Emailing yourself a file...

...is a great way to move it around, working on multiple computers in the lab or between lab and home.

BUT...

When you open an attached file by double clicking on it in your mail program (or on a mail web interface), a copy of it is put into a local directory. As you work and save changes, the modifications are made to the local copy.

Your changes will not automatically be saved back to your email or transferred to your network space. If you just quit Word (or Excel or other programs) and leave, your changes may be lost.

Very Best Way To Avoid This:

Don't use email to transfer documents to yourself - save directly to your network space from your personal computer then access it from the labs, or use a USB keychain (flash) drive.

Next Best Way To Avoid This:

Do not just double click on the attached file. Drag or save it out to the Desktop or to your network space. Then double click it from there, edit and save to your heart's content. If you need to email it to yourself again, start a new message and attach the new version.