EPIM 26.0: New Looks and Functions for Mail

In the last post, we reviewed miscellaneous enhancements in EPIM 26.0. Here, we'll concentrate on changes in the Mail module.

Two enhancements to templates and encryption advance EPIM's position as a comprehensive email client.

To achieve this position was part of the rebranding that began in mid-2025, when the long-time EssentialPIM Free was renamed EPIM Mail. Announcing the change, EPIM said, “This new identity highlights its focus as a premier email management solution.”

1. Templates are more handy and include variables

However, the two products begin to diverge starting with v26.0. EPIM Pro expands the functionality and accessibility of mail templates (Figure 1). As in the past, you can open a template, modify it as needed, and send it. The template remains in tact.

In v26.0, you can also insert a template into a new message or into a reply. In the latter case, the template replaces the original content. To retain it, two variables are available: Body (plain text) and HTML Body, which preserves the original formatting (Figure 2). Position the cursor in the message, and then go to Templates > Insert Template Variable.

2. PGP encryption extends to attachments

The second enhancement is the addition of MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) to PGP encryption. PGP by itself encrypts only the message and not the attachments. MIME encrypts both in one package for greater security.

Seeing mail your way

Four modifications add new ways to customize your mail.

1. EPIM 26.0 supports assigning color and custom icons to your mail accounts. To access this feature, right-click on an account, select Account Settings, and use the color and icon buttons next to the account name (Figure 3).


2. If your messages look crowded, especially in the Table View, the new “spacious” layout increases the spacing between emails (Figure 4). The option is under Layout > Message List.


Figure 4. Compare the default list of messages (1) with the spacious view (2), which cushions items with extra space.
3. You have had the option in Notes to remove icons from individual notes. A similar choice has been extended to mail folders (Figure 5). This setting hides icons on all mail folders and is available through Folder Pane > Hide Folder Icons in either the View menu or the Layout button on the Main toolbar.


Figure 5. shows where to find the setting to hide mail folder icons and a comparison of the results.
4. There are three ways now to view the contact in the From field:
- name only (the default),
- email only, or
- name and email combined.

See Figure 6 for the differences. To set your preference, follow Tools > Options > Mail > Display & Compose:


Figure 6. Shows the setting and the result of each option for displaying contact names. The setting also controls how names appear in the column filter.

Introducing multiple signatures and canned response shortcuts

Each mail account may now have multiple signatures, which prompted a redesign of the Account Settings dialog (Figure 7).

With the introduction of multiple signatures comes the ability to assign a default signature for new messages and responses.

Users who prefer the keyboard to the mouse can now assign shortcuts for inserting canned content into email messages (Figure 9).

We will review the new support for Markdown documents in an upcoming post.