15. E-mail at a Glance: Opening Attachments
- To view an attached file, click the file icon or save the file to your hard drive, then use the appropriate software program to open it.
- With most e-mail software, you open an attachment by double-clicking the icon for the file. This typically brings up a dialog box allowing you to decide what you want to do with the file.
- Attached files must be decoded. This usually happens automatically.
- If you open an attachment that looks like random characters and symbols, it probably has not been decoded correctly or you may be viewing it with the wrong software program.
- Use Caution: Your computer can contract a virus when you open an attached file. If you do not know or trust the person who sent the e-mail, delete the attachment to avoid infection.
