The .EMAIL Command

This command allows you to generate links so that users can send you feedback via email. There are two methods that can be used to send email. The first is an HTML link beginning with mailto:. When the user clicks on this type of link, a secondary email program or browser module is launched on the user's computer.

The second method uses a special program called WebMail, which gives the user a Web-based form into which she can type the email message.

Using WebMail has two advantages. The first is that the user does not have to have her browser configured to understand "mailto" links. The second is that it is possible for someone to send email to you without having to reveal to them what your email address is.

NoMailto

This option turns off the use of a "mailto:" link, preventing anyone reading the page from seeing your real email address. If you use this option, you will most likely want to also use the WebMail option, so that the user will have some way of contacting you.

WebMail

This option causes a link to a WebMail form to be generated on the page. When the user clicks on this link, he is taken to a new Web page where he can enter the message to send.

Email

This parameter is required. It is either your full email address, or just your username. WebMail cannot be sent to users off-campus, so the ending @mtholyoke.edu is always assumed.

RealName

This required parameter contains your real name. Most likely, you will want to include your first and last names, so the parameter needs to be enclosed in quotes. See the examples below.

URL

This is an optional parameter which gives the address of some page to which people might want to refer for more information about you. Usually, this would be your personal homepage.

Examples

Here are all the possible combinations of parameters and their results. Observe the different types of link which are used in each case, as you move your mouse over them:

<!--.email         nomailto dwilga "Dan Wilga" "/~dwilga"--><BR>
<!--.email                  dwilga "Dan Wilga" "/~dwilga"--><BR>
<!--.email webmail nomailto dwilga "Dan Wilga" "/~dwilga"--><BR>
<!--.email webmail          dwilga "Dan Wilga" "/~dwilga"--><BR>
<!--.email         nomailto dwilga "Dan Wilga"           --><BR>
<!--.email                  dwilga "Dan Wilga"           --><BR>
<!--.email webmail nomailto dwilga "Dan Wilga"           --><BR>
<!--.email webmail          dwilga "Dan Wilga"           -->

Dan Wilga
Dan Wilga (dwilga@mtholyoke.edu)
Dan Wilga (send WebMail)
Dan Wilga (send WebMail or email dwilga@mtholyoke.edu)
Dan Wilga
Dan Wilga
Dan Wilga
Dan Wilga (send WebMail)