Starting Evolution for the First Time
1.1.1. Using the First-Run Assistant
The first time you run Evolution, it creates a directory named .evolution in your home directory, where it stores all of its local data. Then, it opens a First-Run Assistant to help you set up e-mail accounts and import data from other applications.
Using the first-run assistant takes two to five minutes.
Later on, if you want to change this account, or if you want to create a new one, click Edit > Preferences, then click Mail Accounts. Select the account you want to change, then click Edit. Alternately, add a new account by clicking Add. See Mail Preferences for details.
The First-Run Assistant helps you provide the information Evolution needs to get started.
- 1.1.1.1. Defining Your Identity
- 1.1.1.2. Receiving Mail
- 1.1.1.3. Receiving Mail Options
- 1.1.1.4. Sending Mail
- 1.1.1.5. Account Management
- 1.1.1.6. Time Zone
- 1.1.1.7. Importing Mail (Optional)
1.1.1.1. Defining Your Identity
The Identity window is the first step in the assistant.
Here, you enter some basic personal information. You can define multiple identities later by clicking Edit > Preferences, then clicking Mail Accounts.
When the First-Run Assistant starts, the Welcome page is displayed. Click Forward to proceed to the Identity window.
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Type your full name in the Full Name field.
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Type your e-mail address in the E-mail Address field.
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(Optional) Select if this account is your default account.
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(Optional) Type a reply to address in the Reply-To field.
Use this field if you want replies to messages sent to a different address.
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(Optional) Type your organisation name in the Organisation field.
This is the company where you work, or the organisation you represent when you send e-mail.
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Click Forward.
1.1.1.2. Receiving Mail
The Receiving E-mail option lets you determine where you get your e-mail.
You need to specify the type of server you want to receive mail with. If you are unsure about the type of server to choose, ask your system administrator or ISP.
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Select a server type in the Server Type list.
The following is a list of server types that are available:
For configuration instructions, see Remote Configuration Options.
Microsoft Exchange:Available only if the evolution-exchange package is installed. Select this option if you connect to a Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003 server.
E-mail, calendar, and contact information are stored on the server.
For configuration instructions, see Remote Configuration Options.
MAPI Exchange:Available only if you have installed the evolution-mapi package and if the Exchange MAPI plugin from the
menu is enabled. It allows you to connect to a Microsoft Exchange 2007 server.E-mail, calendar, and contact information are stored on the server.
For configuration instructions, see Remote Configuration Options.
POP:Downloads your e-mail to your hard disk for permanent storage, freeing up space on the e-mail server.
For configuration instructions, see Remote Configuration Options.
For configuration instructions, see Remote Configuration Options.
Local Delivery:Choose this option if you want to move e-mail from the spool (the location where mail waits for delivery) and store it in your home directory. You need to provide the path to the mail spool you want to use. If you want to leave e-mail in your system's spool files, choose the Standard Unix Mbox Spool option instead.
For configuration instructions, see Local Configuration Options.
MH Format Mail Directories:If you download your e-mail using MH or another MH-style program, you should use this option.
You need to provide the path to the mail directory you want to use.
For configuration instructions, see Local Configuration Options.
Maildir Format Mail Directories:If you download your e-mail using Qmail or another Maildir-style program, you should use this option.
You need to provide the path to the mail directory you want to use.
For configuration instructions, see Local Configuration Options.
Standard Unix mbox Spool File:If you want to read and store e-mail in the mail spool file on your local system, choose this option. You need to provide the path to the mail spool file you want to use.
For configuration instructions, see Local Configuration Options.
Standard Unix mbox Spool Directory:If you want to read and store e-mail in the mail spool directory on your local system, choose this option. You need to provide the path to the mail spool directory you want to use.
For configuration instructions, see Local Configuration Options.
- 1.1.1.2.1. Remote Configuration Options
- 1.1.1.2.2. Local Configuration Options
1.1.1.2.1. Remote Configuration Options
If you selected Novell GroupWise, IMAP, POP, or USENET News as your server, you need to specify additional information.
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Type the server name of your e-mail server in the Server field.
If you are unsure what your server address is, contact your system administrator.
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Type your username in the Username field.
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Select if you want to use a secure connection (SSL or TLS).
You should enable this option if your server supports it.
Free webmail providers usually supply information about which of these options can be used. If you are in an organisational environment, you may want to contact your system administrator for more information.
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Select your authentication type in the Authentication list.
or
Click Check for Supported Types to have Evolution check for supported authentication mechanisms. Some servers do not announce the authentication mechanisms they support, so clicking this button is not a guarantee that available mechanisms actually work.
Free webmail providers usually supply information about which of these options can be used. If you are in an organisational environment, you may want to contact your system administrator for more information.
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Select if you want Evolution to remember your password.
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Click Forward.
(Conditional) If you chose Microsoft Exchange as the server type, provide your username in the Username field and your Outlook Web Access (OWA) URL in the OWA URL field. The URL and the usernames should use the Outlook format. If the mailbox path is different from the username, the OWA path should also include mailbox path, for example http://server name/exchange/mail box path.
When you have finished, continue with Receiving Mail Options.
1.1.1.2.2. Local Configuration Options
If you selected Local Delivery, MH-Format Mail Directories, Maildir-Format Mail Directories, Standard Unix mbox spool file or Standard Unix mbox spool directory, you must specify the path to the local files in the path field. Continue with Receiving Mail Options.
1.1.1.3. Receiving Mail Options
After you have selected a mail delivery mechanism, you can set some preferences for its behaviour.
- Novell GroupWise Receiving Options
- Microsoft Exchange Receiving Options
- IMAP Receiving Options
- POP Receiving Options
- USENET News Receiving Options
- Local Delivery Receiving Options
- MH-Format Mail Directories Receiving Options
- Maildir-Format Mail Directories Receiving Options
- Standard Unix mbox spool file Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.1. Novell GroupWise Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.2. Microsoft Exchange Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.3. Exchange MAPI Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.4. IMAP Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.5. POP Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.6. USENET News Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.7. Local Delivery Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.8. MH-Format Mail Directories Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.9. Maildir-Format Mail Directories Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.10. Standard Unix mbox Spool File Receiving Options
- 1.1.1.3.11. Standard Unix mbox Spool Directory Receiving Options
1.1.1.3.1. Novell GroupWise Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select if you want to check for new messages in all folders.
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Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters.
For additional information on filtering, see Creating New Filter Rules.
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Select if you want to check new messages for junk content.
For additional information on junk content, see Stopping Junk Mail (Spam) and Junk.
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Select if you want to only check for junk messages in the Inbox folder.
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Select Automatically synchronise remote mail locally to download the messages to your local system.
Evolution, by default, downloads only the header information such as From, Subject, and Date. The body of the message and the attachments are downloaded only when you click the message. Thus you can save time and network usage. This is useful when you don't read all the messages you receive.
If you check this option, Evolution fetches the headers as well as the body of the message simultaneously. In this case, the time taken to open a message is comparatively less. In addition, you can download the mail for reading it offline when you have checked this option.
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Type your Post Office Agent SOAP port in the Post Office Agent SOAP Port field.
If you are unsure what your Post Office Agent SOAP port is, contact your system administrator.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.2. Microsoft Exchange Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select if you want to check for new messages in all folders.
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Specify the Global Catalogue server name in the Global Catalogue Server Name field.
The Global Catalogue Server contains the user information for users. If you are unsure what your Global Catalogue server name is, contact your system administrator.
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Select if you want to limit the number of Global Address List (GAL) responses.
The GAL contains a list of all e-mail addresses. If you select this option, you need to specify the maximum number of responses.
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Select if you want to use a password expiry warning time period.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should send the password expire message.
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Select Automatically synchronise remote mail locally to download the messages to your local system.
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Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters.
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Select if you want to check new messages for junk content.
For additional information on junk content, see Stopping Junk Mail (Spam) and Junk.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.3. Exchange MAPI Receiving Options
If you select Microsoft Exchange MAPI as your receiving server type, you need to specify the following options:
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Select the desired options as given in the following table, then click
.Options Description Check for new messages every x minutes Select this option if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail. If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages. Check for new messages in all folders Select if you want to check for new messages in all folders. Global Catalogue server name Specify the Global Catalogue server name in the Global Catalogue Server Name field.
The Global Catalogue Server contains the user information for users. If you are unsure what your Global Catalogue server name is, contact your system administrator.
Limit number of GAL responses Select if you want to limit the number of Global Address List (GAL) responses.
The GAL contains a list of all e-mail addresses. If you select this option, you need to specify the maximum number of responses.
Automatically synchronise account locally Select Automatically synchronise remote mail locally to download the messages to your local system. Apply filters to new messages in Inbox on this server Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters. Check new messages for Junk contents Select if you want to check new messages for junk content.
For additional information on junk content, see Stopping Junk Mail (Spam) and Junk.
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When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.4. IMAP Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select if you want Evolution to use custom commands to connect to the IMAP server.
If you select this option, specify the custom command you want Evolution to use.
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Select if you want Evolution to show only subscribed folders.
Subscribed folders are folders that you have chosen to receive mail from by subscribing to them.
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Select if you want Evolution to override server-supplied folder namespaces.
By choosing this option you can rename the folders that the server provides. If you select this option, you need to specify the namespace to use.
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Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters.
For additional information on filtering, see Creating New Filter Rules.
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Select if you want to check new messages for junk content.
For additional information on junk content, see Stopping Junk Mail (Spam) and Junk.
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Select if you want to check for junk messages in the Inbox folder.
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Select Automatically synchronise remote mail locally to download the messages to your local system.
Evolution, by default, downloads only the header information such as From, Subject, and Date. The body of the message and the attachments are downloaded only when you click the message. Thus you can save time and network usage. This is useful when you don't read all the messages you receive.
If you check this option, Evolution fetches the headers as well as the body of the message simultaneously. In this case, the time taken to open a message is comparatively less. In addition, you can download the mail for reading it offline when you have checked this option.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.5. POP Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select if you want to leave messages on the server.
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Select if you want to disable support for all POP3 extensions.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.6. USENET News Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select if you want to show folders in short notation.
For example, comp.os.linux would appear as c.o.linux.
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Select if you want to show relative folder names in the subscription dialogue box.
If you select to show relative folder names in the subscription page, only the name of the folder is displayed. For example the folder evolution.mail would appear as evolution.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.7. Local Delivery Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.8. MH-Format Mail Directories Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.9. Maildir-Format Mail Directories Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters.
For additional information on filtering, see Creating New Filter Rules.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.10. Standard Unix mbox Spool File Receiving Options
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters.
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Select if you want to store status headers in Elm, Pine, and Mutt formats.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.3.11. Standard Unix mbox Spool Directory Receiving Options
You need to specify the following options for this server type:
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Select if you want Evolution to automatically check for new mail.
If you select this option, you need to specify how often Evolution should check for new messages.
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Select Apply filters to new messages in inbox on this server if you want to apply filters.
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Select if you want to store status headers in Elm, Pine, and Mutt formats.
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Click Forward.
When you have finished, continue with Sending Mail.
1.1.1.4. Sending Mail
Now that you have entered information about how you plan to get mail, Evolution needs to know about how you want to send it.
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Select a server type from the Server Type list.
The following server types are available:
Sendmail:Uses the Sendmail program to send mail from your system. Sendmail is more flexible, but is not as easy to configure, so you should select this option only if you know how to set up a Sendmail service.
SMTP:Sends mail using an outbound mail server. This is the most common choice for sending mail. If you choose SMTP, there are additional configuration options. See SMTP Configuration for more information.
- 1.1.1.4.1. SMTP Configuration
1.1.1.4.1. SMTP Configuration
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Type the server name of your e-mail server in the Server field.
If you are unsure what your server address is, contact your system administrator.
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Select if your server requires authentication.
If you selected that your server requires authentication, you need to provide the following information:
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Select your authentication type in the Authentication list.
or
Click Check for Supported Types to have Evolution check for supported authentication mechanisms. Some servers do not announce the authentication mechanisms they support, so clicking this button is not a guarantee that available mechanisms actually work.
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Type your username in the Username field.
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Select if you want Evolution to remember your password.
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Select if you want to use a secure connection (SSL or TLS).
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Click Forward.
Continue with Account Management.
1.1.1.5. Account Management
Now that you have finished the e-mail configuration process you need to give the account a name. The name can be any name you prefer. Type your account name on the Name field, then click Forward.
Continue with Time Zone.
1.1.1.6. Time Zone
If you want to import e-mail from another e-mail client, continue with Importing Mail (Optional). If not, skip to Using Evolution: An Overview.
1.1.1.7. Importing Mail (Optional)
After selecting your timezone, if Evolution finds e-mail or address files from another application, it offers to import them. For a full description of the import feature, see Importing Single Files.
Microsoft Outlook* and versions of Outlook Express after version 4 use proprietary formats that Evolution cannot read or import.
To import information, you might want to use the Export tool under Windows*. See the instructions in Migrating Local Outlook Mail Folders.
Before importing e-mail from Netscape*, Mozilla and Netscape users need to click File > Compact > All Folders from within the Netscape or Mozilla mail tool. Otherwise, Evolution imports and undeletes the messages in your Trash folders.
Evolution uses standard file types for e-mail and calendar information, so you can copy those files from your ~/.evolution directory. The file formats used are mbox for e-mail and iCal for calendar information.
Contacts files are stored in a database, but can be saved as a standard vCard*. To export an address book, click File > Save Address Book As VCard. If you want to export only one contact, click File > Save Contact as VCard.