The new face of Lehigh Webmail!

In July 2009, Lehigh upgraded its Webmail system (using Horde's IMP software) to the latest version. This new version includes three interface options:

• Classic (this is the old interface with a few new features thrown in)
• Standard (this is the new dynamic interface -- very much like Mozilla Thunderbird!)
• Minimalist (this is the simple interface for mobile device users)

We hope everyone will test drive the new Standard interface, which is the default interface. You can see a screen shot of the interface below and view this five minute demo for more information.

(Click image to enlarge it)

This interface has several enhancements that make for a more "dynamic" experience.

1. If you have a lot of mail in your inbox, you no longer need to view it page by page as with the old/classic interface -- you can scroll through all your messages in the same view.
2. You can drag and drop messages into folders. Just click on the message you want to move and drag it to the desired folder.
3. The three pane view allows you to read an individual message in the third pane while the second pane allows you to view the list of messages.

For those who still prefer the classic Webmail, you can still use it by selecting "Classic" mode on the login page.

Enjoy the new Lehigh Webmail!

Portal mail transitioning to IMP

This transition was announced in early July (see announcement) and will take place on August 8, 2009. Note that address books from portal email will automatically migrate to IMP. Contact portal@lehigh.edu if you have any questions.

Lehigh webmail (formerly known as IMP) upgraded

On July 14, LTS upgraded the IMP Webmail system. This upgrade features a new interface (similar to Gmail) while still allowing you to select the "classic" interface if that's your preference. Three things to note about the new IMP...

1. With the new upgrade to IMP, LTS will be transitioning from the IMP branding to the more generic "Lehigh webmail." You can access Lehigh webmail at webmail.lehigh.edu as well as the usual IMP URLs.
2. IMP now offers three interfaces.
   • a. The standard mode is the *NEW DEFAULT* interface -- it's more like Gmail, allowing you to scroll through all messages and drag and drop messages. The search feature is now on the main screen. Note the submenu when you click the search box.
   • b. Classic mode (familiar interface) has some new features but keeps the same look and feel as the old IMP. The other two modes *do not* have all the features/options in the traditional mode.
   • c. Minimalist mode is the mobile-friendly interface.
3. Users who prefer the old interface will be able to select classic mode from the login page or click on the "classic webmail" tab after logging in. There is an icon to switch from classic webmail mode to standard mode too.

The new Lehigh Webmail formerly-known-as-IMP will replace the portal email on August 1. Please send any suggestions/problems to portal@lehigh.edu.

Monthly maintenance options: Love'em or hate'em!

At the beginning of every month, IMP prompts you about maintenance operations -- essentially you tell IMP whether to delete attachments more than 6 months old. This is useful if you are concerned about exceeding your mail quota. You can configure IMP to stop prompting you and also set other options for ongoing management of your email. See this video or click on the video below for more information...

Tired of scrolling? Or do you like to scroll?

IMP allows you to adjust how many messages you view within the browser. The video below shows you how you do it (if you have a problem with the embedded video, try this link.

New IMP color scheme!

On Saturday, February 7, LTS will roll out a new color scheme for IMP. The colors will reflect Lehigh's brown and white palette. A screen shot is below:


The functionality of IMP will not change. Enjoy!

Currently under testing: Dynamic IMP

IMP has been around Lehigh for many years and has been the email of choice for travelling staff and students. IMP is developed under the auspices of the The Horde Project, a group that develops Open Source applications.

Dynamic IMP, or DIMP, is also under development by Horde. Horde is similar to IMP but it uses technologies that offer a more interactive/dynamic interface. LTS is in the very early stages of testing DIMP, but here is a screen shot. You can click the image to enlarge it.



DIMP has a message preview function similar to Gmail, Thunderbird, or Outlook Express. In fact the look and feel is similar to these to products. LTS is currently testing DIMP but we hope to roll it out soon.

Deleting mail in IMP

Deleting mail in IMP is a two step process. You:

• Select the mail messages to delete by checking the box to the left of each message. Then choose Delete on the top left side of the inbox.
• Purge the deleted mail by clicking Purge Deleted on the top right side of the menu.

What does Purge mean?
Why do you need to purge? Because the mail isn't actually deleted from your inbox until you purge it; it's just marked for deletion. You can "hide" or show deleted mail by toggling Hide Deleted/Show Deleted on the top right side of the inbox. If you toggle to Show Deleted, you will see your deleted messages in your inbox with a line through them and greyed out. See the video below for a demonstration of delete, purge, and toggling Hide/Show Deleted messages.

Sorting mail in IMP

One of the nice features of IMP mail is the ability to sort mail by size. This can be handy if you are looking for a large attachment.

To sort mail by size, click on the column header "Size" as shown below:
Click on the image to enlarge it

To toggle between ascending or descending order, click on the arrow that appears in the column heading:

Welcome to Lehigh's IMP Mail Blog!

This blog is to share information about IMP and gather feedback from IMP and portal email users.

LTS is evaluating the advantages of using IMP Web mail in place of the Portal email. Single signon to IMP mail (for those users with access to Lehigh E-mail) is available on the top right-hand side of the portal menu.

Currently, users have the option of either IMP or the original portal email. IMP offers many advantages over portal email, and LTS is seeking feedback from users about the possibility of discontinuing the original portal mail and making IMPmail the new portal email. IMP offers:

• more versatility in sorting and managing mail
• access via the portal or as a standalone Web interface
• more stability (fewer error messages and glitches)

We invite feedback from faculty, staff, and students. Individuals may email portal@lehigh.edu to express comments or concerns they may have on a possible webmail switch.