Sea-Monkey: Messenger: Account Setup	UI Specification
Account Setup Account Setup Wizard, Account Settings Dialogs and Mail Import Tool	Last Modification:

Author: Jennifer Glick Creation Date: 5 March 1999	Status: UE4 - The spec is implementable. Narrowed down to one design solution, major issues are resolved. Mail Import Tools portion is still a draft.
Quicklinks: Master Mail UE Spec UE Spec Page Design Cheatsheet Design Details Account Setup Wizard  - Mail  - News Mail/News Account Settings dialogs Mail Import Tools Menus & Preferences Error Messages & Dialogs	Feature Team Engineering Lead Phil Peterson Marketing Lead Sol Goldfarb FE Lead Candice Huang XP Lead David Bienvenu Docs Simone Cox Usability Lake Roca QA - Mult Accounts Ninoschka Baca eMail Team

Updates

• 7/28/99 - Update wording for SMTP dialogs with input from Simone (Tech Pubs).
• 7/29/99 - Minor updates from Ninoschka's (QA) feedback.
• 8/23/99 - Start updating spec to include Mail Startup and Mail Import Tool stuffs.
• 10/22/99 - Minor updates from Mail Issues Meeting.
• 12/13/99 - Account Settings is part of Mail Preferences instead of its own set of dialogs.  Update spec text and graphics to reflect this.

Open Issues

1. Tony Robinson: When user's machine is being searched for existing 4.x profiles, is it possible to also note if 3rd party mail applications are found? That way, we only ask users if they want to perform this task if they have existing info to import.
2. Should "Import" be an option on the first dialog of the New Account Wizard dialogs? Or are creating a new account and importing existing accounts two separate tasks and hence two separate wizards?
3. Import Tools: Do we show the user a list of types of imports we can do, ask them which one, and then find out if they have any that match? Or do we first search the machine and find out what the user has and then ask them which one(s) they want to import?
4.  

Summary

This spec covers the Account Setup Wizard, Account Settings Dialogs and the Mail Import Tools.

The Account Setup Wizard is used to set up new mail accounts (accounts that Netscape Mail did not find either through the 4.x upgrade or inside of 3rd party email applications). It can be run at anytime the user would like to set up a new mail or news account. It is run automatically at startup of Netscape Mail IF no 4.x profile or 3rd party mail applications were found.

The Account Settings Dialogs allow users to manage the detailed settings of their various Mail, and News accounts. The Account Settings Dialogs are a separate set of dialogs from the Preferences dialogs (change from 4.x).

The Mail Import Tools can be used to import settings, email messages and/or address book entries from 3rd party Mail Applications. They can be run by using the "File", "Import..." menu from within Netscape Mail or the Address Book. The user is given the option to run the Mail Import Tools Wizard at startup of Netscape Mail IF 3rd party mail applications were found.

* Background Information - Process Flow*

Downloading 5.x Overview

• User downloads the "stub" installer (a piece of code that downloads the rest of 5.x)
• Stub installer downloads 5.x pieces as necessary
• The pieces of 5.x are expanded on the end user's machine
• Navigator is started
• If the user has exactly 1 profile (which most upgrading users will), then their 4.x data is upgraded to 5.x (if more than one profile, user will most likely be asked to choose which profile).  The migrated 4.x account should be set to the default account for 5.0.
  • 4.x data includes preferences (such as email server settings), address book data, and email messages
• User can then go to Mail (by selecting Tasks | Mail, or by selecting Mail from the Task Switcher bar. One of 4 things happens:
  • Netscape 4.x profile found, no 3rd party mail applications found - Netscape Mail starts. Netscape Mail account is default account.
  • Netscape 4.x profile found, 3rd party mail applications found - user asked if they would like to import from 3rd party mail applications.
    • Yes - Import Tool Wizard run. Netscape Mail starts up at completion of wizard.
    • No - Netscape Mail starts.
  • No Netscape 4.x profile found, 3rd party mail applications found - user asked if they would like to import from 3rd party mail applications.
    • Yes - Import Tool Wizard run. Netscape Mail starts up at completion of wizard.
    • No - New Accounts Wizard starts up.
  • No Netscape 4.x profile found, no 3rd party mail applications found - New Account Wizard starts up.

   

  *The items in Bold above are illustrated in the following flowchart: Flowchart of Process*

Goals

The Account Settings Dialogs (within Preferences) and New Account Wizard should allow a user to easily setup and/or modify account information for one or more Mail, or News accounts.

Basic	Intermediate	Advanced
Use the Account Setup Wizard to import settings, email addresses and messages from a 3rd party email application. Use the Account Setup Wizard to create a new default Mail Account. User the Account Setup Wizard to create additional Mail Accounts. Use the Account Setup Wizard to create News accounts.	Use the Account Settings Dialogs (within Preferences) to modify the settings and/or preferences for an existing Mail or News account. Use the Account Settings Dialogs (within Preferences) to modify their SMTP server.	Use the Account Settings Dialogs (within Preferences) to add additional SMTP servers. Use the Account Settings Dialogs (within Preferences) to associate SMTP servers with specified Identities. Define Advanced IMAP server settings.

 

The Mail Import Tools.

Basic	Intermediate	Advanced
Use the Mail Import Tool. Wizard to import their settings /mail /addresses from 3rd party Mail Applications.

Target User

The Account Setup Wizard should be straight forward and easy to use for novice users. It should easily and quickly walk them through the necessary steps to setting up a Mail, Netscape or News account. Only Required information is collected here and basic defaults for account behavior are chosen for the user.

The Account Settings Dialogs (within Preferences) are aimed at more intermediate and advanced users who want to customize their accounts, change the default settings, add additional SMTP servers or associate certain Identities and SMTP servers.

The Mail Import Tools are aimed at more intermediate and advanced users who want to import settings, mail messages and/or address book entries from 3rd party Mail applications into their Netscape Mail.

 

Notes and Assumptions

• SMTP and Identity are not bound.
• Mail from multiple servers/multiple accounts can be retrieved (incoming servers) with a single Internet connection (user/system does not have to connect to each server separately to retrieve mail for each account). A single connection is needed to get the user onto the Internet and from there, Messenger is able to connect to each individual server.
• Mail from multiple accounts can be sent out at one time using one SMTP server (user/system does not have to connect to each server separately to send mail).
• In order to use ONE specified SMTP server for ALL outgoing mail (from different identities), the user must be connected to the Internet via the account paired with the specified SMTP server.
• When a user launches Netscape Mail, and has multiple accounts set up, the user will see a login (name, password) dialog for each account (as necessary).

Design Cheatsheet

Access

The Account Setup Wizard, Account Settings Dialogs and Mail Import Tools are accessible to users as follows:

Account Setup Wizard	Account Settings Dialogs
Users are asked if they would like to import an existing account or setup a new account. From the Mail File, New menu. "Account". From the Mail "File" menu, users can select "Import...". From the Profile Manager, users are given the option to set up a new Mail or News account. From the Taskbar (only if no accounts have been set up yet and user selects a Mail related item) User selects any Mail related item (button, menu, etc.) and does not have Mail configured. From the Account Settings Dialogs. Selecting the "New Account" button.	The Account Settings Dialogs are contained within the Preferences dialogs for Mail & News. "Mail/News Account Settings" is still a separate menu item in several places but selecting it opens the Preferences dialog with the "Account Settings" level selected. From the Edit menu, "Preferences". From the Edit menu, Mail component, "Mail/News Account Settings..." Context menu in mail folder pane. When an account has focus, "Mail/News Account Settings..." is in the context menu. From the Thread Pane when a top level Account Name is selected, context menu, "Account Properties...".
	Mail Import Tools
	From Main Mail Window, "File", "Import...". From Main Address Book Window, "File", "Import...".

Design Details

Account Setup Wizard

The Account Setup Wizard can be launched following the Mail Startup Wizard if the user requests to set up additional accounts. It can also be launched on its own at anytime when the user requests to set up a new account.

The Account Setup Wizard should be straight forward and easy to use for novice users. It should easily and quickly walk users through the necessary steps for setting up a Mail or News account. Only Required information is collected here and basic defaults for account behavior are chosen for the user. Fields are pre-populated where ever possible.

After each account setup is completed, the user is asked if they would like to create another account. If so, they are looped back to the beginning of the Account Wizard.

Mail 

1 - Account Wizard Start (Shared Dialog)

2 - Identity (Shared Dialog)

3 - Server Information (Mail)

The "Outgoing (SMTP) Server" information will only appear on this dialog if the user has NOT already specified this information for another account.

4 - Name and Password (Mail)

5 - Account Name (Shared Dialog)

 This field is pre-populated with a server name derivative (user name on server name).  

6 - Congratulations (Shared Dialog)

• Setup Another... - Loops the user back to the first dialog in the Account Wizard.

News

1 - New Account Wizard Start (Shared Dialog)

2 - Identity (Shared Dialog)

3 - Server Information (News)

4 - Account Name (Shared Dialog)

 This field is pre-populated with a server name derivative (user name on server name).

5 - Congratulations (Shared Dialog)

Note: User Name and Email Address are not displayed (like they are for Mail).

Mail/News Account Settings Dialogs

The Mail/News Account Settings dialogs (within the Preferences) let the user manage the settings of their various Mail and News accounts.

The Account Settings Dialogs are contained within the Preferences dialogs for Mail & News. "Mail/News Account Settings" is still a separate menu item in several places but selecting it opens the Preferences dialog with the "Account Settings" level selected.

 Shared buttons

• OK - Accepts the changes (cumulative) and closes the dialog.
• Cancel - Ignores the changes (cumulative) and closes the dialog.

Note: As a user changes from account to account or account property (by highlighting items on the left), any changes made to the current view are not saved until the user clicks "OK".

Account Settings

Provides a top level summary of existing Mail and News accounts.  Provides a location to enter Outgoing (SMTP) server settings.

• New... - Launches the Account Setup Wizard.
• Set Default - Sets a selected account as the default account. This button is only available if an account is selected/has focus.
• Duplicate - Creates a duplicate copy of a selected account. The word "Copy" is appended to the end of the account name. The new account should also appear in the tree to the left.  This button is only available if an account is selected/has focus.
• Delete - Deletes a selected account. A confirmation box is shown. This button is only available if an account is selected/has focus.
  
• Server Name - Text field for user to enter the name of the outgoing (SMTP) server.
• User Name - Text field for user to enter their user name for an SMTP server. Only available if "Always use name and password" is selected.
• Save my password - remembers the user's SMTP server password (after first prompt) so the user doesn't have to enter it each time. Only available if "Always use name and password" is selected.
• Use secure connection (SSL) - "Always" and "When available" only available if check box selected.

Outgoing (SMTP) Server - Advanced

 

• Add - Opens the "SMTP Server" dialog (below). Used to add a new SMTP server.  
• Edit... - Opens the "SMTP Server" dialog (below). Used to edit an existing SMTP server.  
• Delete - Removes the selected SMTP server. This button is only available if an account is selected/has focus.
• Set Default - Sets the selected SMTP server as the default account. This button is only available if an account is selected/has focus. Results are displayed on the parent dialog, "Mail & News Account Settings" (above).

 

(SMTP) Server

Used to add a new, or edit an existing, SMTP server.

Account - Identity

• Account Name - Text field used to name an account. Each account must have a distinct name.
• Your Name - Text field. Required?
• Email Address - Text field. Required.
• Edit Card... - opens Address Book Card for the current identity.
• Attach this Signature dropdown - list of already defined signature files.
• Edit - opens the selected signature file for editing.
• Advanced - Opens the Advanced Identity Settings dialog (below).

Account - Identity - Advanced

•  Server - allows users to associate the current Identity with a predefined SMTP Server.

Account - Server - POP

Account - Server - IMAP

• When I delete a message: - Drop down list with the 3 different trash models available. When an item is selected from the list, the appropriate description text should appear below.
• Advanced - Opens the "Advanced IMAP Server dialog (below).

Account - Server - IMAP - Advanced

Account - Copies and Folders

•  Folder Drop downs - allow the user to choose the desired folder.

 

Default settings for "Copies & Folders" preferences

• For Mail, both IMAP and POP - Sent messages, Draft messages and Stationery messages are saved in the "Sent", "Drafts" or "Stationery" folder respectively, of their associated account (instead of in the "Local Folders" structure).   
• For News - Sent messages, Draft messages and Stationery messages are saved in the "Sent", "Drafts" or "Stationery" folder respectively, of the default mail account. If there is no existing default mail account (only a news account is set up), then messages will default to the correct folder within "Local Folders". 
• If the user later adds a default mail account (when there was only a news account before) or changes the default mail account from one account to another, the preference for Send, Drafts and Stationery of existing accounts is NOT changed but remains as originally set. For example, user creates a news account only. "Sent" mail would default to a "Sent" folder within the "Local Folders" structure. The user then sets up a mail account. Sent news still goes to the "Sent" folder within the "Local Folders" structure (but user can change this in prefs). 

Account - News - Identity

Account - News - Server

Account - News - Copies and Folders

Default settings for "Copies & Folders" preferences

• For Mail, both IMAP and POP - Sent messages, Draft messages and Stationery messages are saved in the "Sent", "Drafts" or "Stationery" folder respectively, of their associated account (instead of in the "Local Folders" structure).   
• For News - Sent messages, Draft messages and Stationery messages are saved in the "Sent", "Drafts" or "Stationery" folder respectively, of the default mail account. If there is no existing default mail account (only a news account is set up), then messages will default to the correct folder within "Local Folders". 
• If the user later adds a default mail account (when there was only a news account before) or changes the default mail account from one account to another, the preference for Send, Drafts and Stationery of existing accounts is NOT changed but remains as originally set. For example, user creates a news account only. "Sent" mail would default to a "Sent" folder within the "Local Folders" structure. The user then sets up a mail account. Sent news still goes to the "Sent" folder within the "Local Folders" structure (but user can change this in prefs). 

Signature Files

New/Edit Signature File

Mail Import Tools

This section is NOT complete.  These are rough ideas only. Comments appreciated.

Do we show the user a list of types of imports we can do, ask them which one they want, and then find out if they have any items to import that match (4.x method)? Or do we first search the user's machine and find out what the user has and then ask them which one(s) they want to import?

Process

The Mail Import Tool will be as automated as possible. Once the user selects what 3rd party mail applications they want to import, all settings, email messages and address book entries will be imported. Unlike 4.x, users will not be asked to choose which components they want to import. Once data is being imported, the user will see a progress indicator which informs the user how far along the process is and what files are currently being imported.

Local mail which is imported is moved to a folder within the Netscape Mail "Local Mail" folders area. The name of the folder defaults to the name of the application from which it was imported. If that name is already taken, then a number is appended.

If the user imported two POP accounts, each account would show up in Netscape Mail with it's own hierarchy of folders, but the mail would be moved to the folders of the first account and the folders of the second account would be empty. (Since some Mail applications store all POP local mail together, we won't know from which account the mail originated).

Import Mail Tool - 1A

Import Mail Tool - 1B

Address Book Import

From the Address Book, "File", "Import...", opens a File Open Dialog from which the user can select the file(s) to be imported.

Determining the Default Account - Draft

1. If the user upgrades from a Netscape 4.x profile and no other accounts are created or imported, the Netscape Mail account is the default.
2. If the user upgrades from a Netscape 4.x profile and imports one or more accounts from 3rd party mail applications, the Netscape Mail account is the default? Or do we want to ask the user?
3. If the user does not upgrade from a Netscape 4.x profile and imports one 3rd party mail application, the 3rd party mail application account becomes the default.
4. If the user does not upgrade from a Netscape 4.x profile and imports more than one 3rd party mail application, we ask the user to choose a default (once an additional account has been imported).
5. If the user does not upgrade from a Netscape 4.x profile, or does not import 3rd party mail applications, and creates one new account, the new account becomes the default.
6. If the user does not upgrade from a Netscape 4.x profile, or does not import 3rd party mail applications, and creates two or more new accounts, we ask the user to choose a default (the user is asked to choose at the completion of creating the 2nd new account).

So basically, if there is a situation where there is more than one account (additional accounts are created or imported) and it is unclear which account should be the default account, we will ask the user to choose.

It does not make much sense to a user when they are creating a new account, or importing an account, if the account will be a default. Users mostly won't understand what default account means and may not be aware of previously created/imported accounts. For this reason, users should be asked at the end of account creation/import which account they would like to set as default. For each new account created/imported, SMTP server information will be collected. Once the process (new account setup or import) is complete, users will be shown a list of all their current accounts, given an explanation of what it means to have a default account and asked to verify a default account. The account that was first setup (upgraded, created or imported) should be preselected. The SMTP information for the default account is what will be used.

Menus and Preferences

Where	Component	What
"Edit" Menu	All Components (Browser, Mail, Address Book, AIM) Mail only	"Preferences" "Mail/News Account Settings"
"File" Menu	Mail	"New Account"

Error Messages and Dialogs

Condition	Message	User Choices

Closed Issues

• Is it possible for Messenger to determine how the user is connected to the Internet (from which account)? If so, users could enter an SMTP server for each multiple account and when the user wanted to send mail, Messenger could be smart enough to use the SMTP server associated with the account that the user is currently using to access the Internet. This would prevent the user from ever seeing error messages when sending email (if they are connected through an account which is not there 'default' SMTP server account), make it more understandable for users who expect to enter an SMTP server for each account, and allow advanced users to enter multiple SMTP servers. No, this is not possible at this time.
• Should Account Setup be separated from the Preferences dialogs? "Account Settings" will be separate dialogs accessed from the "Edit" menu. 6/24/99, Mail Issues meeting.
• Multiple SMTP servers: As a first step, we will allow users to enter only one SMTP server (instead of multiple). May provide functionality to add multiple SMTP servers (for advanced users) at a later time. 5/14/99. This reversed on 6/24/99, Mail Issues Meeting. Multiple SMTP servers will be allowed.
• Multiple Identities: One identity per account allowed. 5/14/99
• Should certain preferences (html vs. plain text, Trash behavior, Draft and Templates folders, etc.) be associated with a specific account and located within the Account Setup Dialogs (a separate item from the preferences), or should they be co-located with the other Preferences in the Preferences dialogs? Preferences specific to servers (such as Trash and Special Folders) will be located in the Account Settings Dialogs. 6/24/99, Mail Issues Meeting.
• "New Account" button, automatically launches the Account Setup Wizard. This may upset advanced users. There there a way that this button could be a fly out (like MS's "New" button does) and users could pick, "Create using Wizard" or "Create Manually"? "New Account" will always launch the Account Wizard. 6/30/99.
• "Default Account". Is this necessary? What are the benefits to being the default account? Does Mail and News each have their own Default account? Both Mail and News will have a Default Account. When the client doesn't have enough information to know what host to send/post a message through, the default account is used. 6/30/99.
• Each account must have an "Account Name"? We give it one if users doesn't or show dialog? Must each "Account Name" be distinct? News and Mail accounts will have a distinct Account Name. SMTP will not have an account name. If the user doesn't specify an account name, we will provide one. It will be created using the account server name. 6/30/99.
• Local Mail directory and Local News directory. Are these per account or global? Where should they be located? Account Settings or Preferences (Mail and Newsgroups). These will be per account. Located on the "Server" dialog. 6/30/99.
• "Ask me before downloading x messages". Is this per News account? Per Account. 6/30/99.
• Is SSL secure (Mail) or encrypted (News) connection? (We describe it two diff ways currently). "Secure". 6/30/99.
• News Server Settings: Which password method is correct (see dialog)? Currently, the Edit version is different than the New version. Use single checkbox method. 6/30/99.
• Does News Identity need an "Advanced" dialog as well? No. 6/30/99.
• SMTP Servers: These need "Account Name" as well? No. 6/30/99.
• Congratulations dialogs. Shouldn't the web dialogs be the same as the client dialogs? If so, can the additional info, "Login Name", "Email Address" and "http://..." be added? Dialogs will be the same. Summary info will be provided where appropriate. 6/30/99.
• Do we need a "Log into this account at startup" option for each account? Yes.

Archived Documents

• December 9, 1999
• August 99
• April 99
• June 99