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User Guide - Communications

Fedora can be used to send electronic mail and communicate in real time with people around the world through instant messaging and chat rooms. In GNOME, Evolution is used to send electronic mail (email) by default. Evolution can also be used as a personal information manager, or PIM. You can maintain a calendar, manage a list of tasks, and keep an address book of contacts.

In KDE, Kmail is used to send email by default. While Kmail does not include a calendar, a calendar application called KOrganizer is included 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 GNOME's Evolution).

Thunderbird is an open-source mail client maintained by Mozilla. It is very extensible, with an online plug-in library akin to Mozilla Firefox. Claws Mail is a more lightweight email client and news reader, which is also extensible via additional plug-ins. Claws Mail only supports plaintext emails by default.

Pidgin and Kopete are both Instant Messaging (IM) programs that allow you to talk to people in real-time using chat networks like AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, or Gmail chat. XChat is Fedora's default graphical IRC client and Konversation is the default IRC client for KDE. ChatZilla is an IRC client installed and used via the FireFox web browser. These clients can all connect to IRC servers which provide chat rooms for people around the world to discuss specific topics.


Evolution

Evolution is a full featured email program. In addition to email, Evolution features a personal information manager (PIM), a calendar, task manager and an address book for your contacts. More documentation for Evolution is available at: http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution/documentation.shtml

Configuring Evolution

To configure an e-mail account:

  • Start Evolution in GNOME by clicking Applications > Office > Evolution on the top menu bar.
  • Start Evolution in KDE by clicking the 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 your ISP or e-mail provider.
  • The Identity screen relates to personal information about the account, including Name, Organization, and Address. There is also a Reply-To field, which will allow you to specify that recipients of mail from this account can reply to a different email address than the one that sent the email.
  • 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. 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 Prompts Evolution to send and receive all email.
New Opens a new email message dialog box.
Reply Replies to the person who has sent you an email.
Reply to All Replies to everyone who was included in the email that you have received.
Forward Forwards the email message to another person.
Print Prints the email.
Delete Deletes the message.
Junk Marks the email as junk.
Cancel Cancels whatever Evolution was doing.
Previous Moves to the previous email in your folder.
Next Moves to the next email in your folder.


Thunderbird

Thunderbird Is Mozilla’s email application. To install the package thunderbird, read the chapter on managing software. You can install thunderbird by either using the PackageKit application or on the command line by using Yum. More information about Thunderbird is available at: http://www.mozilla.org/support/thunderbird/. Add-ons can be found at: http://www.linux.com/feature/51026/ and https://nic-nac-project.org/~kaosmos/index-en.html/.

Configuring Thunderbird

  • To configure your email account you will need the email information provided by your ISP or email provider.
  • Open Thunderbird by going to the menu bar and clicking on Applications > Internet > Thunderbird.
  • The first time you start Thunderbird the Account Wizard opens to guide you through the setup of your account. If the Account Wizard does not open, select File > Create New Account in the main window to open the wizard.
  • Select Email account and press [Next].
  • Fill in your name and email address, and click [Next].
  • Now choose POP or IMAP and type in the names of the Incoming and Outgoing servers and select [Next]. This information should have been provided by your email service.
  • In the next window, fill in your username for your email provider. Normally your Incoming and Outgoing username are the same. Press [Next].
  • Type in whatever you want for your Account Name and click [Next]. This will be used to represent the new account in Thunderbird.
  • Check the summary in this window. If something needs to be changed press the [Back] button; otherwise click [Finish]. Now Thunderbird connects to the server to download your email messages.
  • If the download fails, your email account may require secure connections. In this case, select Edit > Account Settings > Server Settings and select your secure setting. Often the setting is SSL, but this information should be provided by your email service.

Moving Your Thunderbird Profile Data from Windows to Fedora

The Thunderbird Data Profile Folder contains your email messages, addresses, and program settings. To move your profile data from Windows to Fedora requires that the data folder be copied to a CD/DVD, memory stick, or other mobile media. If you have set up multiple accounts in Thunderbird, they can be moved as well, one at a time, following these steps:

  • In Windows click Start > My Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Documents and Settings > YourUserName > Application Data > Thunderbird > Profiles. The profile data folder looks like xxxxx.default.
  • For VISTA use: Start > My Computer > C: > Users > YourUsername > AppData > Roaming > Thunderbird > Profiles.
  • If you cannot find it try: Start > Run > enter %AppData% and press [Enter].
Application Data Folder
If this folder is missing, go to the top menu and select: Tools > Folder Options > View (Tab) > and check the box Show Hidden Files and Folders.
  • Now, right mouse click on the folder and select: Send To > CD/DVD or memory stick. Then press the [Back] button until you arrive at My Computer and check to make sure the folder was saved to the media.

To move the folder to Fedora you need to have your email account, or accounts, set up. When you set up an email account Thunderbird automatically sets up the Profile Data Folder.

  • Plug in the media containing the folder you copied from Windows.
  • On the top menu, in Fedora, select Places > Home > .thunderbird or it may be .mozilla-thunderbird. > xxxxxx.default.
  • Open the xxxxx.default folder and delete all files and folders: Edit > Select All > Edit > Move to Trash. Leave this window open.
  • Now open the media and click on the folder saved from Windows to open it. Select: Edit > Select All > Edit > Copy.
  • Move back to the Fedora window with the open folder and click Edit > Paste.
  • Close all windows and start Thunderbird. You have migrated your Thunderbird email messages, addresses, and settings from Windows to Fedora.

Using Thunderbird

The first time you press the [Get mail] button you are asked for your password. Type in your password and press [ Enter ] or click the [ Ok ] button. You may wish to check the box Use Password Manager to remember this password. If you do, Thunderbird will automatically check your email without asking for your password in the future. Before choosing this option, remember that there is always some risk associated with storing a password. If your password and setup was correct, Thunderbird will now download your email messages from the server.

Below are the functions of the buttons located on the top menu bar:

Button How the button functions
Get Mail Prompts Thunderbird to send and receive all email.
Write Opens a new email message dialog box.
Address Book Opens the email addresses you have on file.
Reply Replies to the person who has sent you an email.
Reply All Replies to everyone who was included in the email that you have received.
Forward Forwards the email message to another person.
Tag Color-codes messages that are important or need follow-up.
Delete Deletes the message.
Junk Marks the email as junk.
Print Prints the email.
Back Traces your last actions.
Forward Steps through your actions after using the Back button .


Claws Mail

Claws Mail is an email client and news reader built to be lightweight and easy to operate. Claws Mail features mostly basic functionality, but plugins can be used to add many of the features found in Evolution and Outlook. To install the package claws-mail, read the chapter on managing software. You can install claws-mail by either using the PackageKit application or on the command line by using Yum. More information about Claws Mail is available at: http://www.claws-mail.org/.

Configuring Claws Mail

  • To configure your email account you will need the email information provided by your internet service or email provider.
  • Open Claws Mail by going to the menu bar and click on Applications > Internet > Claws Mail.
  • The first time you start Claws Mail the Claws Mail Wizard appears and will guide you through the set up of your account.
  • The first page will ask you to fill in your name, (sometimes it is guessed from the operating system) and your email address.
  • On the next page enter details of how to retrieve your mail:
    • POP3: Enter the server address, username, and password. If you don't enter your password here you will be prompted for it each time it is needed.
    • IMAP: Enter the server address, username, password, and IMAP server directory. The password is optional, if you don't provide it here you will be prompted for it each time it is needed. The IMAP server directory is also optional, often it is not needed and can be left empty.
    • Local mbox file: Enter the location of your local mailbox spool file. Values such as /var/mail/username or /var/spool/mail/username are common, username is your system login.
  • On the next page enter the address of your SMTP (Outgoing) server. You may not need to authenticate when sending mail.
  • If you chose either POP3 or Local mbox file, the next page will the show the default where it will save your mail.
  • You may get a "Security" page, where you can choose SSL encryption to send and receive your emails. If you're unsure leave them unselected.
  • Click on the [Save] button to finish the configuration.

Using Claws Mail

Claws Mail allows you to create, store and send email by clicking the appropriate buttons located on the menu. Retrieving your email can be done from the toolbar button named Get mail or from the Receive submenu of the Message menu.

Button How the button functions
Get Mail Allows Claws Mail to receive all email.
Compose Opens a new email message dialog box. Press [TAB] to autocomplete the To: email address from the Address Book.
Reply Replys to the person who has sent you an email.
Reply to All Replies to everyone who was included in the email that you have received.
Sender Replies to the person who sent the email.
Forward Forwards the email message to another person.
Trash Moves the message to the Trash folder.
Spam Tells the program to learn the email as Spam, also has option to mark it as Ham. Moves the message to the Trash folder.
Next Moves 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 help locations.
  • To configure your account you will need your email information from your internet service or email 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 then 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 Opens a new 'Compose email' dialog box.
Save as Saves the email.
Print Prints the message.
Check Mail in Downloads emails from the remote server.
Reply Replies to the selected email.
Forward Forwards the email message to another person.
Previous Moves to the previous unread email in your folder.
Next Moves to the next unread email in your folder.
Trash Deletes the email.
Find Message Searches for a specific email.
Create Task Creates a new task in KOrganizer.


Additional Options
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

Pidgin is an instant messaging (IM) client that can access Gmail, MSN, AOL, Yahoo!, Jabber, and other IM and chat networks. For further information please refer to: http://www.pidgin.im

Configuring Pidgin

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. These Menus allow you to add additional IM contacts.

All 16 supported protocols are available at the same time within Pidgin. If you have setup several accounts in Pidgin, such as Yahoo, Google Talk, and AIM accounts, then all of your contacts for each of these accounts will be available to chat with at the same time, in the same contact list.

For more information see: http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/Using%20Pidgin

Not all features supported
Pidgin does not support some features of the included protocols. Pidgin is useful for chatting via text across 16 different IM protocols, but not all the features in each IM system are supported. For example, video is not supported at this time.
Fedora does not register accounts
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. This is true for most types of instant messaging, although some protocols - like Bonjour, IRC, or SILC - do not require accounts at all, and Fedora can setup accounts for some types of IM networks.

Kopete

Kopete is the Instant Messenger installed in KDE by default. Kopete can be found in Kmenu > Applications > Internet > Instant Messenger In GNOME Kopete can be found in Applications > Internet > Kopete. For further documentation on Kopete, refer to: http://kopete.kde.org/

Configuring Kopete

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 takes you directly to the creating accounts dialog. To configure a new account:

  • 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] and choose the option to connect to the service and 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 such as:

  • AIM
  • GroupWise
  • ICQ
  • IRC
  • Jabber
  • Meanwhile
  • MSN Messenger
  • Testbed
  • WinPopup
  • Yahoo

Accounts for these services can be added to Kopete using the steps above.


XChat

Xchat is an IRC chat program. It allows you to join multiple IRC channels (chat rooms) at the same time, talk publicly, private one-on-one conversations and is capable of transfering files. More information is available at: http://xchat.org/

Configuring XChat

  • When you open XChat the XChat: Network List window appears. Fill in your choices for your Nick name, username and realname. Your username can be anything you like.
  • Now choose a network to join from the Networks window. Select which one you want by clicking it.
  • Select [Edit] which opens another window listing the network you selected. For now make sure the box Use global user information is checked. Go down to the Favorite Channels: field and type in the channel you want to join. You can also click on the small [Button] to the right of the field which will bring up a window where you can [Add], [Remove] and [Edit] your channels . Most networks require # placed before the name of the channel. For example: #fedora-userguide.
  • Click the [Close] button.
  • Select [Connect] and you are connected to your channel.
  • You configure your preferences for XChat while attached to the network. On the top menu bar select Settings > Preferences and choose your text, background and sound preferences.

Using XChat

  • On the top menu bar select Applications > Internet > XChat.
  • Click the [Connect] button and you are attached to the network(s) and channel(s) you selected above.


Konversation

Konversation is located on the KDE Desktop. It is a very user friendly IRC program. You can find details at: http://konversation.kde.org/

Configuring Konversation

To configure Koversation select:

  • Kmenu > Application > Internet > IRC Client.
  • The Servers List window pops up and has a default network listed. Select [New] or click on the default network then select [Edit].
    • Type in your chosen network in the Network Name: field.
    • Under Identity click [Edit] and add your user names.
    • Check the box Connect Application at Start-up to attach automatically when you open Konversation.
  • In the Auto Join Channels window:
    • Click on the default channel listed then [Edit] or just click the [Add] button to ad your choice.
    • Type in your desired channels, and passwords if needed, then click the [Ok] button.
  • You are returned to the Edit Network window. Select the [Ok] button.
  • Now click the [Connect]button at the bottom right in the Servers List window to attach to the network and your channels.

Using Konversation

  • Choose Kmenu > Application > Internet > IRC Client.
  • Konversation will automatically attach to your networks and channels.


ChatZilla

ChatZilla is an IRC chat program from Mozilla. It is easy to use and is a highly extensible IRC client. It has all the usual features including a built-in list of standard networks, easy searching and sorting of available channels, logging, DCC chat and file transfers. For more informaiton go to: http://chatzilla.hacksrus.com/faq/

Installing ChatZilla

  • You can install ChatZilla using FireFox.
  • Launch FireFox and from the top menu bar select Tools > Add-ons > Get Add-ons.
  • In the box to the left of the Browse All Add-ons link, type ChatZilla and [Enter].
  • Select [Add to FireFox] then [Install Now]. You may get a message to re-start FireFox.

Configuring ChatZilla

  • Open FireFox.
  • On the top menu bar click Tools > Chatzilla.
  • The ChatZilla window opens where you will see the word *Client* in the middle of the page. At the bottom are links to a few of the most popular Networks. If your Network is among them just click on the link and ChatZilla will attach to it and automatically add it your Preferences > Startup (Tab).
  • It is real time-saver to edit your chosen Network and Channels so they automatically connect. Select Preferences > Startup (Tab) and scroll down to the Auto-connect URLs window, select the Network and click [Edit]. Now add /#your-channel to the end, click [Apply] then the [Ok] buttons.
  • If your Network is not listed, go to the top menu bar and choose Preferences > Startup (Tab), scroll down to the Auto-connect URLs window, click [Add], and type in your network. For example: irc://yournetwork., then click [Apply] and the [Ok] buttons.
  • If you know the channel you want to connect to automatically enter irc://yournetwork/#your-channel.. Don't forget to click the [Apply] and [Ok] buttons.
  • Finally, add few Nick names by selecting Lists (Tab) > [Add] and type in a Nick name and click [Ok]. Two or three Nick names are recommended in case someone else is using your first choice.

Using ChatZilla

  • Open FireFox.
  • On the top menu bar click Tools > Chatzilla and you will automatically attach to your Networks and channels.
It is not necessary to have your channel(s) connect when you start ChatZilla. Once you have attached to your Network(s) you can select IRC > Join channel and type in your favorite channel, or part of it in the Quick Search box. Then click on the [Join] button when your channel appears in the box. But you will have to do these steps each time unless you setup ChatZilla to attach automatically .


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