Preparing Messages

Module 4.1.2: Preparing Messages

You will usually initiate the process of preparing a new message from your Inbox. However, you can also do this from another folder containing lists of messages. These include your Sent items, Deleted items, Drafts folders, and any custom folders you have previously created. To prepare a new message: Press Control N which will place your cursor in the To field. Type the email address of a recipient. If you want to address the message to more than one recipient, place a semi-colon after each address to separate them. Tab to the CC field, and type in addresses for those to whom you want to copy the message. Tab to the Subject field and type in text that reflects the content of the message. Tab to the Message body field and compose your message. Press either Alt S or Control Enter to send the message. The very first time you press Control Enter to send a message, a dialog opens asking if you want to use this keystroke as a shortcut for sending messages. Tab to the Don’t show this message again checkbox and press the Spacebar to check it. Then Tab to the Yes button and press Enter. This dialog will no longer pop up. After the message is sent, focus is returned to the folder where you began preparing the message. At any point in preparing the message, you can press Shift Tab to navigate back to the various fields. we mentioned above that, when tabbing and shift tabbing through a message you have received, the order is inconsistent. However, when you are preparing a message, the Tab order is consistent and predictable. Here’s some advice on email etiquette. Take time to put text in the Subject field that meaningfully reflects the content of your message. For example, if you are on a technology discussion list, don’t type in vague stuff like “A Question,” or “Problem with Outlook.” Instead, be specific by typing “Problem Creating Outlook Folders.” If you consistently type in vague text on the Subject line, recipients will think you don’t know what you are doing.