Method and computer-readable medium for previewing and performing actions on attachments to electronic mail messages

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

• display a first window pane identifying one or more electronic mail messages;
• determine whether an electronic mail message identified in the first window pane has one or more attachments;
• in response to determining that an electronic mail message has attachments, to display an indication for each of the attachments, the indication being selectable;
• display a second window pane for reading the electronic mail message;
• receive the selection of the indication for an attachment;
• and
• in response to the selection of the indication, displaying a preview of the attachment in the second window pane.

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, will cause the computer to:

• receive an electronic mail message having a document attached thereto;
• receive a request to reply to the electronic mail message with changes to the document;
• in response to the request, to launch an application program for editing the document in a review mode, to open the document in the application program for editing, and to provide a user interface object for replying to the electronic mail message with a changed version of the document;
• receive changes to the document via the application program;
• receive a request to transmit the changed document via the user interface object;
• and
• transmitting the changed document as a reply to the electronic mail message.

A method for providing a visual preview of a document attached to an electronic mail message, the method comprising:

• displaying a first window pane identifying one or more electronic mail messages;
• determining whether an electronic mail message identified in the first window pane has one or more attachments;
• in response to determining that an electronic mail message has attachments, displaying an indication for each of the attachments in the first window pane, the indication being selectable;
• displaying a second window pane adjacent to the first window pane for reading the electronic mail message when the electronic mail message is selected;
• receiving the selection of the indication for an attachment;
• and
• in response to the selection of the indication, displaying a preview of the attachment in the second window pane, the preview displayed without requiring a context switch.