Thunderbird: You Need It

*The following article is for informative purposes and is used with the 'Buddy Foote's Blog v.4' layout:

Upon the release of the 'Buddy Foote's Blog v.4' layout comes two new forms located on the right sidebar -- one underneath 'Blog Features' and the other underneath 'Affiliate Section'. These forms are used to effectively communicate to Buddy Foote or the other blog authors for stated purposes. The one form is used for 'Ask The Author' and provides an easy way to ask a blog author any question you desire, and the other form is used for the 'Affiliate Sign-Up' and provides an easy way to become affiliated with BFBv.2. However, with the way the forms are set up, you have to send an e-mail for the receiver to receive it. There's no advanced features here, such as having the form save the posted information to another file on a server and then having that process so it sends to the receiver without any manual labor from you. Thus you must have some e-mail program that automatically opens upon hitting 'Submit' so that you may use the forms without the hassle of creating your own e-mail. If you have Windows (and I'm not sure about versions other than XP), Microsoft Outlook will probably open for you. If you are unaware on how to use Microsoft Outlook or you hold some grudge against it, then Mozilla Thunderbird is probably the right answer for you. [Note: I'm not sure about other operating systems such as Mac and Linux and if they have or how their default e-mail programs operate, but Thunderbird works on all three systems so use it if you will.]

I'm going to write a guide based on my preferences and of my understanding of the Thunderbird program. If you want to use Thunderbird for any purposes such as the 'Buddy Foote's Blog v.4' forms, then please follow along.

1. Download Mozilla Thunderbird here. Once the file is finished downloading, install the software.
2. Once the installation is complete open the Thunderbird program.
3. Go to File > New > Account...
4. If you have Gmail (as I have), then the following step will be easy. If not, you may have to do a bit of research on how to set up your account. Or just get a Gmail account and use it only for Thunderbird. If you have a Gmail account, select Gmail on the Account Wizard, follow the steps, and you should be done.
5. Go to your Start menu and select 'Set Program Access and Defaults'. If this does not show, then go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Set Program Access and Defaults (on the left sidebar). Go to Custom > Choose a default e-mail program > Mozilla Thunderbird. Hit 'OK' and you're done. The forms should now easily work for you.

Once you have Thunderbird operating, test out the forms. Once you fill out a form and hit 'Submit', Thunderbird should open with a new e-mail that already has information filled in, for example:

Subject: Ask The Author
Body:

Author=Chase
Question=How many licks does it take to get the center of a balloon?

All you have to do now is send the mail and you're done! Thunderbird is, in general, a very good e-mail managing program and outside of using it just for the forms at BFBv.2 you'll find many other interesting purposes for it.

Thank you for reading this article. I hope you use Thunderbird, or any other e-mail program, and take advantage of the new forms here at BFBv.2!