MailNews:Account Wizard:Email
Page 2
This page asks for the person's name and email address. These values are pre-filled in if possible (name reused).
/explanatory text/ Your Name: [ Jane Email Doe ] Email Address: [ jane.email@doe.mail ] [[ < Back ]] [[ Next > ]] [[ Cancel ]]
Page 3
This third page can offer a different set of options base on the type of Email Protocol the person chooses.
POP
/Choose:/
[*] POP [ ] IMAP
/explanatory text/
Incoming Server: [ pop.doe.mail ] Port: [110]
Connection type: [Auto (TLS if available) |v]
Standard (Open Connection)
Auto (TLS if available)
Secure (TLS)
Secure (SSL)
----
/explanatory text/
Outgoing Server: [ smtp.doe.mail ] Port: [ 25]
Connection type: [Auto (TLS if available) |v]
Standard (Open Connection)
Auto (TLS if available)
Secure (TLS)
Secure (SSL)
[[ < Back ]] [[ Next > ]] [[ Cancel ]]
IMAP
/Choose:/
[ ] POP [*] IMAP
/explanatory text/
Incoming Server: [ imap.doe.mail ] Port: [143]
Connection type: [Auto (TLS if available) |v]
Standard (Open Connection)
Auto (TLS if available)
Secure (TLS)
Secure (SSL)
----
/explanatory text/
Outgoing Server: [ smtp.doe.mail ] Port: [ 25]
Connection type: [Auto (TLS if available) |v]
Standard (Open Connection)
Auto (TLS if available)
Secure (TLS)
Secure (SSL)
[[ < Back ]] [[ Next > ]] [[ Cancel ]]
Notes
Bug that has a lot of discussion and several patches with attempts at this change.
- bug 221030 — 'Unable to set up IMAP over SSL using the New Account Wizard'
Note the difference in this bug below, I'm recommending to remove the Never option. People don't like to commit to terms of that nature, instead have a checkbox which turns on secure connection and then allows for options of that type. This change also allows us to choose a default we feel is most common, like 'TLS, if available'.
- bug 326076 — 'Use menulist for server secure connection (instead of radiogroup)'
The outgoing server is not always available like this. If there already exists an SMTP entry then the Outgoing server area is blank. It might be worthwhile to look into the related bug.
- bug 170520 — 'Allow SMTP server to be specified when creating new account'
- bug 313245 — 'Mail & News Account Settings -> Server Settings: duplicated accesskeys and more problems'
- bug 350314 — 'STARTTLS is called TLS in user preferences (remaining IMAP/POP3 case)'
- bug 311657 — 'Don't fall back to insecure authentication after SMTP auth failure'
Has some good discussion on this subject, especially at comment 33
Page 4
/explanatory text/ Incoming User Name: [ jane.email ] [ ] Use Secure Authentication [ SASL \/] (not common) ---- /explanatory text/ Outgoing User Name: [ jane.email ] [ ] Use Secure Authentication [ SASL \/] (not common) [[ < Back ]] [[ Next > ]] [[ Cancel ]]
Notes
(not common) — This above option presents a predicament to our users. They want to be secure, yet the options are not understandable. When a person doesn't understand what security they have available they will likely choose the more secure options because it's better to be safe in that method. However, especially for secure authenication, most users cannot send mail with the option checked. Like tax return wizards we need to provide helpful hints for people to dance through the maze of jargon.
Like in Page 3, the outgoing server is not always available like this. If there already exists an SMTP entry then the Outgoing server area is blank. It might be worthwhile to look into the related bug.
- bug 170520 — 'Allow SMTP server to be specified when creating new account'
Page 5
The intention of this page is to get an account name which will be shown in the account tree view. A default email address is given for the name, but people may change it to something friendlier.
/explanatory text/ Account Name: [ jane.email@doe.mail ] [[ < Back ]] [[ Next > ]] [[ Cancel ]]
Notes
I'd like to think about merging this page with the final page. There is only one input here and it doesn't need much explanation. Instead of a total summary at Page 6 we could have the Account Name input plus the summary of the account details. One less page.
Page 6
This is the final review page where your options are shown and a new account will be created after this step.
POP
Account Name: jane.email@doe.mail Email Address: jane.email@doe.mail Incoming User Name: jane.email Incoming Server Name (POP): pop.doe.mail Incoming Server Options: TLS if available, port 110 Outgoing User Name: jane.email Outgoing Server Name (SMTP): smtp.doe.mail Outgoing Server Options: TLS if available, port 25 /explanatory text/ [*] Use Global Inbox (store mail in Local Folders) [*] Download messages now [[ < Back ]] [[ Finish ]] [[ Cancel ]]
Notes
The Global Inbox choice was moved here from it's original place on Page 3. Hopefully the option makes more sense where the person is also asked about downloading mail.
IMAP
Account Name: jane.email@doe.mail Email Address: jane.email@doe.mail Incoming User Name: jane.email Incoming Server Name (IMAP): imap.doe.mail Incoming Server Options: TLS if available, port 143 Outgoing User Name: jane.email Outgoing Server Name (SMTP): smtp.doe.mail Outgoing Server Options: TLS if available, port 25 [[ < Back ]] [[ Finish ]] [[ Cancel ]]