<!-- <!DOCTYPE preface PUBLIC "-//GNOME//DTD DocBook PNG Variant V1.1//EN"> --> <preface id="introduction"> <!-- =============Introduction ============================= --> <title>Introduction</title> <sect1 id="what"> <title>What is Evolution, and What Can It Do for Me?</title> <para> Information is useless unless it's organized and accessible; it's hardly even worth the name if you can't look at it and be <emphasis>informed</emphasis>. <application>Evolution</application>'s goal is to make the tasks of storing, organizing, and retrieving your personal information easier, so you can work and communicate with others. That is, it's a highly evolved <glossterm linkend="groupware">groupware</glossterm> program, an integral part of the Internet-connected desktop. On the inside, it's a powerful database; on the outside, it's a tool to help you get your work done. </para> <para> Because it's part of the GNOME project, <application>Evolution</application> is Free Software. The program and its source code are released under the terms of the GNU <ulink type="help" url="gnome-help:gpl"><citetitle>General Public License (GPL)</citetitle></ulink>, and the documentation falls under the <ulink type="help" url="gnome-help:fdl"><citetitle>Free Documentation License</citetitle></ulink> (FDL). For more information about the GPL and the FDL, visit the Free Software Foundation's website at <ulink url="http://www.fsf.org">http://www.fsf.org</ulink>. </para> <para> <note> <title>This is a preview release</title> <para> <application>Evolution</application> is not complete, and still has a lot of flaws. Please help improve it by letting us know about them. You should do this on the Ximian GNOME bug report page at <ulink url="http://bugzilla.ximian.com">bugzilla.ximian.com</ulink>. There are detailed bug reporting instructions in <xref linkend="evolution-faq">. </para> </note> </para> <para> <application>Evolution</application> can help you work in a group by handling email, address and other contact information, and one or more calendars. It can do that on one or several computers, connected directly or over a network, for one person or for large groups. </para> <para> The <application>Evolution</application> project has four central goals: <itemizedlist> <listitem> <para> The application must be <emphasis>both powerful and easy to use</emphasis>. In other words, it needs a familiar and intuitive interface that users can customize to their liking, and users should have access to shortcuts for complex tasks. </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> <application>Evolution</application> must meet and exceed the standards set by other groupware products. It must include support for major network <glossterm linkend="protocol">protocols</glossterm> so that it can integrate seamlessly with existing hardware and network environments. </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> The project must support open standards and be open to expansion, so that it can become a development platform as well as an application. From the simplest scripting to the most complex network and component programming, <application>Evolution</application> must offer developers an environment for cutting-edge application development. </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> Data must be safe: <application>Evolution</application> must not lose mail, corrupt mailbox files or other data, execute arbitrary <glossterm linkend="script">scripts</glossterm>, or delete files from your hard disk. </para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> </para> <para> <application>Evolution</application> is designed to make most daily tasks faster. For example, it takes only one or two clicks to enter an appointment or an address card sent to you by email, or to send email to a contact or appointment. <application>Evolution</application> makes displays faster and more efficient, so searches are faster and memory usage is lower. People who get lots of mail will appreciate advanced features like <link linkend="usage-mail-organize-vFolders"> Virtual Folders</link>, which let you save searches as though they were ordinary mail folders. </para> </sect1> <sect1 id="aboutbook"> <title>About This Book</title> <!-- ************** FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH FOR DRAFT ONLY ************* --> <para> This version of the <application>Evolution</application> User's Guide is a <emphasis>draft</emphasis>. Please send comments on the guide to <email>aaron@ximian.com</email>. The first person to send me some good constructive criticism wins a free Ximian t-shirt. Include preferred shirt size and postal address. If you would like to work on the guide please contact me or see the GNOME Documentation project <ulink url="http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gdp">web site</ulink>. </para> <!-- ************* END DRAFT ONLY PARAGRAPH ************** --> <para> This book is divided into two parts, with several appendices. The first part is a <link linkend="usage">guided tour</link>— it will explain how to use <application>Evolution</application>. If you are new to <application>Evolution</application> or to groupware in general, this section is for you. The second section, covering <link linkend="config">configuration</link>, is targeted at more advanced users, but anyone who wants to change the way <application>Evolution</application> looks or acts can benefit from reading it. In addition, there is a comprehensive <link linkend="menuref">menu reference</link> which describes nearly every capability that <application>Evolution</application> has to offer. </para> <formalpara> <title>Typographical conventions</title> <para> Some kinds of words are marked off with special typography: <simplelist> <member><application>Applications</application></member> <member><command>Commands</command> typed at the command line</member> <member><guilabel>Labels</guilabel> for interface items</member> <member> Menu selections look like this: <menuchoice> <guimenu>Menu</guimenu> <guisubmenu>Submenu</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Menu Item</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> </member> <member><guibutton>Buttons</guibutton> you can click</member> <member><userinput>Anything you type in</userinput></member> <member><computeroutput>Text output from a computer</computeroutput></member> <member><glossterm linkend="apx-gloss">Words</glossterm> that are defined in the <xref linkend="apx-gloss">.</member> </simplelist> </para> </formalpara> </sect1> <sect1 id="ui-intro"> <title>Evolution Interface Introduction</title> <para> <application>Evolution</application> follows a consistent UI. This means that in each component, you will find many UI characteristics the same as others components. </para> <figure id="preface-basic-interface"> <title>Evolution's Interface</title> <screenshot> <screeninfo>Inbox</screeninfo> <graphic fileref="fig/mainwindow-pic.png" srccredit="Kevin Breit"> </graphic> </screenshot> </figure> <para> <inlinegraphic fileref="fig/full-1.png"></inlinegraphic> <guilabel>Menubar</guilabel> </para> <para> The <guilabel>Menubar</guilabel> gives you access to nearly all the features that can be found in <application>Evolution</application>. </para> <para> <inlinegraphic fileref="fig/full-2.png"></inlinegraphic> <guilabel>Toolbar</guilabel> </para> <para> The <guilabel>Toolbar</guilabel> gives you fast and easy access to the most used features in each component. </para> <para> <inlinegraphic fileref="fig/full-3.png"></inlinegraphic> <guilabel>Shortcut Bar</guilabel> </para> <para> The <guilabel>Shortcut Bar</guilabel> lets you go to your favorite components with a click of a button. You can even add your favorite folders to the <guilabel>Shortcut Bar</guilabel>. </para> <para> <inlinegraphic fileref="fig/full-4.png"></inlinegraphic> <guilabel>Status Bar</guilabel> </para> <para> Periodically, <application>Evolution</application> will need to quietly display a message, or tell you the progress of something. This most often happens when you're checking or sending email. These progress queues are shown here, in the <guilabel>Status Bar</guilabel>. </para> <para> <inlinegraphic fileref="fig/full-5.png"></inlinegraphic> <guilabel>Search Bar</guilabel> </para> <para> The <guilabel>Search Bar</guilabel> lets you search through your email with precision so you can easily find what you're looking for. </para> </sect1> <sect1 id="import-tool"> <!-- This section sucks. Look at it, ask for improvements --> <title>Importing External Files</title> <para> Chances are, <application>Evolution</application> isn't your first email program. You're probably switching from another program and will want email from your other program. It's for exactly these situations that <application>Evolution</application> includes an import feature. </para> <para> <application>Evolution</application> can import the following types of files: <itemizedlist> <listitem> <para> VCard (.vcf, gcrd) </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> Outlook Express 4 (.mbx) </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> MBox(mbox) </para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> VCard is a format to store addressbooks and contact information. Outlook Express and MBox format both handle your email. If you're coming from Windows, you're probably going to be importing Outlook Express files. If you're coming from a Unix program, you're probably using mbox. Ask your system administrator if you aren't sure which you use. </para> <para> To import your files, go to <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Import File</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> </para> <para> A druid will appear, helping you to import your files. You'll need to specify where the file is that you want to import. Click <guibutton>Next</guibutton> and then <guibutton>Import</guibutton>. <application>Evolution</application> will present you with the Folder dialoge, so you can specify where your new messages will go. Select the desired folder, and your file will be imported into <application>Evolution</application>. </para> <para> And if you're timid about using <application>Evolution</application>, don't worry. <application>Evolution</application> won't mangle your files, so if you choose to use your old application instead, you can import your files right back in. </para> </sect1> <sect1 id="quickref-commontasks"> <title>Quick Reference for Common Tasks</title> <para> You might want to copy this section and tape it to the wall next to your computer: it's a very short summary of most of the things you'll want to do with <application>Evolution</application>. Read <xref linkend="menuref"> if you would like a complete list of keyboard shortcuts for menu commands. </para> <sect2 id="quickref-newthings"> <title>Opening or Creating Anything</title> <para> <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term>Create a new folder</term> <listitem> <para> <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Folder</guimenuitem></menuchoice> or <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>Shift </keycap> <keycap>F</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Create a new Shortcut in the Evolution Bar</term> <listitem> <para> <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu> <guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Evolution Bar Shortcut</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> or <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>Shift</keycap> <keycap>S</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Create a new email message:</term> <listitem> <para> Use <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Mail Message</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> or <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>Shift </keycap> <keycap>M</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Create a new Appointment</term> <listitem> <para> <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu> <guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Appointment</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> or <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>Shift</keycap> <keycap>A</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Enter a new Contact</term> <listitem> <para> <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu> <guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Contact</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> or <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>Shift</keycap> <keycap>C</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Create a new Task</term> <listitem> <para> <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu> <guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Task</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> or <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>Shift</keycap> <keycap>T</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> </para> </sect2> <sect2 id="quickref-mail"> <title>Mail Tasks</title> <para> Here are the most frequent email tasks, and shortcuts for navigating your mailbox with the keyboard instead of the mouse: <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term>Check Mail</term> <listitem> <para> Click <guibutton>Get Mail</guibutton> in the toolbar. There is no keyboard shortcut for this task, but you can ask <application>Evolution</application> to check for new mail periodically in the <guilabel>Mail Settings</guilabel> dialog. </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Reply to a Message</term> <listitem> <para> To reply to the sender of the message only: click <guibutton>Reply</guibutton> in the toolbar, or press <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>R</keycap> </keycombo> </para> <para> To reply to the sender and all the other visible recipients of the message, click <guibutton>Reply to All</guibutton> or select the message and press <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Shift</keycap> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>R</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Forward a Message</term> <listitem> <para> Select the message or messages you want to forward, and click <guibutton>Forward</guibutton> in the toolbar, or press <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>J</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Open a Message in a New Window</term> <listitem> <para> Double-click the message you want to view, or select it and press <keycombo action="simul"> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> <keycap>O</keycap> </keycombo> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> <varlistentry> <term>Create Filters and Virtual Folders</term> <listitem> <para> You can create filters and Virtual Folders based on specific message attributes from the message's right-click menu. Alternately, select a message, and then choose <menuchoice> <guimenu>Settings</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Mail Filters</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> or <menuchoice> <guimenu>Settings</guimenu> <guimenuitem>Virtual Folder Editor</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>. Filters are discussed in <xref linkend="usage-mail-organize-filters">, and Virtual Folders in <xref linkend="usage-mail-organize-vfolders">. </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> </para> </sect2> <sect2 id="quickref-cal"> <title>Calendar</title> <para> <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term></term> <listitem> <para> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> </para> </sect2> <sect2 id="quickref-contact"> <title>Contact Manager</title> <para> Here are the most frequent tasks that are done in the Contact Manager, with the shortcuts so that you can use these tasks without having to use your mouse: <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term>Edit a User</term> <listitem> <para> You can edit a user two ways: <itemizedlist> <listitem> <para> Single click on the person's "rolodex card" and you can edit the person's properties all in the same window. </para> </listitem> <listitem> <para> Double-click on the contact's card. </para> </listitem> </itemizedlist> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term>Deleting a Contact</term> <listitem> <para> Right click on a contact and click <guilabel>Delete</guilabel> or select a contact and press the <guibutton>Delete</guibutton> on the <guilabel>toolbar</guilabel>. </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term>Email a Contact</term> <listitem> <para> Right click on a contact and click on <guilabel>Send message to contact</guilabel>. </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> <variablelist> <varlistentry> <term></term> <listitem> <para> </para> </listitem> </varlistentry> </variablelist> </para> </sect2> </sect1> </preface>