                             Java Mail System Version 1.0
                             ------------------------------

Thank you for downloading the Java Mail System.  This application was written by Chandini Paterson, for demo purposes to show you how to use the JavaMail API. You can use my application as is in your own applications as long as you con't modify it in any way. The zip file contains both the source code as well as the class files for the program.  

Pre-requisites:- 
 - Before you try and run it though, you will need to get the JavaMail API from Sun.  You can find it at http://java.sun.com/products/javamail.  Please download both the JavaMail API and the JavaBeans Activation Framework.  The activation framework can be obtained from http://java.sun.com/beans/glasgow/jaf.html.


Installation:- 
Unzip the MailSystem.zip archive file and save all the files into your own directory.  Include this directory in your CLASSPATH variable.

Run the application, by typing the following
    java MailSystem 
You should see a window that pops up, with the label 'No Items in this folder' on the right hand panel. 

Click on Tools/Options, and then enter your mail server settings into the various fields.  Once you've done that, exit the application and restart it as above.  If you've got any new mails, it should display a dialog box telling you how many new mails you've got.  

Note:- Please remember, that the application currently does not refresh its' window, which means that if you need to see your mails as they come in, the only way is to exit and re-start the application.  THis will be modified in Version 2.0 of the application.


The source code includes the following Java .class files: - 
    MailSystem.java - This is the entry point to the Java Mail Program.

    FolderData.java - This class is used to display all messages in the INBOX folder, in a table format.
                      Currently this is the only folder being used

    MailFileFilter.java - This class is a subclass of the FileFilter class and defines the type(s) of
                      the file you can save your message into.  Currently, it only supports .txt files

    MailRead.java - This class is used to read mail messages.  It constructs the UserInterface and
                      populates various fields with the respective values from the Mail message.

    MailSend.java - This class takes care of sending a mail.  This could be a new mail, a reply to a 
                      mail or a forwarded mail.

    ManipulateProperties.java - This method is used to manipulate the properties of the Mail System.  It 
                      allows you to set the user, password mailid, host etc. These properties are then 
                       used when retrieving mail.  It uses two files that are needed.  The 
                      defaults.config and the appProperties.config files. 

    MessageBody.java - This is a general purpose file and should have been called MessageUtilites:-) 
                      However, the current name stuck. It includes methods to get the message body, to 
                       save a message on the file system etc.

    MyTableModel.java - This class is used to create a Table Model that will be used by the FolderData 
                      class to create the table showing new messages for current settings

    PropertiesGUI.java - This creates the user interface that allow you to set or change current mail 
                       settings

    PrintUtilities.java - This is used for printing purposes. 

    FileUtils.java -  A simple file utility that currently has a single method to return the extension
                       of a file.

    TableMap.java and TableSorter.java - These are two java class files written by Philip Milne and 
                         downloaded from the Java Tutorial.  
    

What it doesn't do :- The Mail Program, as it stands now, does not have the following features:-
   - Doesn't allow you to store your mails into any other folders or delete mails.  Also, the only folder that it works  
     with is the INBOX folder.  
   - Also, it doesn't work with attachments or any MIME type other that text/plain.  Hopefully this will be changed with 
     a later version.
   - The only way you can save your files right now is as a .txt file.  When I get a chance to work on it more, I will be 
     adding more options to the way you can store a file.
   - Most importantly, the application doesn't currently refresh itself with new mails as they come in.  If you need to 
     see new mails you will have to exit and restart the application.  This will be modified in version 2.0 of the 
     application

This application has been tested on Windows 95/98 machines.  If you have any problems with the code, please let me know at chandini.paterson@ntlworld.com.

Thanks and hope you find this demo application useful.






    
