MEP has the ability to send encrypted files via e-mail or to an FTP server. This process can be automated with the use of Profiles. In this tutorial I'll walk you through the process of choosing your e-mail and FTP settings. From there you can save them into a Profile and automate the e-mail and FTP actions through the use of a Desktop shortcut.
To set up MEP for e-mail delivery:
- Click the Mail/FTP button to go to the Mail and FTP settings screen.
- Fill in the SMTP Server field with the name of your ISP's mail server. You can get this information from your ISP. Usually, it is mail.ispname.com.
- Fill in the To field with the e-mail address of the person who will receive the e-mail.
- Fill in the From field with your e-mail address. (This is optional, but recommended.)
- Type a Subject. (Also optional.)
- Enter a short message. (Optional.) The message text is not saved the next time you open MEP. All the other data you enter here is saved.
- Click OK to go back to the main MEP screen.
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To set up MEP for e-mail delivery with an AOL account:
- Click the Mail/FTP button to go to the Mail and FTP settings screen.
- Fill in the SMTP Server field with the name of your ISP's mail server: smtp.aol.com
- Fill in the To field with the e-mail address of the person who will receive the e-mail.
- Fill in the From field with your AOL e-mail address: yourscreenname@aol.com
(This step is not optional. The e-mail operation will fail with error code 505 if you don't enter your e-mail address here.) - Type a Subject. (Optional.)
- Enter a short message. (Optional.) The message text is not saved the next time you open MEP. All the other data you enter here is saved.
- The AOL mail server requires login, so put a check next to "SMTP server requires login."
- Enter your AOL screen name in the "SMTP User Name" field.
- Enter your AOL password in the "SMTP Password" field.
- Click OK to go back to the main MEP screen.
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To set up MEP for FTP delivery:
- Click the Mail/FTP button to go to the Mail and FTP settings screen.
- Enter your User ID or login into the User ID field.
- Type the password you need to access the FTP site in the Password field. (This should be different than your encryption/decryption password.)
- Enter the address of the FTP server you want to connect to in the FTP Server field. (For example: ftp://ftp.geocities.com)
- Enter a directory on the server in the Directory field. (This is optional.)
- Click OK to go back to the main MEP screen.
If you enter a directory and it does not exist on the server you will be prompted to create it. Depending on the permissions set on the FTP server, directory creation may or may not be allowed. Also, some FTP servers don't allow you to upload certain file types, like self-decrypting EXE files. If this is the case with your server there are plenty of others out there that will allow you to upload any file type you want. You might be able to upload an EXE file with the SAFE extension added.
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Tips and tricks:
- Now that the e-mail and FTP settings have been created you can instruct MEP to send the encrypted archive file to the e-mail recipient you specified by putting a check in the Use E-mail box.
- Tell MEP to send the encrypted file to the FTP server by putting a check in the Use FTP box.
- Check both boxes and MEP will deliver your encrypted files by e-mail and FTP.
- All of the above e-mail and FTP settings can be saved, loaded, and automated through the use of a Profile.
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E-mail Troubleshooting and error codes
The first set of codes would indicate errors in MEP's SMTP e-mail implementation. If you get one of these please let me know so I can start working on a fix.
- 500 Syntax error, command unrecognized (This may include errors such as command line too long)
- 501 Syntax error in parameters or arguments
- 502 Command not implemented
- 503 Bad sequence of commands
- 504 Command parameter not implemented
The next set of codes indicate temporary errors on the server. If you try to send the e-mail again (with the same settings) in a few minutes or an hour or so it should go through.
- 421 <domain> Service not available, closing transmission channel
(This may be a reply to any command if the service knows it must shut down)
- 450 Requested mail action not taken: mailbox unavailable (e.g., mailbox busy)
- 451 Requested action aborted: local error in processing
- 452 Requested action not taken: insufficient system storage
The last set of codes indicate fatal errors. These can be caused by a server error on the part of your ISP's mail server or an incorrect Server name, To, From, or bad Login/Password. If you get one of these codes double-check your e-mail settings and try again.
- 505 Nonstandard code, sometimes encountered when FROM field isn't correct.
- 550 Requested action not taken: mailbox unavailable (e.g., mailbox not found, no access, or command rejected for policy reasons)
- 551 User not local; please try <forward-path>
- 552 Requested mail action aborted: exceeded storage allocation
- 553 Requested action not taken: mailbox name not allowed (e.g., mailbox syntax incorrect)
- 554 Transaction failed (Or, in the case of a connection-opening response, "No SMTP service here")
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