I’ve noticed users repeatedly asking these “Outlook: How to” questions on newsgroups and blogs. So I’ve gathered the “quicker” solutions here:
GENERAL TIPS
- Multi Column Sorting Clicking on a column in your Inbox (i.e. From, Subject, Received Date) sorts on that field – clicking again and it sorts in descending order. Now in Outlook 2003, you can also sort messages on multiple columns by holding the <Shift> key while clicking (selecting) your sort criteria.
- Remove a column from a mail view (i.e. InBox), by dragging the column “off screen” until an X appears, then release the mouse button.
- To delete names from the AutoComplete list, choose the unwanted name using the <Up> or <Down> arrow keys, and then press <Delete>.
- If you’re using two monitors, move Desktop Alerts to the second monitor. When an alert appears, hover over it and drag it to the other monitor.
- Make New Mail Desktop Alerts transparent:
- From the Tools pull-down menu, select Options.
- On the Preferences tab, click E-mail Options, then Advanced E-mail Options
- From the Desktop Alert Settings, change the duration & transparency levels.
- Create a new Word document, Excel worksheet, or PowerPoint presentation by pressing <Ctrl> + <Shift> + H
- Dragging any mail folder from Outlook to your desktop will create a shortcut.
EMAIL TIPS
- Create a reminder to reply to an email
- <Right-Click> the message and select Follow Up, then Add Reminder.
- In the Due By list, add the date/time and flag color list, then click OK.
- To read your next or previous email message click the small arrow buttons on the email’s toolbar (these arrows point up & down (as opposed to right & left).
- Sending an Email Attachment Sometimes it difficult to locate the file you wish to attach while within Outlook.
- Locate and select the file(s) using your preferred method
- <Right-Click> on the file(s) and select Send To, followed by Mail Recipient.
- Flag messages by selecting the message, and pressing <Insert>
- To lookup an email address (or partial spelling) in your address books press either <Ctrl> + K or <Alt> + K
CALENDAR TIPS
- Add holidays to your Calendar (we’re all Grinches by default)
- From the Tools pull-down menu, select Options
- From the Preferences Tab, click Calendar Options, then Add Holidays.
- Display days “side-by-side” Clicking on a specific date, shows you that date. Highlight a range of dates, and you’ll be shown those dates side-by-side.
- Show Saturday and Sunday in separate boxes in your monthly calendar
- <Right-Click> anywhere in Calendar view, select Other Settings.
- Unselect the Compress weekend days check box.
- Move an appointment by dragging it to a new date or time in your Calendar. Copy an appointment by holding the <Ctrl> key while dragging it to a new date or time in your Calendar.
CONTACT TIPS
- Add a new contact from an e-mail message
- While reading their email message, <Right-Click> on the person’s email address and select Add to Outlook Contacts
- Guess we don’t really need a step two.
- Send an email, or create an Appointment, meeting or task by <Right-Clicking> on a Contact and select:
- New Message to Contact
- New Appointment with Contact
- New Task for Contact
- Change the number of columns of contacts by moving the columns – or dragging the column dividers “off screen”
- Create contacts from the same company (avoiding retyping the company’s information)
- Create and select a “company” contact
- From the Actions pull-down menu, click New Contact from Same Company.
Switch from Outlook Express to Outlook
More tips: 10 Excel "How to" Tips
Thanks Blake :)