right hand corner of your screen. This will open a preferences window as shown below. Across the top of the pop-up window you will see the following options:
- Mailbox Options - Set how the list of messages appears in your window.
- Send - Configure your outgoing message save folder (default setting is to not save your sent-messages).
- Reply - Set your reply options.
- Locale - Configure character sets, etc. for your country and language.
- Read Message - Set how message content appears.
- Compose - Configure the screen for sending messages.
- Mail Folders - Set a default save folder or add/delete folders.
- Phone Options - Create or delete pre-recorded messages for use on a wireless device.
These options are explained in detail by clicking on light blue help button in the upper right hand corner of your screen. When you make changes on each of the 8 preference windows you must click the "Save Changes" button before moving on to the next screen. If you do not do this, your changes will not be saved.
Popular Preference Settings
Some of the most popular preferences settings are:
- Deletion Options: this allows you to change the deletion process from three steps (select, delete, and purge deletions) to two steps (select and delete). Click the preferences button on your main webmail screen. Click the Read Message button in the Preferences window. To change the deletion process you need to change the "Automatically remove deleted messages" option from no to yes. Be sure to click the "Save Changes" button before exiting the Preferences window.
- Full Header Information: this option allows you to see the full detailed information in the header field instead of the typical From:, To:, CC:, and Subject Lines. When corresponding with the Postmaster or Mail Administrator about a "problem" email message (spam, fraud, abuse, etc.) please turn on this feature before forwarding the message. This will give the Postmaster and Mail Administrator the necessary information for dealing with such problem messages.
- Creating additional folders. Click the "Mail Folders" button to open the Folder Options screen. In order to add a folder simply type the name of the desired folder and click the "Add" button. If you wish to delete a folder, select the folder in the drop down box next to "Delete folder" and click the "Delete" button.
- Selecting location to save sent messages. By default SIUC Webmail does not keep a copy of your sent messages. If you wish to keep a copy of all outgoing mail from your Webmail account, simply click the "Send" button in the preferences screen. You then select "Yes" to "Copy sent mail to mailbox". Then select the mailbox (folder) where you wish to save your sent-messages to. If a folder does not exist, you must add one first (see above). After selecting the folder you wish to save to, click the "Save Changes" button and close the Preferences window. All of your sent-message will now be saved to the folder you specified.
Perhaps one of the most useful features of the new SIUC Webmail is the online help function. You can use this function at any time by pressing the 
button. This will open another browser window providing you with detailed information on nearly every feature in the SIUC Webmail Interface. This useful feature will answer many of your questions. The top line includes links for each section of the Webmail screen. As you open each section, you will see detailed information on many of the options that you can change, and the features included in the new Webmail Interface.
