2. Press RETURN twice to allow for some room.
Now we will create a simple link so that anyone clicking on it will automatically get a pre-addressed mail message opened, ready for them to send you email.
The only problem with this module is that it is difficult to be sure that the user's browser is set up to automatically open a mail message. Within a school, computers may be set up correctly to open in QuickMail, Outlook, Eudora, or Netscape Messenger but in labs, the computers are not likely to be set up for email. However, we will create the link so you can see how it would (and will) work when your page is on the “real” Internet to users on the "outside."
3. Type the following:
Click here to mail me your ideas
4. Now highlight the word here
Now we will enter a special type of link. This is not really a URL, but it is a command or special protocol that tells the computer to open a Mail window and start a new message with the address already filled in. The mail window it opens depends on your “default” mail program, which could be QuickMail, Netscape Messenger, Outlook, or Eudora. In fact, school users likely do not have a default mail program set, so this may give you an error. But try it anyhow.
5. Click the Link To: button. In the URL box, type the
line below and click OK (changing to your address, if you
like - see note below):
(However, if you are creating this web page for posting on DSISD's web site, remember that current policy does not allow student names to be placed on district web sites.)mailto:joe.tiger@dripping-springs.txed.net
6. SAVE again and Preview your page in Netscape. Try the MailTo: link. If you have no default mail program set, Netscape will ask you to set some Preferences for Netscape's mail program. If you'd like, directions here will tell you how to set test preferences.
7. Close the message window without sending the message.
Note: It is also possible to fill in the subject line for the user. However, we will not include that information here at this time.