>> Peer2Mail help
>> Topics
>> Introduction
Peer2Mail is the first software that let you store and share files on any web-mail account. If you have a web mail account with large storage space, you can use P2M to store files on it. Web-mail providers such as Gmail (Google Mail), Walla!, Yahoo and more, provide storage space that ranges from 100MB to 3GB.
P2M splits the file you want to share/store zips and encrypts it. P2M then sends the file segments one by one to your account. Once P2M uploaded all file segments, you can download them and use P2M to merge the segments back to the original file.
>> Sending a File
In order to send a file to an email account, Peer2Mail needs to split it into segments. Web-mail providers limit the size of an email attachment usually to a nominal 10Megs, but due to the size increase resulting from transport encodings, the limit works out to be a few MB less (Usually 7MB). Use the following dialog to prepare the file before sending:
- File Name - The file/s you want to send. You can use the Browse button to select a single or multiple files.
- Mail To - The recipients who will receive the file (Web-mail account). When using Direct Send you may enter only one email address. If you are sending Via MAPI then you can enter as many recipients as you like; Use the Recipients button to easily add email address separated by semi colon (;).
- Optional Encryption Password - P2M automatically encrypts each segment to protect you privacy, however you can set a password (key) for the encryption to maximize the privacy. You will need this password when you merge the segments back.
- Segment Size - P2M splits the file into segments. Here you can determine the segment size, most of the web-mail providers limit the attachment size to a nominal 10Megs, but due to the size increase resulting from transport encodings, the limit works out to be a few MB less (Usually 7MB). It is recommended to test your web-mail provider for the size of an attachment it can receive.
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Send Method -
- Direct Send - P2M has a built in SMTP component that sends the segments directly to the web-mail providers. You don't need to enter your ISP details in order to use P2M. If you are using this feature please make sure you enter a value in the 'From Email Address' because some web-mail providers reject email messages where there is no 'From' address. You can even enter a fake mail address.
- Send Via MAPI - P2M can send the segments using MAPI (Usually your outlook client). When you use this option P2M will split the files and move the sending responsibility to Outlook. Note that it will use your ISP SMTP server and details to send the files. You may enter as many recipients as you wish when using this option.
- Send Via SMTP Server - Send the segments using your ISP SMTP Server. If you are using this feature please make sure you enter a value in the 'From Email Address' because some web-mail providers reject email messages where there is no 'From' address. You can even enter a fake mail address. You may enter as many recipients as you wish when using this option.
- From Email Address - This is the source address of the mail. This address doesn't have to be valid, although sometimes web-mail providers reject emails where the domain part of the address isn't valid.
Once you are done, click on the Ok button. You can now choose if you want P2M to send all the segments or only specific few by checking/un-checking the checkboxes. Once you are ready, click on the Send button. It may take a few hours to complete the operation depending on the file size and your internet connection.
Note: If you are using an antivirus program that scans outgoing mail, it is recommended to disable this feature since it takes a long time for each segment to be scanned.
- Plain Transfer
In case you don't want Peer2Mail to split, zip and encrypt your files, and just want to send the files "as is…" then you can use Plain Transfer. This option isn't secure. P2M just sends the file as an email attachment and some web mail providers might even block it.
Choose Plain Transfer from the drop down button:  .
Once you are done filling the details as described above, click on the Ok button. Once you are ready, click on the Send button.
Note: If you are using an antivirus program that scans outgoing mail, it is recommended to disable this feature since it takes a long time for each segment to be scanned.
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Trouble Shooting
- Peer2mail offers three different ways to send the segments: Direct Send, SMTP, and MAPI. You can choose between the three on the File Split dialog (Send Method).
Many errors are explained in the error log file. Search for P2MErrorLog.xml in P2M folder and look for the error description between the <error></error> tags.
- Direct Send:
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When sending using Direct Send, your computer becomes the SMTP server. This way is easy and fast but not everybody can use it:
- Requesting MX record hangs forever: Some ISPs (Internet Service Providers) block port 25 that is used to send emails, if your ISP does that then you cannot use Direct Send and need to send via SMTP or MAPI. Also make sure your firewall or anti virus isn't blocking P2M or port 25.
- Upload stops and restarts: This means P2M encountered some error, it created a LOG file on P2M directory (P2MErrorLog.xml). Open this file and look for the error description between the <error></error> tags. Usually this error happens because the webmail provider doesn't accept email messages from your IP, but sometimes its because it checks the From Address, try settings some valid email address in the From Address and try again.
- SMTP Server:
- SMTP Server is the mail server used by mail clients to send emails. When sending using SMTP server, use your ISP (Internet Service Provider) SMTP server details, do NOT use public SMTP server (like yahoo, gmail etc).
If you don't know the SMTP server details, call your ISP and ask them. Set the SMTP details by going to Settings -> SMTP Server Settings. Most SMTP servers require only the server name and port (usually 25). If your SMTP requires SSL make sure you check the SSL check box. If your SMTP server requires logon information make sure to fill you user name and password on the Logon Information box.
- Send via MAPI:
- When sending via MAPI, Peer2mail will use your outlook to send the segments. Make sure outlook is open and is configures with your SMTP server details. When sending the files, the progress will go from 0% to 100% in a second, because P2M isn't sending the segments, it moves it to outlook outbox.
If an error occurs regarding the MAPI session try to set your system user name and password in Settings -> Advanced Settings -> MAPI logon information.
>> Downloading the Segments
P2M includes a built in browser so you can easily log into your web-mail account. Before you can merge the segments you need to download them. It is important that you will save all the segments into the same folder. The first segment name ends with the P2M extension and the rest follow with a serial number 001...00x.
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Auto Download
Peer2Mail can automatically list and download files from web-mail accounts. Currently P2M supports auto-download from Gmail, Walla, Yahoo, Spymac, Unitedemailsystems, Xasamail, Rotomail, Netscape, Gawab, Hriders and Omnilect. To use this feature, login to your account and click on the green download button ( ). P2M will then list the segments (may take a few minutes) and at any time you can tell P2M what segment to download by clicking on the checkboxes that appear next to them. Click on the Download button to begin downloading the selected segments.
If you checked the Auto Merge checkbox then Peer2Mail will automatically merge the segments once the download process is done.
The listing process can be a bit slow since P2M scans the mail account and gathers information about each attachment. Sometimes a server doesn't reply to a request so P2M might skip it. To fix that, once the listing process is over, click on the refresh button and P2M will re-index only the segments it didn't already list.
P2M scans for segments only in the inbox for Yahoo, Walla, Spymac, Unitedemailsystems, Xasamailand, Netscape, Gawab, Rotomail, Hriders, Omnilect, and on all folders with Gmail.
>> Merging the Segments
Once you completed downloading all the segments, use P2M to merge it back to the original file. Click on the Merge button. The Merge dialog:
- P2M File/s - use the Browse button to select the first segment of the file you wish to merge. The first segment extension is P2M.
- Decryption Password - If you used a password when you sent the file to your account, you must enter it now in order to merge it back. Incorrect password will result in a failure to merge the segments.
Please note that from version 1.47 a ".doc" extension was added to each segment. The files content stay the same it's just a semantic change. The auto downloader should remove the ".doc" extension, but if you downloaded the files manually, in order to merge them you need to remove the ".doc" text from the file name.
Once you are done, click on the Ok button. P2M will begin the file merge process.
>> Advanced Settings
Sometimes MAPI send fails because P2M cannot logon to the MAPI session. You can enter your system User Name and Password and try sending via MAPI again.
If P2M hangs when trying Requesting the MX record from the server, you can override the request by entering the MX record here. Please make sure the MX record corresponds to the mail address you are currently sending the file to.
If you are unable to send via MAPI nor via Direct Send, try sending using your ISP SMTP Server.
>> SMTP Server Settings
If you want to send the segments using SMTP server you must provide the server details. Choose SMTP Server Settings from the menu, fill in the server details and click Ok. Usually you only need to provide the server name. If the SMTP server requires authentication, provide the user name and password. In case the server requires SSL connection, check the SSL check box.
>> Tools
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Account Password Encryption/Decryption -
If you wish to share your web-mail account with your friends and don't want to give them the real password, you can encrypt the real password and share the encrypted password with your friends. Only P2M will know to decrypt the password and your friends can use it to gain restricted access to the web-mail account without knowing the real password. If a user logged in to either Yahoo, Walla, Spymac, Unitedemailsystems, Xasamailand, Netscape, Gawab, Rotomail, Hriders, Omnilect, Gmail with an encrypted password, Peer2Mail limits his permissions on the account. This is done so he wont be able to delete files, change the password or any other settings on the account.
To encrypt a password click on the browser tab and click on the orange key button.
To insure higher security for your encrypted password, Peer2Mail can use a different encryption key for servers that support SSL (Gmail, Yahoo). This way the password will only work on secured servers. SSL servers encrypt the transportation of data between your computer and the server, so it will be impossible to intercept the password while its being transmitted to the server. To create a secured encrypted password (that will work only with SSL servers) check the "Encrypt password for SSL Servers" checkbox.
In the following dialog enter your password and then click on the Encrypt button. Copy the encrypted password and share it with your friends:
To decrypt your password, simply paste the encrypted password in the password box; P2M will take care of the decryption process.
Please note: While P2M is designed to protect your account, we cannot guarantee that the real password is 100% safe even if you encrypt it. Please share it with people you trust.
- File Splitter -
If you want only to split and file and upload it manually to your web account, you can do it by choosing Tools -> Split File. This will split the file, Zip/Encrypt it and save it to a folder you choose.
>> Protecting accounts (Restricting access)
You can protect your account by giving your friends restricted access. Restricted access is currently available only for Gmail, Yahoo, Walla, Spymac, Netscape, Gawab, Rotomail, Hriders, Unitedemailsystems, Xasamail and Omnilect. To restrict your account, just encrypt your password and share it with your friends. In order to access an account with an encrypted password the user must use P2M's inner browser. When using the inner browser the user wont be able to delete files or view/change account settings.
Please note: While P2M is designed to protect your account, we cannot guarantee that the real password is 100% safe even if you encrypt it. Please share it with people you trust.
>> Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions
- I sent a file using MAPI (my outlook) and when I logged into my account all the segments had "winmail.dat" attachment instead of P2M attachment. What's that all about?
From Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 138053: "When an end user sends mail to the Internet from an Exchange Windows or Outlook client, a file attachment called Winmail.dat may be automatically added to the end of the message if the recipient's client cannot receive messages in Rich Text Format (RTF). The Winmail.dat file contains Exchange Server RTF information for the message, and may appear to the recipient as a binary file. It is not useful to non-Exchange Server recipients."
Please read the article to learn How to Prevent the Winmail.dat File from Being Sent to Internet Users. One solution to the problem is to visit http://www.biblet.com and download the WMDecode program found there (look about halfway down the page). This will at least allow you to decode the winmail.dat files and extract any useful attachments from them.
- I try to send a file but it fails, why?
Whenever a segment send is failing, a log file is being created in the P2M folder. The log file name is P2MErrorLog.xml. There might be several reasons for a failure:
1) Your IP is blocked - when using direct send your computer acts as SMTP server. The web mail provider might have blocked your IP. Send the file using your ISP's SMTP server.
2) The segment size is too big for your web-mail provider.
3) You are using Direct Send but your ISP or Antivirus software blocks port 25. Either use the advanced settings to enter the MX record manually or send the segments via MAPI or SMTP server. Please note that if you are using an antivirus software that blocks port 25, it might be blocking outgoing traffic even if you try to send via SMTP.
4) You are using Direct Send and the From Email Address is empty - the web-mail provider rejects an email that has no From address.
- Sometimes P2M download hangs and Shows 100-Percent CPU Utilization, How do I solve it?
In Internet Explorer, from the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then select the Advanced tab. Clear the Use HTTP 1.1 and Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections check boxes.
- Is it possible to pause/resume uploads using P2M?
Yes. Since P2M splits the file into segments you can just stop sending the segments and resume later from where it stopped. When you stop an upload remember what was the last segment you sent, then when you wish to resume, uncheck the segments that you already sent and P2M will send the rest.
- Peer2Mail doesn't list all the segments in the account. What can I do?
If it's a matter of missing a segment or two just click on the refresh button and P2M will re-list the missing segments. If the inbox displays a partial list of the segments, from your web mail settings change the number of emails per page to a higher count.
- I cant merge the files because all of the files ends with the ".doc" extension - what to do?
Please note that from version 1.47 a ".doc" extension was added to each segment. The files content stay the same it's just a semantic change. The auto downloader should remove the ".doc" extension, but if you downloaded the files manually, in order to merge them you need to remove the ".doc" text from the file name.
- Why is my question isn't listed here?
If you have more questions search the forum for answers and if you don't find an answer, post your question and hopefully we will be able to assist.
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