From FastMailWiki

Contents 1 Frequently Asked Questions 1.1 Domain Split 1.1.1 When did this split occur (what is phase 1)? 1.1.2 Why is this being done? 1.1.3 When will phase 2 happen? 1.1.4 How does this affect me? (logging in, fastcheck and clients). 1.2 Sending Mail 1.2.1 Why can't Guests send e-mail with SMTP using an e-mail client? 1.2.2 Why can't I send e-mail with my e-mail program, even when I'm a Member or higher? 1.2.3 Why can't I send mail using my client? 1.2.4 Can I compose HTML messages? 1.3 Retrieving Mail 1.3.1 Why do all folders appear as subfolders of my inbox? 1.3.2 Why won't this bloody thing work? (aka: Using client, can't retrieve) 1.4 Filters 1.4.1 How do I stop FM from placing a copy in my mailbox when using a forward-rule? 1.5 Other Topics 1.5.1 How can I get a folder to display the "To" column instead of the "From" column (custom Sent folder)? 1.5.2 How many (paying) users does FastMail have? 1.5.3 How do I train the Bayesian filter? 1.5.4 Why don't links open in a new window? 1.5.5 How can I remove attachments while retaining the message? 1.5.6 Why do messages I delete merely appear crossed out, and not get deleted?

Frequently Asked Questions

This page serves as a supplemental to the FAQ, to answer questions often asked on the Forum.

Domain Split

When did this split occur (what is phase 1)?

The first phase of the domain split occured between September 2003 and December 2003. This was mostly a transition period, in which people were instructed to stop using other domains than those that they had a right to using, and urging them to choose a home domain. At the end of that period mail sent to any Fastmail domain but your Home Domain started being rejected.

Why is this being done?

Simple: To increase the amount of usernames available at Fastmail approximately by a factor 90. Instead of username@anyfastmaildomain it will be possible for different people to use the same username at different domains.

When will phase 2 happen?

I don't know. If anyone has any info on this, edit this!

How does this affect me? (logging in, fastcheck and clients).

When logging in to Fastmail you should now use your home domain for logging in (ie: if your home domain is 'sent.com' you should go to http://sent.com and log in there). This requires only your username. If you're unable/unwilling to do so, you can log in through other domains as well, but then you'll need to log in using your entire emailaddress. Joeschmoe@sent.com can log in at either sent.com using 'joeschmoe', or any other domain using 'joeschmoe@sent.com'.

When using FastCheck, please use your entire emailaddress (username@homedomain) to log in.

In preparation of this the mailservers have been changed names as well. Please check if you're using 'mail.messagingengine.com'. If you're still using 'www.fastmail.fm' in your mailclient: change it, as it may stop working any day.

Sending Mail

Why can't Guests send e-mail with SMTP using an e-mail client?

FastMail does not offer SMTP service to its guest users. This is the service you need for sending e-mail with an e-mail client. You'll need to use your ISP's SMTP server, upgrade to Member level, or send e-mail using the Web interface.

Why can't I send e-mail with my e-mail program, even when I'm a Member or higher?

FastMail uses SMTP Authentication. This uses your username and password to log in when you send mail, preventing unauthorized users (like spammers) from sending mail through FastMail.

Why can't I send mail using my client?

Please check the above two questions first. If you're a Member or higher, and you've got SMTP Authentication set up properly, it might be that your ISP is blocking your "Outgoing Mail" (SMTP) port. You should change to port 587, which is preferred and most likely to work (read the standards document to see why), but we also support the default port 25, port 21 and port 26, among others other options if the other ports are blocked. If you are using a secure (SSL) SMTP connection, use port 465 in Outlook. The default port is 25, which many ISPs block, filter, proxy or redirect.

Can I compose HTML messages?

Yes, you can. Just choose HTML in the edit mode dropdown; it's next to the QuickList. Note that you need to be using Internet Explorer or FireFox to use this feature, Opera consciously does not support this due to security concerns.

See also HTML Composition.

Retrieving Mail

Why do all folders appear as subfolders of my inbox?

This happens because the Root Path is not set to "Inbox." in the configuration of your client. For most clients you can find this setting under the IMAP properties of the account. While you're there, make sure that the folder separator is set to '.' (that is, a period).

In Mozilla and Thunderbird, this setting is called the "IMAP Server Directory". See http://www.emailaddresses.com/forum/showthread.php?postid=246594#post246594

Note that as of version 4.2, PegasusMailClient requires that the Root Path is not set to "Inbox." in order to work properly, and thus there's no way with this client to prevent all folders (in FM or in any other service which uses the CyrusImapServer) appearing as subfolders of Inbox; David Harris (author of PegasusMailClient) has been alerted to this, and has pointed out that it's a quirk of the way CyrusImapServer works, not a bug (as PegasusMailClient is showing the folder structure as it really is on CyrusImapServer)...

Why won't this bloody thing work? (aka: Using client, can't retrieve)

1. Make sure you put your Full email address (with the @ part) for the "Account Name".
2. Make sure you have mail.messagingengine.com for both the "Incoming Mail" (IMAP) and the "Outgoing mail" (SMTP)servers. (Link)
3. Make sure your firewall isn't blocking outgoing connections by your email application to the Fastmail servers.
4. If you still can't receive mail, login to FM and Click on Options-Account Status. Make sure the Account Name you're using is the same as it shows for your User Name.

If after this you still can't get it to work, drop a post on the FastMailForum.

Filters

For any Sieve-related questions, please see the SieveFAQ.

How do I stop FM from placing a copy in my mailbox when using a forward-rule?

See: SieveFAQ Entry

Other Topics

How can I get a folder to display the "To" column instead of the "From" column (custom Sent folder)?

You can't yet. Sorry. This has been requested many times already, and it's on the wishlist, but it's not there yet. Keep on hoping, and perhaps one day it'll be possible.

How many (paying) users does FastMail have?

This information is considered to be 'classified business information' and will not be distributed. In a certain press article it was mentioned that FM had 300,000 users at the time. The breakdown for pay/free was not mentioned. FM plans to reach 1 million signups in 2004.

How do I train the Bayesian filter?

You don't. Fastmail trains its Bayes database through an auto-feedback loop, based on the SpamAssassin score.

Why don't links open in a new window?

Very simple. Because FastMail puts you in control. They want to offer you a choice. When clicking on a link on another mail provider it opens in a new window. Have you ever tried making it not do that (i.e. continue surfing in the same window)? You'll find it's impossible. There is no way to tell a link not to open in a new browser window if it's configured to do so. A normal link, however, does give you the choice to open in a new window. In Internet Explorer you have to press and hold Shift wile clicking the link, or use the right-click menu. In Opera and Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox you can additionally click the middle mouse button on a link, or use the right-click menu.

How can I remove attachments while retaining the message?

Currently the Web interface does not allow this. You can use a tool called 'ImapSize' which can do this for you. Also see this forum post.

Why do messages I delete merely appear crossed out, and not get deleted?

Discussion If you are using IMAP to access your e-mail with an e-mail client, deleting messages will simply mark them as deleted. To actually delete the message, you must "purge" the messages that have been marked as deleted. In Outlook Express, you'll find it in the Edit menu. Some other clients, like Thunderbird, may move messages to a "Deleted Items" folder when you "delete" the message, instead of just marking the message as deleted.

More questions and answers on this thread.