does aplus.net offer a script which will automatically configure my Outlook express 6 / ms outlook 2003 email client?

Answer by: Stuart Pierce, Aplus.Net Knowledge Base Support.

Aplus.Net offers a script (.vbs file format) which will automatically configure your Outlook Express 6, MS Outlook 2003 or Windows Mail for a particular email account. Once you have created an email box, you can use the Control Panel to download the script to your local computer. Upon execution, it will automatically adjust the required settings for your email account.

Important: This VBS script is for Windows OS users only. It will not work for MS Outlook 2007 on Windows Vista.

I. Download the configuration script:

Start by logging to the Aplus.Net Control Panel at http://cp.aplus.net using your Registration number and Customer password.
Select the Emails tab from the top navigation bar.
Next, select Email Boxes and click on Manage Email Boxes.
Click on import email settings.
Now, you have to select the type of email client and protocol you are going to use. You have the following options:

POP3 protocol with plain connection.
POP3 protocol with secure connection (SSL).
IMAP protocol with secure connection (SSL).

Once you click on the desired option, your browser will prompt to save the file. Save it to a location on your local computer.

Note: Do not try to open the file within your browser; you have to use the Save option.

II. Installation:

Close your email client.
In order to run the script, double-click the saved VBS file. Confirm the execution of the script, if prompted.
Upon execution of the script, the required configuration settings will be saved to your Windows Registry.
Open your email client.

Note: There is a slight difference on how the email clients will recognize the new email account. Outlook Express will add it on the spot, while MS Outlook will prompt you to import the new account.

The first time you will use this email account, you will have to enter your email account password.

III. Glossary:

POP3 (Post Office Protocol v3): A protocol used for receiving emails. When you use your email client to retrieve email messages, the client communicates with the email server via POP3.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol): IMAP is a standard protocol for accessing e-mail from your local server. IMAP is a client/server protocol in which e-mail is received and held for you by your Internet server. You can view just the heading and the sender of the mail and then decide whether to download the mail.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer): A protocol designed to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet. SSL is used mostly in communications between web browsers and web servers, as well as between email servers.