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Tools --> Options --> Read
[x] Automatically Expand Grouped Messages
[x] Automatically download message when viewing in the Preview Pane (but don't use Preview mode)
[x] Show ToolTips in the message list for clipped items (say what?)
Highlight watched messages: Red
[x] Get 300 Messages at a time
Some things you will not see in the HELP for Outlook Express.Some major shortcomings in the Rules in Outlook Express.
- The text to be checked by the rule is fortunately completely case insensitive. Contrasted with some search engines which are case insensitive only if entered in lowercase.
- Deleting from the server: deletes the message from the server and you will not receive a copy in your mailbox either.
- Deleting the message, simply transfers the message unread to your Deleted Items file. You may want to also mark it as Read.
- You cannot sort the lists of words alphabetically.
- You have to refresh entries based on Address List.
- You cannot export/import a list of rules such as to add more rules to your own, to give to someone else, to install on another computer.
Message Rules (Email) can be used with augment your blocked senders list, and to reduce SPAM, and to block some viruses that have specific wording included. (see virus in Related area)Control: Tools --> Message Rules --> Mail
Apply this rule after the message arrives Where the message body contains 'I send you this file in order to have your advice' Move it to the Deleted Items folderFor a more complete list of what I use for email. [2001-12-23] Unfortunately everything has to be be individually entered.
Message Rules (Newsgroups) can be used to eliminate some troublesome posters, but that is not what I use them for in Newsgroups.I use message rules to keep track of my own postings and the replies to them (in Red, watched). Another thing I just started was to identify particular people in the newsgroups with a color (colour), but not marking them as watched. Following are 4 of my news rules. Even though later replies to my post will be watched it would be a good idea to mark the question being replied to as watched when replying. There may be other replies for the question but not threaded below mine.
Control: Tools --> Message Rules --> News
Apply this rule after the message arrivesThe underlined portions can be clicked on to modify that portion. Everything else is modified using checkboxes.
Where the message is on bit.listserv.ibm-main newsgroup
and Where the Subject line contains 'CICS' or 'VSAM'
Delete itApply this rule after the message arrives (example of subjects of particular interest)
Where the Subject line contains 'menu' or 'menues'
Highlight it with Green
Mark the message as watched (using a dark green font)Apply this rule after the message arrives (using your own Email address)
Where the From line contains 'DMcRitchie@msn.com' or 'DMcRitchie@hotmail.com
Mark the message as watchedApply this rule after the message arrives (specific people you want to see)
Where the From line contains 'xxxx@microsoft.com' or 'xxxx@mediaone.net'
Highlight it with GreenApply this rule after the message arrives
Where the message is on microsoft.public.excel.misc newsgroup
and Where the number of lines in the message is more than 350 lines
Delete it and Mark it as read
Do the same for programming and for worksheet.functions -- this is about the only means to eliminate postings with attachments.Using the above message rules for newsgroup postings, I can quickly identify my own postings (see view below).
Control: View menuThe most important thing to do first here is to « turn off "Show Preview Pane" under Layout. This will allow you to first examine email or postings using File menu (or RClick menu), Properties, Detail, View Source -- in OE to make sure you want to read it. If your email browser opens the file you are open to immediately running malacious code. Don't open suspicious documents (especially those with attachments) without doing this preliminary examination to see if it contains HTML code or executable code.
One option under Current View is the "Group by Conversation" which you will need to use to keep thread in perspective, especially by switching view from "Show all messages" and "Hide Read or Ignored Messages". Use this option for newsgroups but not for email.
If you want to find messages posted by a particular poster you will have to turn off the "Group by Conversation" to look in the alphabetized list by poster -- click on the [From] button so base of triangle on the From button is down indicating ascending sort on that column.
My normal view for Email is to show All messages, sorted on date received.
My normal view in newsgroups is to show Unread messages in their thread.
View -- Current View -- Hide Read or Ignored Messages
View -- Current View -- Group Messages by ConversationThere are several options controlling your view that are handy. I have one view to view my own postings, from there I can select the one I am interested in and switch to the Show All Messages view to see all of the postings in the thread.
After having looked at a lot of messages in a newsgroup under "Hide Read or Ignored Messages" and you want to see what has come in later by hiding the messages just read can be done by switching to another view "Hide Read Messages" or to a copy of a view "Copy of Hide Read or Ignored Messages".
Create a view that shows your own postings. This is useful for finding the threads that you posted in. Alternate between this view and Show All Messages.
Something that is not immediately apparent if you do a search under EDIT is that you view may be changed. You may see no hits for your search -- be sure to check your view after doing a search -- after all you have probably already read the messages that you are searching for.
View --> Current View -->
All Mine -- create a view to show my own postings
-- Where the From line contains 'DMcRitchie@msn.com'
or 'DMcRitchie@hotmail.com' or 'David McRitchie' Show the message)
Each message has an attachment
Each message has been Flagged #
Each message is being WATCHED
Hide Read Messages
* Hide Read or Ignored Messages
Not downloaded
Show All Messages
--------------------
Flagged Messages
--------------------
Customize Current View
Define Views...
--------------------
Show Replies to My Messages
* Group Messages by Conversation
View --> Columns --> (I show all of the column choices)
You should see both a view drop down and toolbar buttons, if you don't see both then RightClick on the toolbars area and check both Views, and Tool bars.
View --> Layout --> Basic (remove: contacts, Outlook bar; add: Folder bar, Status Bar, Views Bar)
[ ]Contacts, [x] Folder Bar, [x] Folder list, [ ]Outlook bar,
[x] Status Bar, [x] Toolbar, [x] Views Bar.
The folder list can be created by clicking on the right of the Folder Bar, pinned with the Pin or removed with the [x]. Use the Views Bar to switch viewsView --> Layout --> Customize Toolbar (anyway you want)
New Post, Reply Group, Reply, Forward, Separator, Stop, Separator,
New mail, Send/Recv, Separator, Addresses, FindView --> Layout --> Preview Pane (Danger -- « Do NOT Use Preview Pane « )
[ ]Show preview pane(turn off)View --> Layout --> [Customize]
Views // File, Edit, View, Tools, Message[, Help] // New Post, Reply to Group,
Reply to Sender, Forward // Stop // (I guess the rest are leftovers or were wanted at one time)
Write Message drop down, Send/ Receive drop down, Address Book, Find drop down
It is frustrating to see that there are 3 unread messages in a group but the "Hide Read and Ignored" view shows "No Unread Messages". This is probably due to messages that were marked as Ignored were not also marked as Read. Use the "Hide Read Messages" view as opposed to "Hide Read and Ignored Messages", to find these errant posts and mark them as read (RClick on item for "Mark as Read" option, you do not have to actually read them). This will also allow you to review with special treatment the ones marked IGNORED, which may have be so marked simply because of bad dating on original post.
If you want to go hunting for previous postings by an original poster, with the current posting from the original poster selected sort on name. (view: Show All Messages)If you want to find all of the postings for a poster, with posting by that person selected, ungroup conversation and sort on name. (view: Show All Messages)
Another way is the use Ctrl+Shift+F and do your search. I think OE6 works better here because I used to have to change the view in search to show all.
To find postings by same person in serveral newsgroups you can choose the newsserver or even all of Outlook Express, and do your find.
For a more valid listing of author, or subject related postings you can use Google Usenet Search. More information on searching the archives on my Excel Newsgroups page.
Outlook Express does not directly show you the headers within Email and Newsgroup postings. In order to see them you must look for them in file, properties.
File --> Properties --> Details --> [Message Source]
Once you have opened a posting/email and are viewing it, you can use the undocumented shortcut -- Ctrl+F3 -- to view the headers.
You should not open suspicious email or posting without at least looking at the headers before opening it, and never use the Preview window. More on privacy in a later privacy topic.There is an undocumented shortcut for viewing headers but it only works once you have opened the email (Ctrl+F3).
For your safety never open files with attachment from unknown people and only open any file with an attachment by looking at the entire posting via File, Properties -- never open such files directly and never use preview.
Next to attachments, and multiple postings few things are as annoying as HTML or MIME postings. Save those things for private emails they are not appreciated in newsgroups. We want short messages that describe and solve problems not big postings that bog down all resources including those stored on our own computers. This topic has already been included inSee Turning MIME off in Outlook Expressfor directions to turn off MIME for your own Email and within newsgroups. The Excel newsgroups are text only, no attachments, no MIME/HTML postings (no bolded characters, no stationary, none of that space hogging stuff).
Please, please, please use Spell Checking
When you are away from home there will be extra charges for phone calls, so you want to minimize phone usage and you want to make sure you are dialing to a local telephone number.Check the phone numbers supplied by your ISP for your temporary location are in fact local phone numbers as seen in a local telephone book. Make sure you are making a local call can not long distance to a phone you dial when you are home. You will have to check these things out yourself, because I've not used my computer outside my local dialing area.
Note: From a hotel there may be a fixed fee added for making a free local call, so you may want to keep the line tied up like when at home with a separate line, rather than disconnecting. You would have to find out how you are charged and if you are calling a local number or not.
- File menu
Check Work Offline (File Menu), and disconnect the phone line when you do not want to be online.
Uncheck Work Offline, and connect the phone line when you do want to be online.- Tools=>Options
- General Tab - You can keep checking each 6 minutes, but choose
If my computer is not connected at this time: Do not connect as opposed to "connect only when not working offline" or "connect even when working offline"- Send Tab - Make sure "Send messages immediately" is unchecked.
- Connection Tab - Make sure "Hang up after sending and receiving" is checked
- Also see my laptop page.
Switching Between working at Home and where you want to disconnect
Here is a posting that will help you set up how you want to be disconnected or not disconnected. Also check problems.
Before sending Email to a Group from the Address List sort it in reverse alphabetical order -- Lastname in reverse order. For some reason OE inserts each name at the beginning of the list. This reverse sort will result in the names being placed in alphabetical order into the email headers.
Postings on the Newsgroup servers get deleted after a period of time. Some servers routinely only save or cache messages for 3 days. I think the Microsoft newsservers retain 3 months worth of postings.In your Local Folders messages are not deleted, except by you so create a new folder. i.e. "Archive - excel.misc"
Select your microsoft.public.excel.misc and choose a view that includes those you want to keep -- such as "Watched Messages" Select the specific messages you want with Ctrl or Ctrl+Shift then Right Click on one of those messages and choose "copy to folder" then select your "Archive - excel.misc"
If will be up to you to make sure you don't duplicate or leave anything out that you want to keep.
This same process is used to store messages from free email service such as Hotmail where they routinely notify you to move or delete messages.
Everyone connected to other computers or to the internet should maintain a correct Date and Time on their computers, both personal and on servers.Windows Start, Settings, Control Panel, Date & Time (icon)
Date: Set the correct month and year at top of sectionFor those with US Time zones you can set the correct time on your computer using free downloadable software -- Set Your Computer Clock Via the Internet, NIST Internet Time Service (ITS) http://www.boulder.nist.gov/timefreq/service/its.htm -- outside the US time zones other time synchronizations are available see my Date and Time page.
Time: Set the correct time
Time zone: Choose the correct Time zone,
also if applicable checkmark the
Automatically adjust clock for daylight savings changes
- Stopped receiving messages in Outlook Express, (missed six days of email), sent a message to myself from another userid to see if I had somehow blocked messages and was surprised to see "undeliverable mail", from the postmaster along with the following message.
------Transcript of session follows -------
dmcritchie@email.msn.com
The intended recipient's mailbox is full.
Purposely left messages on server in hopes of retrieving them back on my desktop computer, which is still broken, so have to remove them them.
Tools, Accounts, Email, advanced, [x] leave messages on server
-- okay so I now also include [x] Remove from server after 12 days. and I'm back in business.
One of the mysteries in life was starting into a new newsgroup and not downloading everything -- 986 messages, 986 unread, 791 not downloadedHere was a posting that seems to answer that, which was in reply to questions about newsgroups not downloading which BTW could be the ISP.
Right click on the newsgroup name in the folder list and go to Properties | Local File and hit the reset button and then compact. Make sure you have set under Tools | Options | Read the option to download xxx headers at a time unchecked. Then go back to the NG and hit F5 (or View | Refresh). "Steve Cochran" <mailto:scochran@chattanooga.net> in microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie5.outlookexpress
So I unselected the limit and resynchronized the this newsgroup and got 987 messages, 983 unread, 791 not downloaded. Even though I chose ALL, I discovered that the options were not set for newsgroup on the server view of what to download. Once I changed that things began to improve.
If all else failed I was going to do same thing but do a Reset first. Instead ended up losing all of the postings, but having all of the headers, plus getting lots of errors. Each time I did a synchronize about 100 more postings got read into the empty headers. Remove any numeric limit on the Options, Read tab, to eliminate this problem.
If you are having problems not seeing any new postings in the Microsoft newsgroups, you are not alone. If you look in Google Usenet Advanced Search news archives you might see that the newsgroups are up and running. Check the headers in those messages to see that they are directly connecting to the MS servers.
The only real solution appears to be to RESET each group that has not been reporting for several days. Some users have reported that Compacting the newsgroup worked for them, which would be preferable as you would not lose what you already have, if it works. If you use compacting you will lose old items, in any case do it with Outlook Express offline.
If you RESET, which in done in properties, then you will lose the postings and the flags you inserted. Suggest you limit the number of postings read in to about 300 and use Google Usenet Advanced Search for archives. Some problems since about 2000-12-08, could not get responses from most groups about 2000-12-10, problems with those groups resolved 2000-12-11 by reset. Figure I'm back to normal at end of day 2000-12-12.
In order to report Spammers you must forward the complete message along with the headers to their ISP or relevant authorities. Most spammers forge identities so it would be best to use the words such as "apparently one of your users" rather than just "one of your users" sent me this UCE/SPAM mailing because in most cases the ISP is forged. Forged identities are sufficient to terminate a user based on their ISP's Terms of Service (or Terms of Use). [Examples: AOL keyword TOS (apparently not available publically), MSN, Yahoo,Additional privacy issues are covered on my Stocks page.
For most Office applications to show keyboard shortcuts:
Help --> Index --> Keyboard (Outlook Express keyboard shortcuts)Some of the Outlook Express Shortcuts Many indicate Ctrl+ but are actually Alt+
TAB Switch between Newsgroups (pinned) side and Postings, Ctrl+Y goto Folder Esc Close a Message, also Alt+F4 Ctrl+M Send & Receive All (applies to email only) Ctrl+Shift+M Download news for offline reading Ctrl+< Previous Message in List Alt+<-- Ctrl+> Next Message in List, Alt+--> Ctrl+U Next Unread Message Ctrl+Shift+U Next Unread Conversation Ctrl+F3 Show Message Source (headers), only works from within post and is not documented in keyboard shortcuts in HELP. Spacebar Within email/post, advances to next page like PageDN Shift+Spacebar Within email/post, advances to previous page like PageUP LEFT ARROW or PLUS SIGN (+) — Not available with Automatically Expand Grouped Messages Expand a news conversation (show all responses) RIGHT ARROW or MINUS SIGN (-) Collapse a news conversation (hide messages) Shift+Del Delete item Immediately (same shortcut as Windows to bypass recycle bin)
If you don't want messages to be saved in the Deleted Items folder when you quit Outlook Express, on the Tools menu, click Options. On the Maintenance tab, select the Empty messages from the 'Deleted Items' folder on exit check box. I don't have this option turned on because my rules put most email that looks like spam directly to the Delete Items folder, and this would interfere with reviewing before deleting.Also under Tools, Options, Maintenance (tab) is an option to delete after so many days. You might want this option if you want to delete messages earlier than the servers you synch with. Microsoft appears to be keeping about 2 1/2 months for the Excel newsgroups -- can't tell what is intended as every once in a while everything gets dropped. I'm also tight on disk space and may have dropped those earlier messages myself. I don't have this option on but if you are having problems with too few or too many messages you might want to see what choice you've made. Plain text postings don't really use up much disk space.
Internet Explorer 6.0 and Outlook Express 6.0 are available at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htmMy notes on IE6: IE6 -- Internet Explorer 6.0 includes links to stop pop-up advertising.
Virus and Virus combat sites you should be aware of: -- It may be advisable to make up a meessage rule to ward off infection such as described on this page and in MS KB Q49500. (Free AntiVirus programs are available)
- AVG 6.0 Free Edition, « AntiVirus Software, Grisoft, along with Free Updates to keep current. Free version not available in Europe nor for Multi-Use or Servers. Appears to work very well. As with all AntiVirus software is is very important to keep the virus signatures database up to date -- specifically every few days. Software updates both the program and the database and is free (outside of Europe). Other AntiVirus packages provide database update but not program updates after one year so you have to pay when software is no longer adequate. Advantage of free software is that you aren't forced to pay when software needs to be upgraded. According to Newsgroup postings in Dec 2001 the Outlook Express 5 option works for OE6 as well, still haven't figured out what it does though [Google].
- Activescan Web-Based Anti-Virus Tool, Free on-line, disinfection, Panda Software.
- McAffee Anti-Virus (Network Associates, Inc)
SirCam virus: http://vil.nai.com/vil/virusSummary.asp?virus_k=99141
Warning: 4.0.50 and older engines are no longer supported and should be replaced immediately below table, Engines 4.1.20 or earlier should use the SuperDAT file.- symantec Symantec AntiVirus Research Center and SWAT
The following includes SirCam virus « removal instructions, whether or not you have Symantec software: http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.html- F-Secure, Securing the Mobile Distributed Enterprise
The following includes network information to prevent spread on uninfected machines: http://www.f-secure.com/v-descs/sircam.shtml- CERTŪ Coordination Center, http://www.cert.org, operated by Carnegie Mellon University.
- CFI Communication and Security Software for Windows NT/2000 http://www.gfi.com/
- Security Statistics, provides an idea of costs involved to companies including specifically Virus Statistics.
Combating Spyware, Snoopware, brower hijackings along with an anti-virus program you should be checking your system for Spyware. If you think your Outlook Express or your browser suddenly slowed down or that you have the slowest 600 MHZ computer around you probably have picked up some spyware that is spying on your system and reporting back somewhere.
- Ad-aware 5.7 « scans your memory, registry and hard drives for known adware components and lets you remove them safely.
Ad-Aware 5.7 found 28 components that were reported as SpyWare, I had Ad-Aware remove them after the detection phase. Before running I had been considering moving my INBOX entries in Outlook Express that were older than two weeks into an archive INBOX. But after running Ad-Aware I found that the speed of accessing the INBOX with 1442 emails was instant. [Notes]
Attachments with harmful file extensions see Virus Tutorial - File Extensions http://www.cknow.com/vtutor/vtextensions.htm -- Most common "bad" file extensions are .bat, .but, .chm, .cmd, .com, .exe, .hta, .mp3, .pif .reg, .scr, .shs, .vbs, .xls, .xl?
For those with MSN as their ISP: special instructions for OE5 in identifying SPAM through MSN filtering. As of 2001-11-25 it is filtering about 30% of spam coming through and is not filtering at all on Email containing attachments obviously containing viruses.
Newsgroups related to Outlook Express: OE5 is considered part of Internet Explorer (IE5) so posting would be in such groups as (note OE6 and IE6 are latest and the following may change at a later time)
Articles on Microsoft sites:
- news:microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie5.setup
- news:microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie5.outlookexpress
- Outlook Express Features tells you what features are available, nothing about how to implement.
- Newsgroups", lists of public newsgroups carried on Microsoft servers.
- Knowledge Base Search Questions that have been answered by Microsoft.
- XL2000: How to Use an Excel Database to Send E-Mail
- Q252840 -- OLEXP: Problems Downloading E-mail from Hotmail Account, resetting some properties for reading hotmail. (can't use on my system, had to put back to original)
Marfer's Notes (zip file) Mark Ferguson's site.
Frequently Asked Questions and Tips For OE5 by Steve Cochran
DBXtract--Program to extract messages from OE5 folders extraction and/or recovery of OE5 messages
from .dbx files. OE won't reclaim the space until the file is compacted. This utility might
extract the messages already downloaded. like when everything disappears off of a server.
Hotmail, getting free Hotmail account, and setting it up in Outlook Express.
Inside Outlook Express 5 -- OE5 FAQ, Tom Koch
OE5 Performance, Tom Koch
MS KB Articles on OE5 Jim Pickering
Inside Outlook Express 5 Tom C. Koch, Microsoft MVP for IE/OESetting Up to read Newsgroups, How to connect directly to the Microsoft Newsservers with Outlook Express.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/ofc2000.htm -- information there includes creating/moving Address Book, and moving storage location of postings and email to another disk. Included information on getting my AOL address book information into OE5 with a little help from Excel.
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/xlnews.htm -- Information on the Excel newsgroups, and the permanent archives and searching with the Google Advanced Usenet Search engine.
Excel Shortcuts http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/shortx2k.htm -- Shortcuts in Excel 2000.
Please send your comments concerning this web page to: David McRitchie mailto:DMcRitchie@msn.com.