Attachments

Habari Mwanafunzi! Let's Uncover the Magic of Attachments!

Imagine you have written a letter to your shosho (grandmother) upcountry. It's a lovely letter! But you also want to send her the beautiful photo you took at the family gathering. What do you do? You slip the photo inside the envelope along with the letter, right? Sawa?

In the world of email, that photo you slip into the envelope is called an attachment! It's any file you "attach" to your email to send along with your message. It's like sending a digital package!

What Can You Attach?

You can attach almost any kind of computer file. Here are some common examples you will see in Kenya:

• Documents: Your CV for a job application, a school report, or an application form for a bursary. (e.g., a file ending in .docx or .pdf)
• Pictures: Photos from a wedding, a trip to the Nairobi National Park, or a picture of your new Kanga. (e.g., a file ending in .jpg or .png)
• Audio: A voice note for a friend or a new song from your favourite artist. (e.g., a file ending in .mp3)

Meet Your Best Friend: The Paperclip Icon!

How do you know where to add an attachment? Look for a special symbol: the paperclip. Just like a real paperclip holds papers together, the digital paperclip icon holds your files to your email. It is a universal symbol used by Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and almost all email services.

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Image Suggestion: A bright, clear screenshot of a Gmail "Compose" window. A glowing yellow arrow should be pointing directly at the paperclip icon at the bottom of the window. The text "Click Here to Attach Files!" should be visible nearby.

How to Attach a File: Step-by-Step!

Ready to try? It's as easy as counting from moja to tano! Let's say you want to email your CV to a company.

1. Compose New Email: Open your email and click the "Compose" or "New" button.
2. Find the Paperclip: Look for the paperclip icon at the bottom of the compose window and click on it.
3. Choose Your File: A new window will pop up. This is your computer's filing cabinet! Navigate to where you saved your file (e.g., the "Documents" folder).
4. Select and Open: Click on your CV file once to select it, then click the "Open" button.
5. Wait for it: You will see a small bar loading. Wait for it to finish. Once it's done, you'll see the name of your file appear in your email draft. Now you can send your email!

Let's Talk About Size! (A Little Email Math)

Attachments have a size, just like a bag of maize has a weight. We measure this digital size in Kilobytes (KB), Megabytes (MB), and Gigabytes (GB).

• A simple document (like a CV) is very small, like a single grain of rice (a few KB).
• A good quality photo is bigger, like a chapati (a few MB).
• A video is very big, like a whole sack of potatoes (many MB or even GB).

Most email services, like Gmail, have a size limit. The most common limit is 25 Megabytes (25 MB) per email.

So, if you have photos that are each 5 MB, how many can you attach to one email?

Step 1: Know your email limit.
   Email Limit = 25 MB

Step 2: Know the size of one photo.
   Photo Size = 5 MB

Step 3: Divide the limit by the photo size.
   Calculation: 25 MB / 5 MB = 5

Answer: You can attach 5 photos in one email.

If your files are too big, the email will not send! You might need to send them in separate emails or use a special service like Google Drive.

You've Got Mail... with an Attachment!

What happens when someone sends YOU an attachment? It's exciting, but you must be careful!

The Golden Rule: Only open attachments from people you know and trust. If you get an email from a stranger with an attachment that says "YOU WON A PRIZE!", it could be a computer virus. Do not open it!

If you trust the sender (like your teacher or your mother), here is how to open it:

1. Scroll to the bottom of the email. You will see the attached file with its name.
2. There will be an icon to Download it (often an arrow pointing down). Click it.
3. The file will be saved to your computer, usually in the "Downloads" folder.
4. Go to your "Downloads" folder and double-click the file to open it.

Real-World Story: Benta wanted to apply for a job at a local supermarket. The manager asked her to email her National ID card and KCSE Certificate. Benta went to a cyber café, scanned her documents, and saved them as PDF files. She then composed a polite email, attached the two files using the paperclip icon, and sent it. A week later, she got the job! Her knowledge of email attachments helped her secure her future. Nzuri sana, Benta!

Key Things to Remember

• The paperclip icon is for adding attachments.
• You can attach documents, pictures, and other files.
• Watch the file size! Most emails have a 25 MB limit.
• Be very careful when opening attachments from people you do not know.

Great work today! Practice sending an email with a small attachment to a friend or family member. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. Kazi nzuri!