MacOS X Mail

MacOS X comes with a fairly popular e-mail client called 'Mail' (you'll also hear it referred to as Mail.app). This e-mail client fully supports IMAP and is quite easy to set up for accessing your Physics e-mail account.

TIPS: Getting E-mail Addresses

LDAP Directories: If you're just looking for instructions on setting up Mail so that it can pull e-mail addresses from the Harvard and Physics directories, Click here for instructions.

Other Methods: Some Physics Mac users are using the very handy LDapper tool from Carl Bell of Baylor University. LDapper allows you to search through multiple LDAp directories and address new e-mails simply by double-clicking the entry. How to set up LDapper to access the Harvard Phonebook and Physics directories.

Setting up MacOS X Mail for accessing your Physics e-mail:

  1. Start Mail
    (New to MacOS X? - You will most likely find Mail in your Dock at the bottom of your screen. Or click on the hard drive
    icon on your desktop and look in 'Applications').

    You will be presented with the option to create a new account. if so, you may skip the next instruction.
  2. If you are not presented with this option and/or Mail has been previously set up for a different account, click "File" from the menu bar, then select "Add account..." as shown below.

  3. Under 'General Information', select IMAP as your 'Account Type'.
    For 'Account Description' enter 'Harvard Physics' or 'Physics' or similar. This is the name Mail will use to refer to the
    account in your preferences, so make it descriptive.
    Next enter your name as you would like others to see it when you send e-mail. Generally this should be your First and
    Last name. Examples: Stan Marsh, Dr. Stan Marsh, Prof. Stan Marsh, S. Thomas Marsh)
    Next enter your complete e-mail address (your username followed by @physics.harvard.edu).
    Click 'Continue'.

  4. On the 'Incoming Mail Server' screen, enter physics.harvard.edu for incoming mail server. Then your Physics username (which corresponds to the part of your e-mail address which precedes the @ symbol) and your e-mail password.
    Click 'Continue'.
    Mail will now test to make sure your account and password are valid. If it fails, check your username and/or re-enter your password.

  5. On the 'Outgoing Mail Server' screen, enter physics.harvard.edu for outgoing mail server.
    Make sure that 'Use Authentication' is checked.
    Then enter your Physics username and your e-mail password.
    Click 'Continue'.
    Mail will now test to make sure your outgoing account and password are valid. If it fails, check your username
    and/or re-enter your password.

  6. Upon successfully completing the previous steps, you will be presented with a screen showing your account settings.
    Click continue.

  7. You've reached the 'Conclusion' screen.
    Click 'Done'.
    However, you still have one more step before Mail is properly set up.

  8. From the menu bar up top, select 'Mail', then 'Preferences'.

  9. Click the 'Accounts' icon.
    Select your Harvard Physics account in the left-hand pane.
    Click 'Advanced'.
    In the text box labeled 'IMAP Mail Prexif' enter mail as shown below.

  10. Close the Preferences window.
    You will be asked if you want to save your changes.
    Click 'Save'.
    Mail is now set up to retrieve and send e-mail using your Physics account.

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E-Mail: Setting Up LDAP in Mail

  1. From the menu bar up top, select 'Mail', then 'Preferences'.

  2. Click 'Composing'.
    Make sure 'Austomatically complete addresses' is checked.
    Click 'Configure LDAP'.

  3. Click the + sign top add a directory.
    For the Harvard Directory:
    1. Name: Harvard Directory
    2. Server: phonebook.harvard.edu
    3. Search Base: o=Harvard University, c=US

    Click Done.

    For the Physics Directory:

    1. Name: Physics Directory
    2. Server: physics.harvard.edu
    3. Search Base: ou=users,dc=physics,dc=harvard,dc=edu

    Click Done.

    Click 'Done' and close Preferences. When addressing new e-mails, Mail will now search for matches as you type in an address. it will search on First names, Last names or email address.

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E-Mail: Setting Up LDapper

Install LDapper in your home directory or on your Desktop.
Open LDapper. From the menu select 'LDapper' then 'Preferences'.
Click the blue + sign to add a new directory.
Add the Physics directory as shown in the following picture, then click OK.
The 'Search Base' should be ou=users,dc=physics,dc=harvard,dc=edu

Click the blue + sign again to add a new directory.
Add the Harvard directory as shown in the following picture, then click OK.
The 'Search Base' should be o=Harvard University, c=US

LDapper is now set up. Now you can search for someone and, once found, double-click to send them e-mail.

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