One of the most useful features of e-mail is the ability to send digital files. But once you receive an attachment, how do you open it? The answer depends on the type of file and how your computer is configured.
All digital files have names, such as "balloon1.jpg." The letters after the "." are known as the file extension and indicate which kind of program can open the file. For instance, you can view a .jpg photo with your web browser and listen to a .mp3 music file with a program called WinAmp, among others. The most common types of files sent over the Net include these:
Beware of Viruses
Attachments may be dangerous to the health of your computer. Why? Because they can conceal viruses and other malicious programs designed to destroy your data or cause computer chaos. Unless you know who sent an attachment, DO NOT OPEN IT. Delete the attachment to avoid infection.
Even if you do know the source, scan it with anti-virus software before you open it. If your computer has an anti-virus program running in the background, it should automatically check for viruses.
Open Sesame
Once you're sure that an attachment is safe, here's how to open it:
Double-click on the attachment icon.
A dialog box opens.
To view the file without saving it, check Open it, then click OK. The application should open, allowing you to view the file. If the file extension isn't associated with an application, follow the directions below.
If you saved the file, locate the folder where you saved it, find the file and double-click on it. The appropriate program should open. Alternately, you can first open the associated application--for instance, Word if the you received a ".doc" file--then locate the file and open it.
How to Associate Files
If an attachment won't open, but you have the program that can open it, associate the file type with the program as follows:
Click on the My Computer icon on the desktop, then on the View menu and select Folder Options.
Click on the File Types tab, then locate the file type from the list. Click on it once to highlight it. You will see which application, if any, is associated with the file. To associate an application, click on the Edit button.
When the dialog box opens, click on the Edit button.
Type in the location of the program you want to use to open the file. If you don't know the location, click on the Browse button to find it on your hard drive. Finally, click OK.
There's no doubt that the above procedure is overly complicated and confusing. If you encounter problems, ask someone to walk you through the steps. After a while, you'll get the hang of it.
