OE6 Tutorial

You will find the stationery folder on your computer at this location...

C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery

This is where OE (Outlook Express) will automatically default to, when looking for stationery. If you want to set up a stationery folder elsewhere on your hard drive, it's certainly doable, but you'll have to redirect OE to your alternate stationery folder with each fresh restart of the program.
I personally use the stationery folder provided, but I keep only the html files in the main folder. Each and every html file has its own subfolder inside the stationery folder which contains all of its attached files. When I'm writing a stat, I make it a practice to have the new subfolder set up with all the files I intend using already in it, so all I need to do is enter the correct path into the script to access those files. This keeps my main stationery folder uncluttered. I've been writing my own scripts since October 2001, and as you can imagine, I have a lot of stats in my stationery folder.
If you're using one of my *clean scripts, be aware of this practice. You'll either have to follow the same practice and create a subfolder there with the same name, or delete the subfolder name in each file path in the script. Whichever is easier for you is what works. You could even keep the subfolders for each stat in another area of your hard drive, and just keep the html file in your stationery folder. You'll just have to be sure to change the file path in the stat so that it knows where to look to access the files it's calling.
By the way... I have no use for any of the stationery files which Microsoft has provided and stored there, so when I have a fresh install of windows, I delete them all as a matter of course before moving my own in.
You can, of course, choose to keep them... it is, after all, your stationery folder :o)

* A clean script is one which hasn't been previously used by OE. It is exactly as I, or the author, has written it. Therefore the path to the files is unchanged. When scripts go thru OE, the source code is changed to suit the program's needs. Your file path will be replaced with something that looks like this... src="cid:007a01c2dc13$045fc5f0$c6118aca@nightohro7wmet"
As this is a whole different subject, I'll leave the explanations at this point, but if anyone wants more information regarding clean and snagged scripts and cleaning snagged scripts, please email me for details and I'll do my best to explain it to you.

Setting Up Outlook Express:

To successfully use and view stationery through OE, there are a couple of steps you must take.
Open OE, select 'Create Mail' or 'New Mail' (depending on whatever version of OE you have). This is located at the top left hand corner of the program. When the new message opens, go to view, and check 'source edit'. This will create 3 tabs at the bottom of the message (Edit, Source and Preview). This new view will remain until you uncheck 'source edit', which I don't recommend as you'll be using the Source and Preview tabs a lot. Close the message as you won't be needing it any longer.

Snagging Email Attachments:
It is ok to snag certain types of attachments from stationery emails without first asking permission from the person who sent it. These 'safe' files are midis and eots. It is not ok however to snag anything else attached to an email without asking the sender first. (Please read the section on acceptable nettiquette with stationery and stationery attachments).

If you'd like to set your OE up so that you can snag email attachments, go to 'Tools', then 'Options', then 'Send'. Under 'Sending' uncheck 'Reply to messages using the format in which they were sent'. Then under 'Mail Sending Format', select 'Plain Text', then 'apply'.
To save attachments, have the desired email open, choose 'Forward' and all the emails attachments will appear in the head of the email. Simply go to 'File' then 'Save Attachments' and save them where you wish them to be saved. Just close the email once you're finished with it. Nice and easy.
Choosing this sending format will also stop an entire stationery being sent back thru the mail when you select 'reply'. You will have an email in plain text only. Much lighter, and the person who originally sent the email won't need to see it again.

If you're using OE 6, you'll also need to go to Tools, then Options...Under the Security Tab, you'll find the subject of Virus Protection.
For anti-spamming purposes, OE6 automatically defaults to 'Restricted sites Zone (More Secure)' option. This will stop you from being able to view any stationery attachments, apart from the background and sound. To get full viewing pleasure from the stationery, change this option to the 'Internet Zone (Less Secure, but more Functional)'. There is no other way that I've found, around this feature.

Antivirus Information:

Make sure that you have a good anti-virus program installed and keep it updated! This is an absolute must for anyone using the internet!
A good site to go to is Grisoft. They have an excellent free program you can use, which can be set up to automatically update for new virus definitions as often as you wish.

Using the Stationery:

There are a couple of ways to use this stationery in OE. I will explain both methods in detail, so you can choose which option you'd like to take.

Method 1.. Bringing a blank stationery html file into OE.

The advantage to using this method is, you can keep using the same html file, and it will not affect it. You play with it's script in OE, but it will be exactly as you initially saved it when you go to use it again.
One disadvantage is, you can't just pluck it out of the stationery folder and you sent it as is. You have to 'dress' it up first. Another is, if OE crashes while you're in the middle of 'dressing' it, then it's gone. You have to start again.

...Save the html file to your stationery folder.
...Open OE, go to the little down arrow sitting on the right of 'Create Mail' or 'New Mail' (depending on whatever version of OE you have). This is located at the top left hand corner.
....Choose 'Select Stationery'
...Look for the name of the html file you previously saved into the folder. Select it, and press OK.
...With the new message open, go to the 'source' tab. The scripting of the html will be then shown. This is where you add your images from where ever you've got them saved, change border and background colours etc. This is entirely up to you.
How you can change these codes is shown below. (Thank you Lyle for your input here).
Please do so carefully, as an accidental erasure or addition to the script can and will change it.

Method 2.. Changing the html and saving it into the stationery folder.

The advantage to this is, it can be used over and over with the same images. The disadvantage is, you need to resave the file each time you create new stationery with it.

...Go to the stationery folder and save the html file there.
...Open the file.
...Go to 'View' and then 'Source'
A notepad will appear with the source of the script on it. Make the notepad the active open document....Go to 'File' then 'save as' and save it with the filename you'd like for the particular stat you're building.
...Go back to the original html and close it. It is no longer in use, and can be left to use for another stat. Look in the Stationery folder for the html with the new file name and open. It will still look exactly the same as the one you've just saved it from, but that will change as you start to add different images and border colours etc.
...Once again with the notepad the active document, change the colours, images etc using the advice below.
...When you have built the stat to your satisfaction, save it and close the file.
...Open OE, go to the little down arrow sitting on the right of 'Create Mail' or 'New Mail' (depending on whatever version of OE you have). This is located at the top left hand corner.
...Go to source... look for text goes here... write your message... and send.

PLEASE READ!
It is considered bad nettiquette to change or remove the signature between the lines in the <script> section of the stat. I have used black text so you can see the area I mean.
Please, do not touch anything there... not the email address, not the script title - if it's been given one, not the site addy - if given... nothing! Script writers put tremendous amounts of time into writing these for your online pleasure. Please honour this request!

Another area which is often abused is snagging whole stationeries (images, backgrounds and sound files) and resending them without first asking the person who put the stat together originally. I know I make all my backgrounds and frames etc, and it upsets me when they're taken without permission. Please have the decency to ask first. More than likely, the person who created the stat will be quite happy to share.

Alteration Instructions

The areas marked in Blue are what you can safely change to customize your stationery. This includes the size and location of your graphics and text box size, as well as your email address and signature where indicated.
Border styles (Marked in Orange the script below) and widths (Marked Green in the script) can also be changed... you have the choice of:

Below this line is the Source

'==============================================
'This script was written by Susan aka Night Owl
'It is titled PSPMadeEZ
'26th January, 2003
'if you have any queries please email me :o)
'spratty@creativelydesigned.com
'Please do not remove these lines, thank you
'==============================================

Sub Window_onload()
tabbkg1.style.backgroundImage="URL("+bkg1.src+")"
tabbkg2.style.backgroundImage="URL("+bkg2.src+")"
End Sub
</SCRIPT>
</BODY></HTML>