[Gmail-Users] Gmail on a Laptop

[DEP/dodo]

I recently acquired a hand-me-down laptop and have a secure wireless router at home.  Is there any way to use the laptop for Gmail only while traveling in the car?  I would like to be able to read and respond to e-mail even if I can't send something instantly.  Can I work offline, read messages but send my messages at a later time when I'm home again?  Thanks for any info. 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Gmail-Users" group.
To post to this group, send email to gmail...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to gmail-users...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-users?hl=en.

[Ryan Morehart]

Check out http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=97535

But yes, totally possible.

Ryan

[DEP/dodo]

Wow, Ryan!  I wasn't expecting an affirmative.  A couple more questions (as in Dodo's baack):  (1) I went to Help first before writing to this group; how did you find that link?  (2) What is syncing?  I sync my Google cal. at work with Outlook, but I don't know what that is with Gmail.  (3) How do I go back online with the laptop when I want to?

Unfortunately, I understood only up to step 3.  I doubt if I have Gears, but who knows? Fortunately, I think I have Chrome on the laptop.  As always, I thank you for your help. ~Dodo

[DEP/dodo]

For going back online, I now see the Disable Offline Mail option (duh).  In general, I don't understand how this e-mailing offline works, but maybe it will become clear by actually doing.
~Dodo

[DEP/dodo]

I just found this, which looks helpful and, therefore, promising:
https://mail.google.com/mail/exp/197/html/en/help.html#access
~Dodo

[Marko Vukovic]

Hi Dodo

I'm sure that article explains it but Gears works by letting your web
application (in this case Gmail) store stuff on your hard drive in a
cache. When it detects an Internet connection again, it synchronizes
your offline Gmail with the one on Google's servers, ie. sends
messages out and pulls new ones in.

Regards
--
Marko

[Ryan Morehart]

Yep. Essentially just make sure offline access in enabled and it will
work automatically. You shouldn't have to worry about it too much.

Just make sure you have a bookmark directly to your inbox. Obviously
if you don't have an internet connection you won't be able to get to
Gmail from your iGoogle page or whatever.

Ryan

[Marko Vukovic]

On 23 April 2010 14:43, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yep. Essentially just make sure offline access in enabled and it will
> work automatically. You shouldn't have to worry about it too much.
>
> Just make sure you have a bookmark directly to your inbox. Obviously
> if you don't have an internet connection you won't be able to get to
> Gmail from your iGoogle page or whatever.

IIRC it asks if one would like to create a shortcut on the desktop.
Mine points to:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
https://mail.google.com/mail/
so as long as your bookmark goes to https://mail.google.com/mail/ it
should work.

[DEP/dodo]

Thank you for weighing in on this, Ryan and Marko.  I've enabled offline Gmail on the laptop but have more questions than answers.  I thought by doing I would understand better.  First, someone told me (and I tried to forward it to this group a couple of hours ago, but I guess the moderator(s) disallowed it for some reason):  "The 'Disable Offline Mail' is not to let you go back online - it is like an 'unsubscribe' option in case you decide that you no longer want to use the Offline Mail capabilities, and only use gmail on the web."  I did think the two options were like toggle switches and don't quite understand (yet) the "unsubscribe" concept.  Is this close to how it works:  By going offline, I have "captured" messages I want to respond to, and when I access the Internet the usual way, they will be sent and stored as usual in the Sent folder?  Do I just leave Gmail offline on the laptop, even when I'm home again and back on the Internet?  What happens if I enable online Gmail again? 

I was smart enough to bypass Gears by using Chrome and did opt for an Offline Mail icon on my Desktop.  But without that icon, the directions say to get mail when offline, open a browser and type "gmail.com" into the URL bar.  But that sounds like being online to me!??

Another mystery for me:  When I was downloading messages or synchronizing or whatever (as you can see, I also don't understand downloading vs. synchronizing), I didn't see any colored icons as the directions stated, e.g., an icon for being online and fully synchronized, an icon showing synchronizing, etc.  Where are these supposed to have been?  Not seeing them, I wondered if I was actually synchronizing (or do I mean downloading?).  Also, I tried sending a test message while downloading, and it did go to the Outbox as I had read and expected.  But then, a moment later, it disappeared from the Outbox.  Apparently, it had sent itself.  How and why, I don't know.  I thought it would stay in the Outbox until I was again connected to the Internet.

In short, I am frustrated!  Marko, I told you back in February that I am an inquisitive person.  I really dislike not understanding things I am interested in and having to work to comprehend.  So far, installing Gmail offline has not cleared anything up for me.  If anything, it has created more questions.  I'm certain that as soon as I sign off, I will think of more.  (Sigh)  ~Dodo

P.S.:  Marko, I don't know what "IIRC" is.  Ryan, I only use Gmail and the Google calendar (the latter at work), so I don't even know what an "iGoogle page" is.  Thank goodness that Desktop icon shortcut was offered to me!

[DEP/dodo]

I know me too well.  Here's the question:  In order to even install Gmail offline, you have to be online, right?  Similarly, I'm writing this on the laptop that started this whole offline journey.  I'm at home and apparently connected to the Internet, although I got here by way of that offline mail icon on the Desktop.  But I guess I'm online?  So many questions, so little time!  Thanks for letting me vent.  ~Dodo

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 2:09 AM, DEP/dodo <depf...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm certain that as soon as I sign off, I will think of more. 

[DEP/dodo]

Except that after I sent it, I was told it was going to the Outbox (which would mean I was offline).  It remained in the Outbox for a second or two; simultaneously, I was told there were 10 Draft messages when I knew there was none.  Both the Outbox and Draft folders then cleared.  I don't get it, and I don't like not getting it!  ~D.

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 2:31 AM, DEP/dodo <depf...@gmail.com> wrote:

But I guess I'm online?

[Ryan Morehart]

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 5:09 AM, DEP/dodo <depf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> By going offline, I have "captured" messages I want to
> respond to, and when I access the Internet the usual way, they will be sent
> and stored as usual in the Sent folder?  Do I just leave Gmail offline on
> the laptop, even when I'm home again and back on the Internet?  What happens
> if I enable online Gmail again?

Gmail is never "offline" per se. Enabling the offline mode just means
you want it to store stuff on your computer so that it could work even
without an internet connection. Just leave the setting on "enable
offline" and you don't have to think about it, it will automatically
send everything and get new email when an internet connection is
available.

> I was smart enough to bypass Gears by using Chrome and did opt for an
> Offline Mail icon on my Desktop.  But without that icon, the directions say
> to get mail when offline, open a browser and type "gmail.com" into the URL
> bar.  But that sounds like being online to me!??

It sounds like it, but it's just magic. Trust me, that's all there is
too it. Gears/Chrome sees the URL and knows it has a version of that
website already stored.

> Another mystery for me:  When I was downloading messages or synchronizing or
> whatever (as you can see, I also don't understand downloading vs.
> synchronizing), I didn't see any colored icons as the directions stated,
> e.g., an icon for being online and fully synchronized, an icon showing
> synchronizing, etc.  Where are these supposed to have been?  Not seeing
> them, I wondered if I was actually synchronizing (or do I mean
> downloading?).

They should appear in the top right. See my screenshot. The full
description my screenshot has appears if you click on the circling
green dot.

> Also, I tried sending a test message while downloading, and
> it did go to the Outbox as I had read and expected.  But then, a moment
> later, it disappeared from the Outbox.  Apparently, it had sent itself.  How
> and why, I don't know.  I thought it would stay in the Outbox until I was
> again connected to the Internet.

If you were offline, it may have realized it was to yourself and just
automatically gone. However, based on your next message I assume you
actually were online.

> Here's the question: In order to even install Gmail offline,
> you have to be online, right?

Yes. Offline is already installed for you though, since you see the Outbox.

> Similarly, I'm writing this on the laptop that started this whole offline journey. I'm at home > and apparently connected to the Internet, although I got here by way of that offline mail >icon on the Desktop. But I guess I'm online?

Yes. The shortcut doesn't force it work in offline mode, it just takes
you to Gmail. If you happen to not have an internet connection then
Gmail decides to use its offline features.

> Except that after I sent it, I was told it was going to the Outbox (which
> would mean I was offline).

Gmail always uses the outbox temporarily, regardless of whether you
are online or not. It doesn't indicate anything other than offline
mode being install.

In short, it's enabled and working. You don't have to think about it.

Ryan

[DEP/dodo]

No screenshot to see, Ryan. 

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:

See my screenshot.

[DEP/dodo]

Good news:  I am actually writing this from the car!!  (No, I'm not driving!)  I used the desktop offline icon to get here.  This is amazing!

Bad News:  Contrary to the Gmail instructions ("About Offline Gmail"), opening a browser and typing "gmail.com" did not work.  I tried with both IE and FF.  Only that offline icon worked.  The inquisitive part of me wants to know why.

Also, the Drafts folder shows 10 drafts.  (Online, I know there is zero.)  I opened the folder and found 4 of my canned responses there (or their icons of some sort).  ???

Okay--I am about to send this, my very first official offline message, full of questions as usual.

~Dodo

[DEP/dodo]

I know I have the desktop icon, Ryan.  But how do I create such a bookmark anyway?
~Dodo

On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 5:43 AM, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:

Just make sure you have a bookmark directly to your inbox.

[DEP/dodo]

I thought I was supposed to be able to get attachments I downloaded for offline use.  I can't. ???
~Dodo

[azimuth]

Bookmarks
In firefox -
When you're on your gmail page, either:
1) Select "Bookmarks">"Bookmark this page" from the menus at the top
of your browser window
or
2) Right click and select "Bookmark this page" from the context menu
that appears.

Choose a folder and create your bookmark.
You could, if you wanted, then drag this bookmark onto your desktop;
but then you'd have two links to gmail on your desktop...

In IE, from your gmail page, select "Favourites">"Add to Favourites"
from the menu at top of browser screen.
Or Right-click and select "Add to favourites" from the menu that
appears.
Choose the folder you want to add the favourite(bookmark) to. and your
done.
Likewise, you can drag favourites onto your desktop for faster access
to them.

Sarah

On Apr 26, 4:12 am, "DEP/dodo" <depfah...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I know I have the desktop icon, Ryan.  But how do I create such a bookmark
> anyway?
> ~Dodo
>

[DEP/dodo]

My original question stemmed from being unclear as to how to get into Gmail, while offline, if I didn't have that envelope icon thanks to Gears.  My understanding (or misunderstanding) of that particular icon is that it contained the messages (and attachments) I downloaded to which I wanted to respond while in the car and was not the "regular" icon to get into Gmail.  Is it?  To clarify, I already know how to bookmark and also have created many shortcuts on my Desktop.  Are you saying just bookmark or create a shortcut to the regular Gmail page itself?  (I already have Gmail as a shortcut on my Desktop at work.  At home, I access Gmail via either Google Talk or Gmail Notifier.)

Azimuth wrote:  "Choose a folder and create your bookmark."  What folder would these downloaded offline messages be in?

Finally, yet again (and perhaps someone has responded but I haven't read it yet), how can someone access gmail.com while offline per the instructions I had?  As I've reported, I was unable to do this and had to use the Gears-generated envelope icon.

Ryan wrote:  "Just make sure you have a bookmark directly to your inbox."  I'm confused again.  Do I or do I not want the regular Gmail icon?  Can I bookmark Gmail? Do I know how to create a bookmark "directly to [the] inbox"?

As always, thank you for any help!  ~D.
 

On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 1:21 PM, azimuth <mail...@gmail.com> wrote:

Bookmarks
In firefox -
When you're on your gmail page, either:
1)  Select "Bookmarks">"Bookmark this page" from the menus at the top
of your browser window
or
2) Right click and select "Bookmark this page" from the context menu
that appears.

Choose a folder and create your bookmark.
You could, if you wanted, then drag this bookmark onto your desktop;
but then you'd have two links to gmail on your desktop...

In IE, from your gmail page,  select "Favourites">"Add to Favourites"
from the menu at top of browser screen.
Or Right-click and select "Add to favourites" from the menu that
appears.
Choose the folder you want to add the favourite(bookmark) to. and your
done.
Likewise, you can drag favourites onto your desktop for faster access
to them.
Sarah

[JohnW]

This should be easily resolved.
If you click on Gmail's Settings and choose the Offline Tab,
there's a section "Other options:" where it shows
"You can create a desktop shortcut for easier access to
Google Mail while offline".
If you click on the underlined link there, it will create the new
icon
on your desktop for you with the associated link to open
Gmail offline.
I think that's rather easier than bookmarking it!

[Marko Vukovic]

On 28 April 2010 06:09, DEP/dodo <depf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> My original question stemmed from being unclear as to how to get into Gmail,
> while offline, if I didn't have that envelope icon thanks to Gears.  My
> understanding (or misunderstanding) of that particular icon is that it
> contained the messages (and attachments) I downloaded to which I wanted to
> respond while in the car and was not the "regular" icon to get into Gmail.
>  Is it?  To clarify, I already know how to bookmark and also have created
> many shortcuts on my Desktop.  Are you saying just bookmark or create a
> shortcut to the regular Gmail page itself?  (I already have Gmail as a
> shortcut on my Desktop at work.  At home, I access Gmail via either Google
> Talk or Gmail Notifier.)

No, if you view the properties of that icon you will see that all it
does is open your browser with the URL https://mail.google.com/mail
This is the URL that Gears will recognize when you are offline and
should open your Gmail as an offline web application. If this is not
working then perhaps your Gears installation is broken. Does it work
in Chrome (has gears built in)?

Cheers
--
Marko

[Sarah Hill]

Hi Dodo,
I replied to the gmail.com query on the "after the fact" thread that you created; but I'll repeat briefly here.
If I remember, you used Chrome to set up your gmail offline on your laptop?
Unless you have installed gears for Firefox or IE, neither of these will work properly for gmail offline, which is possibly why Ff & IE will not open your offline gmail on the laptop in the car (both Ff & IE need gears to do it). However, chrome should.
When you type "gmail.com" in the addressbar in Chrome, (when you don't have an internet connection)  does it open gmail offline for you?
ttfn.
Sarah

[DEP/dodo]

Hi, Sarah--

 

You are correct that I used Chrome to set up Gmail for offline use.  I thought I could use any browser because of the instructions (#1) I used to access offline use:  https://mail.google.com/mail/exp/197/html/en/help.html#access.  Note it doesn't say you have to have used a particular browser to install Gears in order to use that browser for Gmail offline.  Perhaps that's a no brainer . . .  Because I had the Desktop shortcut, I didn't use Chrome's address bar.  What you wrote is now making a lot more sense to me.

 

One more question:  What's ttfn?    ~Dodo

[DEP/dodo]

Between you and Sarah, I now understand this (better, at least). 

 

At that same site I recently identified -- https://mail.google.com/mail/exp/197/html/en/help.html#access -- #7 says:  If you decide to enable offline access sometime in the future, you’ll download messages you’ve received since you last synced but won’t have to start from scratch.  If I did decide to temporarily disable offline access and then enable it again, why won't the earliest messages download again if they are still there (and unanswered)?  In other words, why doesn't it "start from scratch"?  No, I am not going to disable offline access; this is merely my "inquiring minds want to know" circuitry.  ~D.

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:

Gmail is never "offline" per se. Enabling the offline mode just means you want it to store stuff on your computer so that it could work even
without an internet connection. Just leave the setting on "enable offline" and you don't have to think about it, it will automatically send everything and get new email when an internet connection is available.

[DEP/dodo]

All of this is amazing and intriguing to me!  I guess other e-mail applications also provide offline operation.

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Gmail is never "offline" per se. Enabling the offline mode just means you want it to store stuff on your computer so that it could work even
without an internet connection. Just leave the setting on "enable offline" and you don't have to think about it, it will automatically send everything and get new email when an internet connection is available.

 

Yes. The shortcut doesn't force it work in offline mode, it just takes you to Gmail. If you happen to not have an internet connection then
Gmail decides to use its offline features.

Gmail always uses the outbox temporarily, regardless of whether you are online or not. It doesn't indicate anything other than offline
mode being install.  In short, it's enabled and working. You don't have to think about it.

Ryan

[DEP/dodo]

Wish I could.  ~Dodo

On Sat, Apr 24, 2010 at 5:44 AM, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:

See my screenshot.

[DEP/dodo]

????

[Sarah Hill]

When you first enable offline access, you select the time period for mail messages to download, to have available for offline use...If you disable offline gmail, the store of messages that you initially downloaded are still stored (somewhere), you would have just chosen not to have the use of the offline capabilities. So, if you were then to re-enable offline, there is no need to download the original messsages (they're still there), only those which have appeared or changed since the 'offline Gmail application' compared notes with your gmail account.

On Browsers, I think the way it's explained could perhaps be clearer - avoiding the confusion you've encountered.
You need 'Gears' to use gmail offline. To get gears in Firefox or IE, you have to download/install a small helper application. Chrome, being a Google product was designed to be used with other Google applications, so has gears inbuilt.
You could use your other browsers successfully for gmail offline, if you install gears. The instructionjs for doing this are with the help for offline gmail.
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=97535
"Gmail will help you install it (you can also download it here). You may need to restart your browser after installing Gears. If you already have Gears installed (for example, to use Google Docs offline), you won't need to install it again, but you'll be prompted to allow permission for Gmail to access Gears. Click the allow link."

Sarah

[Zack (Doc)]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TTFN

[Sarah Hill]

Re TTFN: "Ta-ta for now".
 Thanks Zack; beat me to it!
Incidenatally - offtopic - I suffer from the gmail typing glitch - responsible for occasional missing words, letters & most of my dodgy syntax, colloquialisms aside.
Sarah

[DEP/dodo]

Thank you, Zack!  Did you already know?  ~D.

On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 4:23 PM, Zack (Doc) <za...@tnan.net> wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TTFN

[DEP/dodo]

I don't think anyone will lower your grade, Sarah, not even this former English teacher.  TTFN! (love it!)  ~Dodo

On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 4:35 PM, Sarah Hill <mail...@gmail.com> wrote:

Re TTFN: "Ta-ta for now".
 Thanks Zack; beat me to it!
Incidenatally - offtopic - I suffer from the gmail typing glitch - responsible for occasional missing words, letters & most of my dodgy syntax, colloquialisms aside.
Sarah

On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 12:23 AM, Zack (Doc) <za...@tnan.net> wrote:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TTFN

[Zack (Doc)]

Mostly... I grew up on Pooh and Tigger.... didn't know the full history behind it though.

[DEP/dodo]

??
~Diane

On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 6:12 AM, Marko Vukovic <marko....@gmail.com> wrote:

IIRC

[Zack (Doc)]

http://www.acronymfinder.com/If-I-Recall/Remember-Correctly-(IIRC).html

[DEP/dodo]

Another thank you, Zack.  How do you know all these sites??  ~Diane aka Dodo

On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 6:23 PM, Zack (Doc) <za...@tnan.net> wrote:

http://www.acronymfinder.com/If-I-Recall/Remember-Correctly-(IIRC).html

On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 20:43, DEP/dodo <depf...@gmail.com> wrote:

??

On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 6:12 AM, Marko Vukovic <marko....@gmail.com> wrote:

IIRC

[Ryan Morehart]

Go to Google and search for it. It's the first result.

Ryan

[Marko Vukovic]

On 2 May 2010 08:46, DEP/dodo <depf...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Another thank you, Zack.  How do you know all these sites??  ~Diane aka Dodo

Just Google it!

--
Marko

[DEP/dodo]

I do and have, but not as quickly as Zack. 

On Sun, May 2, 2010 at 8:51 AM, Ryan Morehart <more...@gmail.com> wrote:

Go to Google and search for it. It's the first result.