A template is nothing more than a partially completed message. Pertinent info such as recipient address, PGP operations, etc. can be predefined in a template and then saved under a descriptive name for use whenever communication with that recipient is desired. This provides significant convenience in your emailing, but templates are even more valuable than that. If you were to construct each new from the new message template, every time you create a message, you'd soon find yourself making errors--possibly serious errors. Errors that might compromise your anonymity. Instead, we create a template when some new type of message is needed. We create the template--give it a descriptive name--and test it until we're certain it works as advertised. After testing, we can call on this template at any time with the confidence of knowing it works correctly.
Email Messages
I realize I've provided you with a default New Message. It's intended only as starting place. When you need to create a message use a template. When you need to create a template, start with a New Message.
Generic Anon Message
I'm using my own info and templates. I think seeing exactly how I use them will help you understand. Here is a generic anon message as provided with QS when you install. It can be used as an original email or reply.
Fcc: outbox Host: quicksilvermail.net From: QuickSilver <quicksilver@quicksilvermail.net> Chain: *,*,*; copies=2; To: Subject: ~~
The template above provides the the bare essential headers for getting an anon message sent. However, you won't be able to send it to anyone without adding at least a recipient. So, templates can be more helpful than that. For example, I correspond with John Doe frequently and wish to setup a template for that correspondence. My template might look like this:
A Personalized Anon Message Template
This template offers a number of convenient features. It's likely I'd forget something here if I didn't create this template. Special consideration include:
Pgp: encrypt=0x012F5ED9; sign=0x67D0D303; Fcc: jjones Host: quicksilvermail.net From: QuickSilver <quicksilver@quicksilvermail.net> Chain: *,*,*; copies=2; To: John Doe <jdoe@hisisp.net> Subject: Richard -- R.Christman http://www.quicksilvermail.net ~~
Now, I save my template as john doe so I'll easily recognize it when needed. It can be used for original messages to John or for replies to messages I receive from him. Don't let the Pgp header confuse you. If you don't use PGP, the Pgp headers is simply omitted. If you're interested in knowing more about QS and PGP, have a look at: Using PGP.
USENET News Articles
The remainder of the templates I am presenting deal with USENET posts. In all cases these templates can be converted to regular email message templates by simple deleting the mail2news gateways, the Newsgroups header and the References header if present. Please note: mail2news gateways used in examples man no longer exist. See: mail2news gateways on getting a current list.
Generic Anon USENET Article
An anon news article differs from an email message in a couple respects. First, we know who the recipient of the article will be--one or more of the available mail2news gateways. For more on these gateway with a current list set, see: mail2news gateways. Another difference in the article is the 'Newsgroups:' header. You need a newsgroup name. Without it, your article is lost. You may post your article to more than one newsgroup. Please have a look at the topic regarding newsgroup cross-posting.
Fcc: outbox Host: quicksilvermail.net From: QuickSilver <quicksilver@quicksilvermail.net> Chain: *,*,*; copies=2; To: mail2news@bananasplit.info, mail2news@dizum.com, mail2news@reece.net.au Newsgroups: alt.privacy, alt.privacy.anon-server Subject: ~~
Notice there are three mail2news gates specified. This is good. The topic mail2news gateways contains info on doing this.
Generic Anon USENET Followup Article
There's little difference between an original article and a follow up. The example below differs only in the References: header being present. This header AND the Newsgroups header are not even required. When QS prepares the followup article you copied from your newsreader to the clipboard, it creates both these headers from the copied article. I generally place the empty headers in the template myself. The reason being that when QS needs to place a header in a message it will place that header at the end of the existing message headers. However, if the empty header already exists QS will place the header at that location. On the same subject, if you have a header in your template, NOT EMPTY, and that header appears in the merging message. The template's header value overrides the incoming message header which will be discarded.
Fcc: outbox Host: quicksilvermail.net From: QuickSilver <quicksilver@quicksilvermail.net> Chain: *,*,*; copies=2; To: mail2news@bananasplit.info, mail2news@dizum.com, mail2news@reece.net.au References: Newsgroups: Subject: ~~
A Personalized USENET Template
Here is a more complex example of a Follow up Template. It takes care of several details I might forget if not using the template. Special consideration include:
For more info on the nickname in the second From header, take a look here: using Nicknames. Also, note that the final remailer is specified as, frell. Frell is chosen because it supports my nick.
Pgp: sign=0x840A6601 Fcc: a.p.a-s Host: quicksilvermal.net From: QuickSilver <quicksilver@quicksilvermail.net> From: QuickSilver Chain: *,*,frell; copies=2; To: mail2news@bananasplit.info, mail2news@dizum.com, mail2news@reece.net.au References: Newsgroups: alt.privacy.anon-server Subject: Richard -- R.Christman http://www.quicksilvermail.net ~~
The only difference between a followup and an original article is the removal of the 'References:' header. I don't keep an original article. The followup is convenient to use. If I wrote a lot of originals, I would keep a separate Original Article template.