WINDOWS VISTA USERS - PLEASE NOTE:
Until someone finds a solution, embedded fonts that we used in stationery designed to be utilized with Windows 98 through Windows XP do not show up for you. You will see the font you have set as default in Outlook Express. A lot of my stationery uses embedded fonts. I believe you should be able to follow my tutorial for Choosing Your Own Font to overcome this problem. (See the section below on Fonts). I do not have Vista so can only suggest that you try it.
Want to preview my stationery before downloading it?
You'll need an up-to-date version of Winzip.
a. Just left click on the thumbnail image,
b. Choose Open and it opens in Winzip,
c. Click on the file name and choose Open again and it opens in Outlook Express
d. Now click on the Preview Tab to see how it looks. Some may change a bit when received.
Where's the Embedded Font?
If you are using Windows Media Player Version 9 or 10 you will not be able to use embedded fonts until you fix it using the WMP9 Registry Toolkit, also from Letterman's website. It is free, a small file, and very easy to use. Be sure to restart your computer after using the 'toolkit'.
Not sure which stationery in your collection you want to use?
There is a nice 'fix' at Carney's Creations for being able to view a thumbnail image of .eml files in Windows Explorer, just like you can see images. This really helps being able to choose from your collection of email stationery files which one you want to use without having to open them. (Some styles only show the background here and must be opened to see how they look). It's the thirteenth item down in the left hand column.
You can please some of the people....you know how that one goes
Stationery is fun and the gurus continue to create marvelous new things for us, but they just aren't going to work for everyone. Some systems or components are going to be incompatible with the latest developments. Some will lack adequate resources or speed. I try to maintain a mix of older and new designs to meet all needs. But, I know I can't please everyone all of the time. <g>
You probably know by now that folks not using versions 5.0 or higher of OE/IE will receive your message with the graphics and MIDI files used being attachments. If they ask why, tell them to get Internet Explorer with Outlook Express from Microsoft. It's free!
Beware of the Preview Pane!
Most of my stationery looks best at a monitor resolution of 1024x768 and viewed full screen. For this reason I have removed the Preview Pane in OE. That is also recommended as a way to dodge some of the email viruses that float around. When you use the Preview Pane the "next message" automatically opens when you delete the one you're reading. Some of the newer viruses can infect your machine just by your opening the email. Just choose View/Layout and uncheck the box to try it. You can always go back by placing a check in the box again.
Fonts
If for some reason you do not have the font I called for in the stationery installed, your default font will appear. This could cause the text to be entirely too large or small due to the size specified for the font. You always have the option of changing the font and size to those you prefer in OE before typing your message. See my "Choose Your Own Font" tutorial for more details. In some cases, I use embedded fonts. Information is above for any problems with them.
Remember, you must have a font installed to be able to see it when it is specified. That is also true for the person to whom you are sending the email. It is also important to note that there is a limit to the number of installed fonts that Windows will tolerate. You might want to consider using a font management program. I like a free program called TheFontThing which is available
HERE.
Another note about fonts: When an embedded font is used the text may look huge as you type your message. And you won't see the proper font at that time. You will be seeing the font you have chosen as your default font. Just use the Preview tab to see what size it will be when sent, as well as how the font looks.
The
Stationery Doesn't Look Right!
Many
stationery pieces do not look the same when you open them to use them as they will when
they are received. This does not mean that they aren't working correctly. There are two
ways to test the stationery to see how it looks when sent. The first way is to open
it....address it and send it to your own e-mail address and see how it looks when you get
it back. This way is the least practical way to do it, but does indeed work for testing.
The other way only takes a moment and only has to be done once and it will stay.
1. Open a new message with a stationery.
2. While it's open and before you do anything to the message, look at your tool
bar near the top of your screen and you'll see "View". It will be between
"Edit" and "Insert".
3. Once you've located 'View', click on it. Below that you'll see 'Source Edit'. If there's a checkmark beside it you're already set up.
4. If not, click beside it and you'll see that it now has a checkmark beside it. Now you'll
notice that when you open a new message with stationery there will be three tabs at the
bottom left of the e-mail window.
a. The first tab is 'Edit'. This is the tab you'll use to
type and compose your message.
b. The middle tab is 'Source'. This is the tab that is used to
view and alter the html scripts if you are familiar with that type editing. If you aren't
you won't ever use this tab.
c. The last tab is 'Preview'. Clicking this tab will let you see
what your stationery will look like when the other person receives it.
5.Once you've previewed and are satisfied it looks like it should, click back on 'Edit' and send your message.
6. You can not alter the message or send the message while 'Preview' is checked.
It's only for viewing the output of the finished product. So you must do all your typing
in the Edit tab and the message must be sent from the Edit tab. You can go back and forth
between Edit and Preview as many times as you wish.
Free but
Fair
Although I
offer it without charge for your use, I take pride in my work and identify myself in the
"tickers" that run at the bottom of my stationery or with other links. I have also promised the artists and musicians who have so kindly agreed to allow me to use their creations to give them credit there as well. For these reasons, I ask that you leave these identities in the ticker so that those you share it with will know who contributed to its creation. It goes without saying that if anyone is to benefit from my work financially it should be me. So, even if you should think they are valuable, please do not offer them for sale.
If All Else Fails
Please contact me via EMAIL for further assistance.
MIDI on this page
"Whisper" composed and © Geoff Anderson and used with permission.
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My stationery is for use with Outlook Express 6.x and Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is compatible with a monitor screen resolution of 1024x768. I am currently updating the stationery to also be compatible with a screen resolution of 1152x864.