Objectives of this Tutorial

Generally: This tutorial explains how to use Outlook Express, an electronic mail package supplied with Windows 98.

Specifically: On completion of this tutorial you will be able to:

• Start Outlook Express
• Send and receive messages
• Read and reply to messages

Outlook Express

Outlook Express can be used to send external e-mail via the Internet. In order to send Internet e-mail, you must be connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

To start Outlook Express

• From the desktop, double-click the Outlook Express icon

OR

• From the Quick Launch toolbar, click the Launch Outlook Express button Outlook Express is launched.

Note: If a dialogue box is displayed asking you to select a connection to dial, choose not to connect but to work offline.

Outlook Express opening screen

The left-hand pane displays, in a similar fashion to Windows Explorer, a hierarchy of folders that have been predefined by Outlook Express. The right-hand pane contains icons displaying a description of their function beneath them.

Tip: If you always go straight to your Inbox on opening Outlook Express, click the When starting, go directly to my 'Inbox' folder checkbox.

Sending and Receiving Messages

In Outlook Express you can compose a message and edit it without being online.

To compose a message

• From the File menu, select Work Offline
• · On the Outlook Express toolbar, click the arrow by the side of Compose Message if you want to select a stationery style

OR

• In the main Outlook Express window, click the Compose a Message icon

The New Message dialogue box is displayed.

• Click in the To: text box and type in the address of your mail's recipient (If you are sending mail to more than one main recipient, separate the names by a comma or a semicolon and a space)

OR

• Click on the index card icon by the side of the To: text box to display the Select Recipients dialogue box and select your recipient(s) from there
• Follow the same steps for completing the Cc:, Bcc: and Subject: fields, moving from field to field by pressing the Tab key
• In the message area, type your message, using the Formatting toolbar to enhance the text

The Formatting toolbar

To set priority

If your message is urgent you can set its priority to High which tells the recipient that you consider it important.

• From the Tools menu, select Set Priority and then select High

Continued...