[mrsD]

explain how to download your PMs to your own computer?

There are choices in the dropdown box...abbreviations, which mean
nothing to me. XML ? CSV? text seems obvious

How does one go about removing and saving the posts in PMs the most efficient
way? My box is almost full, and I'd like to save them, and open it up.

I don't want to "screw" it up... which is what usually happens to me on
computers!

[Wittesea]

It's been so long since I saved PM's to my PC that I had forgotten how to do it myself.... so I just saved a PM 3 times (using each format option for downloading it).

The XML and CSV options saved the Pm's in strange formats (strange to me) that made it difficult to read them properly. The "text" format saved the PM to Notepad and it was easy to read.

So in my opinion, using the text option is the best way to save them to the PC so that they are easy to read. With this forum software, you can save all of your PM's at one time, or you can check the boxes next to specific PM's that you want to save and download/save only the selected PM's.

Downloading them to your PC does not erase them from your PM box, so you can save them and play with the different options a bit without losing them.... Once you have saved them in a format that you prefer, you can then return to your PM box to delete the ones you have saved.

I hope that helps
Liz

[greek geek]

hi Mrs. D

I am with Liz, it would be easier for you to download it via text. If you'd like an explanation or my reasoning why, then please read on. But be forewarned...the jargons will send you to the dungeon! LOL

**************
CSV: Microsoft Office Excel Comma Separated Values File

one would need an Excel program or MS Office program to open this up. It'll open in a spread sheet format.

The pros, if one is familiar with spread sheets, they can program and manipulate it.

The cons, not everyone has excel or office and the know how to program the spread sheet the way they want to. Plus, MS office is constantly upgrading so let's say Doc J uses MS office 3000 and one is still using MS office 1.0 There is an unlikely chance the 1.0 can open up a 3000 document.

************

XML: Extensible Markup Language

it is in the HTML family but more advanced and geared toward the CSS files(yes, snore now...)

it will open up your email in the Explorer(which I read you don't really use) and cascade it down.

the pro: it is very easy to read. All the languages are separated and you can save your file as an IE file

the con: the XML and HTML family changes all the time, and along with the IE updates/upgrades, it can become problematic for those that don't understand it.

***********

TEXT: ascii

what is wonderful about ascii files is that it is in binary code

all the MS WINDOWS have it by default(every copy of Windows has a notepad with it) And format will be open in your notepad with simple text. (so it won't matter if you have WIN 95 or WIN Bill Gates Platinum)

ascii is pretty much universal, you won't need any kind of special program or software to open it.

the pros are all there.

On top of that, let's say your computer crashes or you bought a new computer, having it in ascii format will ensure that you won't have to reload softwares or programs or needing to learn about the XML or Xcel.

You simply open up your notepad and voila, it's there.

Hope that helps

cheerio

[mrsD]

I'll give it a whirl today. I have some time, and some courage!

[mrsD]

I transferred some inbox files as "text" and it was easy. Windows XP
brings up notepad. But if you do them in bunches, it brings up a new
new notepad file each time...so I just copied them out into the original one.

They don't look at all like the originals, the graphics are all gone of course, but I do have more room now in my Private Messages box!

Thank you, both!

[MelodyL]

Hi Mrs. D:

Why not just go to your private message, copy into the clipboard, go to Microsoft word (or wordpad), make a new document, paste in the contents of whatever it says in the private message and VOILA, you have document with your private message right there. Then click on file, save, give it a name, (for example, MY PRIVATE MESSAGES).

Then you can copy all your private messages and bring up the document, paste in the messages, etc. etc.

You will still have the pm's on the message board, but you will also now have a document with all your copied private messages.

Seems simpler to me than banging your head worrying bout ascii files, and downloading anything.

I'm no computer geek. I like things SIMPLE!!!!

Just a thought!!! Melody

[greek geek]

hi Mrs D, glad it worked out for you. The downside of using text/ascii would be the fact of its simplicity. No rich text formats, no rich extensive fonts, just a simple Microsoft native format.

Which should answer Ms. Melody's question about simplicity.

probably no other format will be simpler than the text format.

1) not everyone has Microsoft "WORD" (Bill Gates used to give it for free as a bundle that came with the computers when the computers cost thousands. But now that the computers are cheaper[yet faster], the MS people are now charging about $200.00 for MS office thus we now have to pay for WORD) but every computer have notepad built right in.

2)based on number one, we can safely bet that if anyone have had saved it in the text format and they've had to reformat their hardrive or upgrade to a new Window system, they then would not need to install an additional software because of the native format of the TEXT.

3)using TEXT also saves more space for those that don't want to clutter up space on their hardrive.

hope all these explain the reasoning behind why for me, I prefer to save it in TEXT.



cheerio

[mrsD]

I know about copying into Word, but you have to open each one separately and do it that way... for 240 messages, that is too much work!

If it were done a little each day, then it would be easier. I did save some
old ones from OBT that way.

I also have Evernote, and it is similar...it saves a whole page, as it appears.
But I didn't want to open each one to get to them.

With the text downloads it is ONE CLICK ! then done!

Thanks for the suggestion tho.