OL98: How to Create a New Default WordMail Template (180388)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 98
This article was previously published under Q180388

SUMMARY

When you use Microsoft Word 97 Word as your e-mail editor in Microsoft Outlook 98, the default template is Email.dot. You can also create a new template with special backgrounds, included text, pictures and other special effects. This article describes how to create a new e-mail template and how to set it as the default.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook provides several predefined templates for use with WordMail. These include:

E-Mail.dot
Flame.dot
Highttech.dot
Html.dot
Midnight.dot
Ocean.dot
Rain.dot
Urgent.dot

These templates are also available in an Outlook version. The Outlook version of these files have an extension of .oft.

To access the Outlook version of these templates:

  1. On the Tools menu, point to Forms, and click Choose Form.
  2. In the Look In list, click "Templates in File System."
  3. Click the desired Outlook Template, and click Open.

Creating a WordMail Template

  1. Open a blank Word document.
  2. Use the features in Word to add backgrounds, ClipArt, WordArt, textual effects, as you desire.
  3. On the File menu, click Save As.
  4. In the Save As Type list, click to select Document Template(*.dot).
  5. In the Save In list, click to select the Program files\Microsoft Office\Office folder.
  6. Type a name for your template in the File name window and click Save.
NOTE: If you suspect your E-Mail.dot is damaged, you can exit Outlook and Word, and rename the file with a non-standard extension. When you restart Outlook and compose a new message, Word will use its Normal.dot file to compose your message. Email.dot is not re-created after you rename it. You will have to extract the file from the Outlook 98 CD or re-run Outlook Setup to get the file back on your computer.

To rename Email.dot:
  1. In Windows Explorer, click Email.dot.
  2. On the File menu, click Rename.
  3. Type the new name, such as Email.old, and then press ENTER.
  4. Close Windows Explorer, and then start Outlook.

Setting a New Template as the Default E-mail Template

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. On the Mail Format tab, in the "Send in this message format" box, click to select Microsoft Word.
  3. In the "Use this template by default" box click to select your new WordMail template.
  4. Click Apply, and OK
When you open a new e-mail message in Outlook, you will see your new template. The recipient must also use WordMail to see any special Word background.

Modifying Styles in a Template

  1. Ensure that Microsoft Word is your default message format.
  2. On the File menu, point to New, and click Mail Message.
  3. Click the body of the open message.
  4. On the Format menu, click Style.
  5. Click to select a style in the Styles list, click Modify, click Format, and click the type of formatting you want to change.
  6. Select the desired attributes, click OK, click Add To Template, click OK, and click Apply.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:7/31/2001
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB180388
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