Embedded Files
Blair email is run on Gmail, which is an email service developed by Google that allows you to send and receive messages over the internet.
It provides users with:
An email address (e.g., yourname@blair.edu)
A simple, user-friendly interface for managing emails
Powerful search features to quickly find messages
Spam filtering to reduce unwanted emails
Integration with other Google services like Google Drive, Calendar, Meet, and Contacts
You can access your Blair email through a web browser on a computer or via the Gmail app on smartphones and tablets
Getting to Gmail
Open your web browser (like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox).
In the address bar at the top, type: www.gmail.com and press Enter.
You’ll be directed to the Gmail login page.
Logging In to Gmail
On the Gmail login page, enter your email address (e.g., xxxx@blair.edu) and click Next.
Enter your password and click Next again.
You’ll now be logged in and taken to your Inbox.
Composing an Email
Once in your Gmail inbox, click the “Compose” button (usually in the upper-left corner).
A new message window will pop up. Fill in the fields:
To: Type the recipient’s email address.
Subject: Type a brief subject line.
Message: Type your email in the large blank area.
Click the “Send” button at the bottom of the message window.
Attaching a File to an Email
In the Compose window, click the paperclip icon (📎) at the bottom.
A file window will open. Browse your computer and select the file you want to attach.
Click Open or Choose. The file will upload and appear in the email.
After attaching the file, click Send.
Deleting a Message
In your inbox, find the email you want to delete.
Hover your mouse over the email, then click the trash can icon (🗑️) that appears on the right.
The email will be moved to the Trash folder.
Emptying the Trash
On the left side of the screen, scroll down and click “More”, then click “Trash.”
At the top of the Trash folder, click “Empty Trash now.”
Confirm if prompted. All messages in Trash will be permanently deleted.
If you have any trouble, try clicking the “?” help icon in the upper-right corner of Gmail for more support.
Gmail Search
Gmail’s search function helps you quickly find specific emails without scrolling through your inbox. You can search by sender, subject, keywords, dates, and more.
Basic Search in Gmail
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Open Gmail at mail.google.com
At the top of the page, click in the Search bar (it has a magnifying glass icon)
Type a word or phrase related to the email you're looking for (e.g., "meeting notes" or "John Smith")
Press Enter
Gmail will show all matching emails
Tips:
You can search by names, words in the subject line, or any text in the body of an email
You don’t need to type full words — partial matches also work
Using the Search Options (Advanced Search Panel)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Click the down arrow icon on the right side of the Search bar
A drop-down panel will appear with several fields to narrow your search
Fill in one or more of the fields:
From: Emails from a specific person
To: Emails sent to a specific person
Subject: Words in the subject line
Has the words: Keywords in the email body
Doesn’t have: Exclude emails with certain words
Size: Search by email size (e.g., larger than 5 MB)
Date within: Limit your search to a specific date range
Has attachment: Check this to only see emails with files attached
Click Search at the bottom of the panel
Search Features One-by-One
1. Search by Sender
In Search bar:
from:john@example.comFinds emails sent by John
2. Search by Recipient
In Search bar:
to:susan@example.comFinds emails you sent to Susan
3. Search by Subject
In Search bar:
subject:project updateFinds emails with "project update" in the subject line
4. Search by Keywords in Email
In Search bar:
meeting notesFinds emails that include both "meeting" and "notes" anywhere
5. Search by Date Range
In Search bar:
after:2024/01/01 before:2024/12/31Shows emails sent in 2024
6. Search Emails with Attachments
In Search bar:
has:attachmentFinds emails that contain attachments (PDFs, Word docs, etc.)
7. Search by Label
In Search bar:
label:workFinds emails that have the “work” label
8. Search by Size
In Search bar:
larger:5MFinds emails larger than 5 megabytes
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