Re: SCROOTS-D - Steven J. Coker
Subject: Re: SCROOTS-D
From: Steven J. Coker
Date: July 23, 1998

[email protected] wrote:
> 
> I am a new subscriber to the digest but have tried to UNSUBSCRIBE.  I find
> that for some reason (probably my ignorance about downloading files to open) I
> cannot open the .mim file.  I get a message from (what I believe should open
> the file - Acrobat Reader) that says "There was an error opening this
> document.  File does not begin with '96PDF-'.
> Please shed some light on the error of my ways...

Sherry,

I don't use (or recommend) AOL so I'm not the best person to help you with
this problem.  But, we have many devoted AOL users who subscribe to SCRoots. 
Hopefully one or more of them will know better how to instruct you on this.  I
will also do some research to see if I can find a better answer to help you.

Here is the little I think I've read on this problem.  Unlike most Internet
Service Providers (ISPs), AOL requires their customers to use their
proprietary email reader.  Most ISPs are fully compatible with Internet
standard protocols and thus allow their customers to use any browser or email
program they choose.  For some reason AOL apparently converts emails greater
than some limited size into files which the customer must download?  I don't
know what file format AOL uses for these emails.  You indicate it shows ".mim"
which I would guess stands for MIME maybe?  But then you say your Acrobat
Reader tries to load the file?  That doesn't seem right.  Adobe Acrobat reads
Portable Document Format (.PDF) files.  It is news to me if Acrobat can read
.mim file types.

My initial guesses/comments are:

1. The file is not a PDF file and probably can't be read by Acrobat Reader.  I
don't know what AOL intends you to use to read the file.

2. There probably is a help file somewhere on AOL that explains why they do
this.  That help file may also explain how to read these email files.

3. The Digests are probably being sent in MIME compatible format.  The AOL
email reader may not be fully MIME compatible and probably uses some funky AOL
proprietary version rather than the standard Internet protocols everyone else
uses.  Maybe AOL converts them to files because the AOL reader has trouble
reading proper MIME.

4. Maybe you have an older version of Acrobat Reader?  I think the current
version is 3.01 or greater?

5. Change to an ISP that is fully compatible and allows customers to use any
email program they like.  Then install a better email program so you can read
the mail without such problems.  Of course this is my personal opinion and may
not be the best solution for anyone who has trouble installing or configuring
software.

I know that wasn't much help.  I'll see if I can find better information. 
And, maybe somebody else who sees this can give you good instructions.

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