Compose and Send an Email

This tutorial covers the basics of composing and sending emails using SOGo 6's webmail interface.

Prerequisites

• A SOGo 6 account with valid credentials
• You are logged into SOGo 6

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Open the Mail Module

In the sidebar navigation on the left, click Mail to open your inbox.

Your inbox shows received messages in the main view, with folders (Inbox, Sent, Drafts, Trash) listed in the left panel.

Step 2: Start a New Message

Click the Compose button in the toolbar above your message list.

A new message composition window will open.

Step 3: Address Your Message

Fill in the recipient fields:

Field	Description
To	Primary recipient(s). Separate multiple addresses with commas or semicolons
Cc	Carbon copy — recipients receive a copy, visible to others
Bcc	Blind carbon copy — recipients receive a copy, hidden from other recipients

Tips:

• Start typing a name — SOGo 6 will suggest matching contacts from your address book
• You can also enter full email addresses directly
• Use Cc for people who need to be informed but are not directly responsible
• Use Bcc for mailing lists or when recipients should not see each other

Step 4: Write a Subject

Enter a clear, concise subject line in the Subject field.

tip

Good subject lines help recipients understand the purpose of your email. Examples:

• ❌ "Meeting"
• ✅ "Sprint Planning — Tuesday 10:00"
• ❌ "Question"
• ✅ "Question about calendar sharing permissions"

Step 5: Write Your Message

Type your message in the large text area. The toolbar above provides formatting options:

Button	Action
B	Bold
I	Italic
U	Underline
Link	Insert a hyperlink
List	Create a bullet or numbered list
Attachment 📎	Attach a file

To attach a file:

1. Click the Attach button (paperclip icon)
2. Select a file from your computer
3. The file will upload and appear as an attachment in your message

Step 6: Set Priority (Optional)

If your message is time-sensitive, you can set a priority level:

• Click the Priority button in the toolbar
• Choose Low, Normal, or High

High-priority messages will show a red exclamation mark ❗ in the recipient's inbox.

Step 7: Send the Message

Once your message is complete:

1. Review the recipient, subject, and content
2. Click Send

SOGo 6 will deliver the message. A copy is saved in your Sent folder.

Step 8: Save as Draft (Optional)

If you are not ready to send:

• Click Save as Draft instead of Send
• The message is saved in your Drafts folder
• To continue later, open the Drafts folder and click the message

Troubleshooting

Message won't send

• Check that To field has at least one valid recipient
• Large attachments may exceed server size limits (typically 25 MB)
• Check your internet connection

Recipient not found

• Verify the email address is correct
• The auto-complete searches your contacts, not the global directory
• Enter the full email address manually

Conclusion

You have successfully composed and sent an email in SOGo 6. You can now manage your inbox, organize messages into folders, and set up email filters for automatic sorting.

Accessibility

Keyboard Navigation

SOGo 6 supports full keyboard navigation for composing and sending emails.

Action	Keyboard Shortcut	Notes
	Navigate to Mail	Alt+M, Tab to sidebar, select Mail
	New message / Compose	c
	Focus To field	Tab
	Focus Cc field	Tab or Ctrl+Shift+C
	Focus Bcc field	Tab or Ctrl+Shift+B
	Focus Subject field	Tab
	Focus message body	Tab
	Send message	Ctrl+Enter or Tab to Send button
	Save as Draft	Ctrl+S
	Attach file	Ctrl+Shift+A
	Bold	Ctrl+B
	Italic	Ctrl+I
	Underline	Ctrl+U
	Cancel / Close	Escape

Screen Reader Workflow

Step 1: Navigate to Mail Module

1. Alt+M or Tab to sidebar navigation
2. Arrow keys to "Mail" - Enter to activate
3. Screen reader: "Mail module, inbox view"

Step 2: Open Compose Window

1. c to open new message compose window
2. Screen reader: "Compose, new message window"
3. Alternatively: Tab to "Compose" button, Enter to activate

Step 3: Address the Message

Form fields in focus order:

1. To field - required

   • Type recipient email address or start typing a contact name
   • Screen reader: "To, edit, editable combobox"
   • Tab to next field

2. Cc field - optional

   • Type carbon copy recipients
   • Tab to next field

3. Bcc field - optional

   • Type blind carbon copy recipients
   • Tab to next field

Step 4: Write Subject

1. Type a clear subject line
2. Tab to next field
3. Screen reader: "Subject, edit"

Step 5: Write Message Body

1. Type your message in the large text area
2. For formatting: Ctrl+B (bold), Ctrl+I (italic), Ctrl+U (underline)
3. Screen reader: "Message body, content editable"

Step 6: Attach Files (Optional)

1. Ctrl+Shift+A to open file picker
2. Navigate to file using standard file dialog
3. Select file and confirm
4. Screen reader: "Attachment, filename.ext"

Step 7: Send or Save as Draft

• Send: Ctrl+Enter or Tab to Send button, Enter to activate
• Save as Draft: Ctrl+S
• Screen reader: "Message sent" or "Message saved to drafts"

Common Screen Reader Announcements:

Announcement	Meaning	Action
"To, editable combobox"	Recipient field ready	Type email or contact name
"Subject, edit"	Subject line ready	Type subject
"Message body, content editable"	Email body ready	Type your message
"Attachment, button"	File attached	File is ready to send
"Message sent"	Success	Email delivered
"Message saved to drafts"	Draft saved	Can continue later from Drafts

Keyboard Shortcuts in Compose Window:

• Ctrl+Enter → Send message
• Ctrl+S → Save as Draft
• Ctrl+Shift+A → Attach file
• Escape → Cancel / discard
• Tab → Next field
• Shift+Tab → Previous field

Visual Content Descriptions

mail-compose.png: This 4-second animated GIF shows composing and sending an email in SOGo 6.

• Frame 1 (0-1s): Inbox view with Compose button highlighted in the toolbar
• Frame 2 (1-2s): Compose window opens with cursor in To field, user types recipient email
• Frame 3 (2-3s): Subject line entered, message body being typed
• Frame 4 (3-4s): Send button clicked, message sent confirmation, email appears in Sent folder

Screen Reader Alternative: If you cannot view this GIF, please use the Screen Reader Workflow section above. It provides the same information in text format suitable for screen readers.

Duration: 4 seconds, 4 frames
File size: 28 KB (approximate)

High Contrast Mode

SOGo 6 supports theme customization (light/dark mode) via user preferences. Workarounds for low-vision users:

Browser/OS-Level High Contrast:

1. Windows: Win+Ctrl+C toggles high contrast → Settings → Ease of Access → High Contrast
2. macOS: System Preferences → Accessibility → Display → Increase contrast
3. Browser Extensions: Dark Reader, High Contrast (Chrome)

Compose Window Accessibility: All form fields (To, Cc, Bcc, Subject, Body) have associated labels. Use Tab to navigate between fields. Screen readers announce field labels and current values. The formatting toolbar buttons are labeled for screen reader use.