To activate autodial, make sure there is a check mark in the box beside "Connect to the Internet as needed". For autodisconnect, place a check mark beside "Disconnect if idle for" and set an appropriate amount of time. The default value is 20 minutes. To enter or remove a check mark, click on the box with the mouse. Your ISP may also have an autodisconnect feature. You cannot change this value.

The second method of controlling online and offline is part of Communicator's preferences. The preferences may be selected from the Edit menu of any Communicator component. When you click on the offline category you will see the window as indicated in Figure 2-16.

The choices are fairly self explanatory. If you select Online Work Mode, Communicator assumes that you are connected to the Internet at all times. If you send an E-mail message, Communicator will try to send it. If you are not currently connected to the Internet, it will eventually figure it out and return an error message. If you chose Offline Work Mode, you will be able to compose your E-mail messages without taking up valuable connection time. But what happens when you send a message? Your message will be stored in a special Outbox folder, ready to be sent when you do eventually go online. It is therefore possible to compose E-mail messages all day long and send them all at the end of the day with one connection. This is the setting that should be used if you are using a modem. For anyone on an Intranet, please consult your Network Administrator.