What is FirstClass and what can you do with it?
FirstClass is the software used at Miss Hall's School for email; but it can do more! With FirstClass, you can:
How can I get HELP on FirstClass?
From your Desktop, double-click Help and select an appropriate folder.
Or, select Help--Contents from the menu.
Note: The Alt key, together with an underlined letter on a menu item, gives a shortcut to that item.
Note: There are also keyboard shortcuts for almost all commands. (For example, Ctrl-n brings up the New Message form.)
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I customize FirstClass?
Yes. Select Edit--Preferences from the Desktop menu. Here are some of the things you can customize:
CONTENT: You can change the font, size, and color of text for your email messages. (You can also change these for an individual email.)
CONTENT: You can have your messages checked for spelling automatically before they are sent.
(You can also use Edit--Check Spelling for an individual email.)
MESSAGING: You can have an automatic reply for every email that you receive; this may be useful when you're gone on vacation.
MESSAGING: You can have your mail automatically forwarded to another email address.
Note: Click DEFAULT to restore everything to the original settings.
Careful: this sets EVERYTHING in the entire Edit--Preferences form to its default state.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I organize my MailBox with folders?
You might want to have a folder for advisees, personal, etc. Go to your MailBox, then click File--New--NewFolder.
Then, right-click on the folder, select Properties, and type in the folder name.
Note: Messages are automatically deleted after 120 days. So, get in the habit of saving stuff to your MHS Faculty folder:
select the message, File--Save As, and navigate to your own folder.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Is there a DIRECTORY for everyone at Miss Hall's, and how do I use it?
Click the icon that looks like a little flag.
Begin typing in the person's FIRST name.
Once you get the person you want, double-click. (Note: If you type in an email address yourself, then you must press ENTER to get the "little person" icon.)
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I add my own addresses to the directory?
Click the ADDRESS BOOK icon (next to the Directory icon).
Or, File--New--New Personal Address.
Any addresses that you create yourself will be listed at the top of the Directory.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
How can I reply to a message? Reply: Replies to ALL the recipients-BE CAREFUL! Reply Sender: Replies to the sender only. Reply with Quote:Message--Reply Special--Reply with Quote; this includes a copy of the original message CAUTION: Always glance in the "Cc:" box to see if your message is going to unintended people! DELETE as needed!
Note: You can also FORWARD a message to someone else.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
When I reply to a message, how can I include the original message?
In First Class, this is called "Reply With Quote." To get this option, click: Message--Reply Special--Reply With Quote Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I set my preferences so that "Reply With Quote" is the default?
To my knowledge, there is no way to set the preference so that when
you click "Reply," it will automatically reply with quote. If you know how to do this, please email me!
cfisher@misshalls.org Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I check if a message I sent has been read yet?
Yes. Select the message you sent TO: someone, and select Message--History.
Note: If someone (like me) forwards all their messages, and just deletes them from FirstClass without ever reading them there, then it will look like they never read their messages.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I request notification when a message is read?
Yes. The message is marked as "registered". Message--Receipt--Receipt on Read.
You'll get an email when the message has been read.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I send a message with a VOICEMAIL attached?
Yes, if you have a microphone.
(For example, my laptop has a built-in mike.)
Pull up a new message, click the "Insert Voice" icon, and press RECORD.
You can put written words in the message, too.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I mark a message as URGENT?
Yes. An urgent message appears in bold in the recipient's Mailbox.
Message--Priority--Urgent Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
What if I'm in the middle of writing a message, and I have to leave?
You can close the message and leave it unsent.
It stays in your mailbox with an unsent flag beside it.
Later on, just open it and finish.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
OOPS. I didn't really mean to say that. Can I "unsend" my message?
If the message hasn't been deleted or moved,
then you can UNSEND it.
This will make it disappear from the recipient's mailbox.
(Be aware that the message may already have been read.)
Open your TO: message and click Message--Unsend.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I see who else is currently logged into FirstClass,
and chat with them?
A "chat" is a real-time conversation.
The chatting features for FirstClass are turned off at Miss Hall's School.
However, you can see who is currently online:
Conferencing--Who's Online Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
What is a "Resume" and how can I create one?
FirstClass provides every user with a resume,
which is a special form that contains personal information.
Other users can open this form to find out about you.
Your resume is blank until you update it:
click File--Open--Resume to get started!
To view someone's resume, select their name (say, from the Directory)
and select File--Open--Directory (or, just double-click on the name).
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
What is a "Signature" and how can I create one?
When you create a new message, you can add a "signature"
to the bottom of the message.
Your "signature" can be used to give information about you
(address, telephone, email address) or even cite a favorite quote.
To create a signature: Edit--Preferences--Messaging--Signature
To add a signature to a selected message: Edit--Insert--Insert Signature with the message open.
To have the signature added automatically to all messages:
Click the "Automatically Add Signature to New Messages" checkbox in the
Edit--Preferences--Messaging--Signature form.
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
How does the CALENDAR stuff work?
You can keep track of your appointments,
set an "alarm" to remind you of meetings, and so on.
(If you're not logged in when the reminder comes due,
you get sent an email reminder.)
Click Calendar on the Desktop to get started!
Back to the Frequently Asked Questions!
Can I automatically have my mail forwarded to another email address?
Yes. A copy will remain in your First Class mailbox, and a copy will be forwarded to an address
that you specify. Here's how:
From your mailbox in First Class, select EDIT---PREFERENCES.
Click on the MESSAGE tab.
Under the "Automatically Forward" section, select YES for Local Mail. You may
also choose to select YES for the other options.
Type the email address that you want mail forwarded to in the "FORWARD TO:" box.