Pull down the Tools menu and select Account Settings

1. Click the Add Account button, select Email account, and click the Next button
2. Identity configuration page
   • Enter your real name
   • Enter your email address
     • Helix users enter their usernames "at helix," e.g. rick@helix.nih.gov
   • Click the Next button
3. Server Information page
   • Select the IMAP button
   • Enter the hostname of your Incoming Server
     • Helix users enter helix.nih.gov
   • Click the Next button
4. User Names configuration page
   • Enter your login (username) on the mail server, e.g. rick
   • Click the Next button
5. Account Name configuration page
   • Another good choice besides those suggested is the hostname: helix.nih.gov or simply Helix
   • Click the Next button
6. Congratulations page
   • Will will want to change the Outgoing Server Name later, as the value helix.nih.gov only works some of the time
   • Click Finish

Additional Account Settings

1. First click on the Outgoing Server (SMTP) category listed at the bottom, below your new account
   • Change the Server Name
     • Enter mailfwd.nih.gov instead of helix.nih.gov
     • Exception: If connecting through a non-NIH Internet services provider (ISP), use your ISP's outbound server instead
   • Uncheck the Use name and password option
   • Exception: When connecting through a non-NIH ISP, use any additional Outgoing Server configurations recommended by that ISP
2. Select the Server Settings category under your new account
   • Check the box labeled Use secure connection (SSL)
     The port number automatically changes to 993
   • Check either the "Clean up ("Expunge") Inbox on Exit option, the Empty Trash on Exit option, or both
   • As mail clients can become confused if you check for new mail too frequently, it is recommend you set the mail check interval for 10 minutes or more
   • Press the Advanced button, and select the IMAP tab
     • In the IMAP server directory box enter the lower case string mail
     • For efficiency uncheck Server supports folders that contain sub-folders and messages
     • Likewise, uncheck Show only subscribed folders
     • Click the OK button
3. Select the Composition & Addressing category
   • It is recommended that you not compose messages in HTML by default
   • Select Addressing / Use a different LDAP server
   • Click the Edit Directories button
     • Click Add
     • Enter NIH LDAP directory service as the Name
     • Enter directory.nih.gov as the Hostname
     • Enter o=nih,c=us as the Base DN
     • Click OK
   • Click OK
4. Click a third OK to preserve the account settings

Almost Ready

You are now in your mail reader, with the various accounts and folders listed in a column at the left

Before clicking on the Email / Read messages action, the following additional configuration steps are recommended, for maximum consistency with other mail software such as Pine on helix:

1. If a sent-mail folder is not listed among those in your new account, right-click on the account name and pull down New Folder; then enter sent-mail (lower case) as its name and click OK
2. Likewise, if a postponed-msgs folder is not listed under your new account, right-click on the account name and pull down New Folder; then enter postponed-msgs (lower case) as its name and click OK
3. Click the Accounts / View settings for this account action (alternatively, pull down the Tools menu at the top again, and again select Account Settings)
   • Select the Copies & Folders category
   • Override two of the default folder names:
     • Under Place a copy in:
       • Select the Other button
       • Click on the right to pull down menu options
       • Select your account
       • From the pop-up list of folders, select sent-mail
     • Under Keep message drafts in:
       • Select the Other button
       • Click on the right to pull down menu options
       • Select your account
       • From the pop-up list of folders, select postponed-msgs
     • Click the OK button

To read the mail

Now we're ready to go! Just click on the Email / Read messages category and enter your password when prompted