A Short and Simple Guide for Users

OUTLOOK EXPRESS

A Short and Simple Guide for Users

Using Outlook Express

Microsoft’s Outlook Express is a good E-mail client that can do many things in multiple ways. In this document you will be shown the simplest ways to accomplish many of the common tasks. Some of these tasks are creating a new message, adding contacts, creating groups, and some other useful features.

Some of these procedures may be a little different in different versions of the program.

Be aware that many viruses use the Outlook and Outlook Express clients to propagate. Please use extra caution when opening messages with attachments. This does not mean that you are any more susceptible to viruses.

Using Outlook Express:

Creating a New Message

Creating a new message with Outlook Express can be done a few different ways. One is to select the contacts name in the contacts box in the lower left hand corner of the window or you can select the create mail button in upper left hand side of the window.

1. To create a message using the contacts list you simply select the name and then you double click to open a new message. The new message window appears with the person that you selected already in the “To:” line.

Add your subject and the body of your message and you are ready to send the message by clicking the “Send” button.

2. The other way to send messages is not as easy but it is simple. Click on the create mail button to start a new mail message window.

Here click on the “To:” to open the address book.

Now you are ready to complete your message and send it on its way.

Using Outlook Express:

Adding a New Contact

There are many ways for users to add new Contacts to there address book. The easiest way is to click on the arrow next to the “Contacts” on the lower left of the screen.

Select the option “New Contact” which will bring the following screen.

Now the person is in your contacts list.

Using Outlook Express:

Creating a Contact Group

When sending E-mail to a large number of people more than once then using groups works very well. Groups are a part of the Contacts (Address Book) that allow you to create a single entry in your contact list that will actual send to whom ever you have listed as part of that group.

To create a group, open the address book and click the “New” button. This will open a drop down box that will allow you to select from a “New Contact” or a “New Group”. Select “New Group”.

Here you will give the group a name and either select the group from your contact’s list or enter the name and address in manually. Once completed the group will show up in the contacts list in the main window.

Using Outlook Express:

Deleting Messages

Deleting messages in Outlook Express isn’t just a one step process. When you delete the message from the inbox or outbox the message is sent to the deleted items folder. To get rid of the file completely you can either go in to the folder or delete the items one at a time like you delete them from the inbox or outbox, or you can right click on the deleted items folder in the folder frame. Then select “Empty Deleted Items Folder” and all your messages that you want deleted are gone.

Using Outlook Express:

Preview Pane

Outlook Express has a feature that allows you to view your message without opening a whole new window. This is called the Preview Pane. The preview pane can be sized so that you can see a majority of the message or none of the message.

To size the preview pane take your mouse to the dividing gray line and position it so that you get the resize arrows. (The mouse will have an arrow pointing up and down.) Simply click and hold the left mouse button and move up or down then release when it is the size that you want.

Using Outlook Express:

Sending / Receiveing Attachments

Sending

Sending attachments in Outlook Express is similar to most other e-mail programs. Create a new message

Click the paper clip icon on the toolbar and select the file that you would like to send. Pres “OK” and then finish your message and hit send.

Receiving

When you receive an attachment the simplest way to retrieve it is to click on the paper clip icon on the top of the preview pane.

This will give the option of opening it or saving it.

Using Outlook Express:

Virus Warning

Outlook and Outlook Express are e-mail clients that propagate viruses easily. A way to know if you have one of these viruses is to use a special contact in your contact list that is addressed to yourself but listed under a name that begins at the top of your contact list. If you were to receive a message from that contact then you would know that it is possible that you have a virus that is trying to propagate through e-mail. Simple add the following information in to a new contact. The name needs to start with 00 and then for the address enter in your own e-mail address. If you were to ever receive e-mail from 00 then you should notify tech support.

NOTE:

This is will not tell you what virus or fix viruses it is a simple test to determine if you possibly have a virus.

A Short and Simple Guide for Users

OUTLOOK EXPRESS