How to work with HTML stationery in Outlook 2002 (290843)

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook allows you to personalize your messages with the use of stationery. The following are some of the features of stationery:

• Graphic images
• Background colors
• Changing font styles, sizes and other attributes
• Use of Predefined HTML standard text styles for emphasis
• Include signatures and other boilerplate items

Stationery is only available if you use HTML to format your messages. The following are the procedures that are outlined in this article:

• Creating a One Time HTML Message
• How to set HTML as your default message format.
• How to become familiar with stationery.
• How to change the look of stationery.
• How to create a new message by using stationery.
• How to create stationery.
• How to delete stationery.
• How to set the default stationery.
• How to set stationery from a saved HTML message.

How to Create a One Time HTML Message

To create a single message in HTML format, from the Inbox folder Actions menu, point to New Mail Message Using, and then click to select the HTML stationery that you want to use.

NOTE: To create an HTML message without stationery, click HTML (No Stationery).

How to Set HTML as Your Default Message Format

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. In the Compose in this message format box, click HTML.

Each of the following procedures assume that you have selected HTML has been selected your format.

How to Become Familiar with Stationery

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. Click Stationery Picker.

This option allows you to see the various stationery files that are installed with Outlook. You can also edit a particular stationery file by changing fonts, pictures, and backgrounds.

How to Change the Look of Stationery

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. Click Stationery Picker.
3. In the Stationery box, click the stationery that you want to change, and then click Edit.
4. Select the options that you want to use.

How to Create a New Message by Using Stationery

1. Click Inbox.
2. On the Actions menu, point to New Mail Message Using, and then click More Stationery.
3. Select the Stationery that you want to use.

When you first use this menu, it only contains the More Stationery item. As you use stationery to send messages, the titles of the stationery items that you have used are added. If the stationery that you want is not listed, click Get More Stationery, and in the Stationery list, select the stationery that you want to use.

How to Create Stationery

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. Click Stationery Picker, and then click New.
3. In the Enter a name for your new stationery box, enter a descriptive name.
4. In the Choose how to create your stationery box, select whether to start from scratch or use an existing stationery.
   
   To select a file to base your stationery on, click Use this file as a template, type the path and file name, or click Browse to select the file.
5. Click Next.
6. Select the options that you want to use.

If you want to have text automatically added to the messages that you send, such as a boilerplate response to messages, add a signature when you design your stationery.

How to Delete Stationery

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. Click Stationery Picker.
3. In the Stationery box, click the stationery that you want to delete, and then click Remove.

How to Set the Default Stationery

1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
2. In the Compose in this message format box, click HTML.
3. In the Use this stationery by default list, click the stationery that you want to use.

How to Create Stationery from a Saved HTML Message

1. Open the previously saved HTML Message.
2. On the File menu, click Save Stationery, enter a file name, and then click OK.

Additional Considerations When You Use HTML

• HTML stationery can create large messages. Be careful to select a background pattern that is not too large a file or too difficult to read the message text on.
• Microsoft Outlook Rich Text format (RTF) is maintained if you are sending messages to a client that supports Rich Text format.
• Messages that are received by a non-HTML client receives the background as an attachment that appears in the middle of your message.

For more information about HTML and other e-mail formats, click Microsoft Outlook Help on the Help menu, type Create stationery in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
For more information about Stationery, click Microsoft Outlook Help on the Help menu, type What's new about sending andreading messages in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.
For more information about Message signatures, click Microsoft Outlook Help on the Help menu, type Create a signaturefor messages in the Office Assistant or the Answer Wizard, and then click Search to view the topics returned.