Appendix A. Frequently Asked Questions About Ximian Evolution

Table of Contents
Features
Getting and Compiling Evolution
Troubleshooting
Questions about Bugs and Debugging

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Evolution groupware suite from Ximian. If you have a question that's not listed, you can contact us at evolve@ximian.com.

Features

1. How can I use Evolution with Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes?
2. Can I use Evolution with KDE?
3. How can I remove or rename a folder?
4. Why doesn't drag and drop between folders seem to work?
5. Can I read mail from a mailbox file created by some other application (e.g. Mutt) without importing mail from it?
6. Can Evolution sync with my Palm OS (tm) device?
7. What is the difference between a virtual folder (vfolder) and a regular folder?
8. Can Evolution spell-check messages while I compose them?
9. Why can't I see the images that are contained in some HTML mail messages.
10. Can I change the font that Evolution uses to compose and display mail messages?
11. How do I import my Outlook .pst files into Evolution?
12. If Mozilla can import .pst files, why can't Evolution?
13. Will there be an Evolution server? How about a text-based or web-based front end?
14. Will Evolution make a good mocha?

1. How can I use Evolution with Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes?

If your server uses standard open protocols like IMAP, LDAP, POP, and SMTP, you can use Evolution with it. You can share addresses with vCards and calendar items with iCal appointments.

2. Can I use Evolution with KDE?

Evolution will work fine in KDE. You will need to install all of the GNOME libraries that it depends on. Also, certain configuration options, such as default fonts and the message editor keybinding behavior, must be changed using the GNOME Control Center application (this will also run from within KDE).

3. How can I remove or rename a folder?

Right-click on the folder and select the Delete or Rename items.

4. Why doesn't drag and drop between folders seem to work?

The implementation isn't finished, although it's nearly done.

In the meantime, right-click on the folders or messages you want to move, and select the Move or Copy options.

5. Can I read mail from a mailbox file created by some other application (e.g. Mutt) without importing mail from it?

No, but it's a planned feature.

6. Can Evolution sync with my Palm OS (tm) device?

Yes. However, it is not yet stable enough for general release and we do not yet ship Evolution with Palm synchronization enabled default. Until we do, you will need to compile this in yourself. Check the README file for additional information on the requirements. Full compatibility and synchronization for calendar and addressbook applications on Palm devices will be implemented and shipped soon.

7. What is the difference between a virtual folder (vfolder) and a regular folder?

A virtual folder is like a saved search: it is a view of your mail. Regular folders actually contain the mail messages. You can have one message be in multiple virtual folders, but only in one regular folder. See the section in the Evolution manual about virtual folders for more information.

8. Can Evolution spell-check messages while I compose them?

Yes. The Evolution composer is able to highlight mis-spelled word on the fly as you type them, and also give you suggestions for possible corrections. In order for this to work you need the gnome-spell component, which is not shipped with Ximian GNOME yet.

If you are brave enough, you can check out module gnome-spell from the GNOME CVS and compile it yourself. Check out its README file for a list of gnome-spell's requirements for compilation.

Note that you don't need to recompile Evolution after installing gnome-spell; it will be picked up automatically.

9. Why can't I see the images that are contained in some HTML mail messages.

Evolution currently doesn't support this, but it's a planned feature. It will be an option: many people like to turn off the images because they use up bandwidth and can be used to spy on your email reading habits.

10. Can I change the font that Evolution uses to compose and display mail messages?

You have to change the GtkHTML settings for that: in the GNOME Control Center, go to the "HTML Viewer" configuration page, which is under the "Document Handlers" category.

11. How do I import my Outlook .pst files into Evolution?

You cannot import these files directly into Evolution because the .pst format is a proprietary format. However, Mozilla Mail on Windows can convert them into the mbox format, which can then be imported by Evolution.

To start importing your Outlook mail to Evolution, run Mozilla Mail on Windows and select the File->Import... to begin. Then select that you wish to import Mail from Outlook. Once Mozilla has imported all your mail, reboot your computer into Linux.

Mount your Windows partition in Linux and run Evolution to begin importing your mail. Select File->Import File... to start importing. Set the file type to MBox (mbox) and click on Browse to select the mail you want to import.

If you are the only user on Windows, the mail files will be stored in /mnt/c/windows/Application Data/Mozilla/Profiles/default/XXXX/Mail/imported.mail/ where /mnt/c/ is your windows partition mount point and XXXX is some collection of numbers and digits ending in .slt.

If there is more than one user, the file will be in /mnt/c/windows/Profiles/USERNAME/XXXX/Mail/imported.mail/ where USERNAME is your Windows username.

For each mail folder in Outlook, Mozilla will convert the folder into one mbox file. To import all your mail, import all the files without a .msf extension.

12. If Mozilla can import .pst files, why can't Evolution?

Mozilla on Windows accesses the .pst files through the MAPI.DLL, which is only available on Windows. MAPI.DLL is the only way to access .pst files and Evolution cannot use this DLL in Linux.

13. Will there be an Evolution server? How about a text-based or web-based front end?

Of course, we can't comment on unannounced future product plans, but Evolution's architecture would permit the existence of that kind of software. If there is enough demand for such software we will consider moving in that direction.

14. Will Evolution make a good mocha?

Only espresso is planned, but you can easily plug in a chocolate component.