Just a Bug in News-Reader

  • Thread starter Thread starter GBorn
  • Start date Start date
G

GBorn

I stumbled over a nasty bug in Windows Mail. If Windows Mail is configured
to collect outgoing messages in the outbox-folder, the bug can cause double
postings in Newsgroups.

Here are the steps to reproduce the error:

Just write an Answer to a NG-Message and click to the "Send" button. The
message will be stored in the outbox folder.

Reopen the message from the outbox folder (change something) and click Send
button again.

This results in two entries of this message in outbox. If the user clicks
the Send/Receive button in Windows Mail, both copies of the message are send
to the Newsgroup - and a double message posting occurs.

This behavior isn't found in Windows Mail Mail client nor in Outlook Express
Newsgroup Client.

I tested it here in a German Windows Vista Ultimate - but I guess the
behavior is also available in English Vista.

If Microsoft guys are reading this NG: A patch to fix this bug would be nice
:-)

Greetings from Germany

G. Born

www.borncity.de
 
By your description, it doesn't sound like a bug to me. I can believe that
MS Outlook was different, if you say, I never noticed. But the key thing
here is that you said you *changed* it. That makes it a different message
altogether. After all, there is no "calling back" a newsgroup message. So
WinMail is just doing what it thinks is right, publishing both your
versions.

Anyway, I can see how this might be annoying if you like to operate this
way. Looks like you'll have to manually delete the one you don't want to go
out.

-Frank
 
I agree that it's a bug. Once it's sent it should be moved from Outbox to
Sent Items. You shouldn't have to delete it.
 
happened to me frequently with xp.
specifically when sending use an account that did not have outgoing smtp settings.
opening the message in outbox and editing to change the account in the FROM box, and clicking send again, ended up with 2 messages in outbox. one still would not send and had to be deleted.


(e-mail address removed)@sport.rr.com

I agree that it's a bug. Once it's sent it should be moved from Outbox to
Sent Items. You shouldn't have to delete it.
 
But... he said he purposely configured WinMail to collect outgoing mail in
the Outbox. I assume he did this by un-checking the "send immediately" box.
Therefore, his messages, once sent, should be moved to the Sent folder, but,
not until manually sent. This would give you the opportunity to delete the
one you don't want to send before manually sending the mail stored in your
Outbox. Seems logical to operate this way if configured in "manual" mode.

-Frank
 
Yes, I agree with that analysis.
I'm not so sure that a message sitting in the Outbox is meant to be
re-edited. (That's what the Drafts folder is for.) After all, most people
use the "Send Immediately" setting, making the Outbox but a fleeting
stop.

Gary VanderMolen
 
when the message does not post because of server id error, it sits in the outbox. only way to get it to send is to edit it and correct the server error

(e-mail address removed)@sport.rr.com

Yes, I agree with that analysis.
I'm not so sure that a message sitting in the Outbox is meant to be
re-edited. (That's what the Drafts folder is for.) After all, most people
use the "Send Immediately" setting, making the Outbox but a fleeting
stop.

Gary VanderMolen
 
In that case I would copy the text, delete the original from the Outbox,
and paste into a new message.

Gary VanderMolen

when the message does not post because of server id error, it sits in the outbox. only way to get it to send is to edit it and
correct the server error

(e-mail address removed)@sport.rr.com

Yes, I agree with that analysis.
I'm not so sure that a message sitting in the Outbox is meant to be
re-edited. (That's what the Drafts folder is for.) After all, most people
use the "Send Immediately" setting, making the Outbox but a fleeting
stop.

Gary VanderMolen
 
Again. This is the way OE has ALWAYS operated. If you edited a message in
the Outbox, then that message would be saved as the same message. It would
not become a new message and then both messages be sent.

It is very definitely a bug.

steve
 
Yeah, they like redefining things and not telling anyone. Its stupid
though. That is a bug.

steve
 
Just an addendum - the behavior reported in my orginal post is definitely a
bug. My Windows Mail is configured to collect all outgoing E-Mails and
Newsgroup-Postings in mit Outbox-Folder.

If I edit an existing E-Mail-message in my Outbox-Folder, the Send-Button
causes my Mail-Editor to overwrite the old message with my edited content
(as estimated).

If I edit an existing a Newsgroup-message in my Outbox-Folder, the
Send-Button creates a new copy of the message - so I have two messages
within my Outbox-folder (not estimated).

If I edit an existing a Newsgroup-message in my Outbox-Folder, that uses
cross-posting in multiple Newsgroups, the Send-Button causes that the
original message will be changed (as estimated).

I tested it again in a German Windows Vista Ultimate - but I guess the
behavior is also available in English Vista.

Hope the ported Outlook Newsreader is not too buggy to fix that issue :-)

Greetings from Germany

G. Born
 
I think your basic problem is that the Outbox folder was not designed
to be a temporary holding place for messages to be edited later.

Gary VanderMolen
 
This is a known problem. It is very definitely a bug, no matter what others
indicate.

steve

MS-MVP
Windows Outlook Express / Windows Mail
 
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