Besides being an e-mail program, Outlook Express also functions as a newsreader for Usenet newsgroups. Newsgroups are online discussion boards where you can read and post messages (called articles) about specific topics. There are more than 40,000 different newsgroups, each focused on a specific topic. Earlier in this chapter I showed you how to configure Outlook Express for a specific newsgroup server. Most ISPs host their own newsgroup servers, and provide access for all their subscribers. When you want to access a specific newsgroup, you'll probably be connecting to your ISP's newsgroup server. Selecting and Subscribing to NewsgroupsAfter you're connected to a newsgroup server, you can then access specific newsgroups. You can simply go to a newsgroup manually, or you can "subscribe" to selected groups. When you subscribe to a newsgroup, there is no formal registration process. All this means is that you've added this newsgroup to a list of your favorites. It's easier to jump to one of a small list of subscribed groups than it is to search for one group out of the 40,000 or so total groups offered by Usenet. To find and access a newsgroup, follow these steps:
After you've entered a newsgroup, you can then view articles, respond to articles, and create and post your own articles. Reading Newsgroup ArticlesWithin Outlook Express, articles from the selected newsgroup are displayed in much the same fashion as are e-mail messages. As you can see in Figure 9.11, all the articles from a newsgroup are displayed in the Message pane; the selected message is displayed in the Preview pane. You can read a message in the Preview pane, or double-click on the message header to view the article in its own window. Figure 9.11. Reading newsgroup articles with Outlook Express.TIP If you'd rather read newsgroup articles offline (without tying up your phone line), you can choose to download all the articles from your favorite newsgroups. All you have to do is select a subscribed newsgroup, click the Settings button, and then select either All Messages or New Messages Only. When you click the Synchronize Account button, messages from your selected newsgroups will be downloaded for your offline reading pleasure. Creating and Posting New Newsgroup ArticlesTo create and post new newsgroup articles with Outlook Express, follow these steps:
Take care before you click the Send button. Once an article is posted, it's out there for all the world to see! Viewing, Saving, and Posting Attached FilesLike e-mail messages, newsgroup articles also can include attached files. Outlook Express lets you view the contents of attached files right in the Preview pane. You also can save attached files to your hard disk. NOTE Unlike the way e-mail attachments work, Outlook Express does not automatically display the paperclip icon in a newsgroup article's header. The paperclip icon only appears after you've viewed the article's attachment. Most attachments to newsgroup articles are graphics files. To view a graphics attachment, all you have to do is select the article header in the Message pane. The attached graphic should automatically display in the Preview pane. To save an attachment to your hard disk, click the paperclip button in the Preview pane header, then select Save Attachments. When the Save Attachments dialog box appears, select the file(s) you want to save and click Save. TIP Many newsgroups exist primarily for users to exchange graphics and sound files. These files are stored in binary format, and are typically located in newsgroups that start with alt.binaries. You also can choose to view attached files through their associated programs. Just click the paperclip icon in the Preview pane header and select the file you want to view. The associated application automatically launches and displays the selected file. You also can attach files to newsgroup articles you post. All you have to do is click the Attach button in the New Message window, and then select your file from the Insert Attachment dialog box. |