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Formatting Messages with Outlook Express (HTML Bootcamp)
FreeRepublic ^
| July 20, 2002
| dinasour
Posted on 07/20/2002 10:24:53 AM PDT by dinasour
While all of us really love JimRob's new formatting page, it has some limitations. It's great for quick responses like: Go back to DU, CLYMER!
It is awkward when what you really want is: Go back to DU, Clymer!
And, of course, there is no spelling cheecker.
While there are many ways to overcome this, the least of which is becoming an HTML geek, those of us who have been assimilated into the Borg collective probably already have a very convenient tool for formatting simple HTML, namely Microsoft Outlook Express. As you probably know, this is Microsoft's "free" email reader that comes with Internet Explorer. You almost certainly have it installed on your computer already, but if not, go to
If have not tested this with every version of Outlook, and my apologies in advance if this doesn't work with your version of Outlook. This message is being formatted with the version that comes with IE 5.5
Go create an forum message, proceed as follows.
Start Outlook Express, this is most likely in your "quick start" tray as the little envelope with arrows. If this is the first time, you will have to negotiate a number of dialogs concerning setting up an account. While I would like to be helpful, getting through this is beyond the scope of this document, but it's not that hard.
Once you get through this, click on "New Mail". You will get an editor window, somewhat similar to WordPad. Make sure you have "RTF (HTML)" checked in the "Format" menu and "Source Edit" in the view menu. The latter will give you a tab strip on the bottom called "Edit", "Source", and "Preview".
Now compose away, you have all the font tools and formatting tools you could possibly want, as well has a spelling checker.
To transfer the message back to the Free Republic posting page, proceed as follows. Click on the "Source" tab. Do not try to use the entire text that you see here, but rather, select only that part in between the tags <BODY...> and </BODY>, copy it to the clipboard, then paste it into Jim's form, and you are ready to go.
Note: I didn't even have to remember any &xxx codes to get tags (like <BODY>) to format properly, so if you want to end a message with </SARCASM>, all you have to do is type it.
Hint: to insert a hyperlink, type in the text that you want to appear as a link, select it, then click the "Create a hyperlink tool"
Hint: to insert a picture, click on the "Insert picture" tool. Be sure that you specify the source as a URL (http://something) or no one but you will be able to see it.
For Example: every ones favorite columnist:
Enjoy
FRegards Al
TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: help; html; newbie
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I will monitor this thread and try to answer any questions that I can.
1
posted on
07/20/2002 10:24:53 AM PDT
by
dinasour
To: dinasour
Go back to DU, CLYMER!
To: Jakarta ex-pat
3
posted on
07/20/2002 10:31:05 AM PDT
by
dinasour
To: dinasour
I hope you know I was only joking :-)
To: Jakarta ex-pat
Of Course
5
posted on
07/20/2002 10:33:34 AM PDT
by
dinasour
To: dinasour
And, of course, there is no spelling cheecker.ROTFL! You're cheeky.
6
posted on
07/20/2002 10:35:28 AM PDT
by
Carolina
To: Carolina
I try.
7
posted on
07/20/2002 10:37:20 AM PDT
by
dinasour
Comment #8 Removed by Moderator
To: us2ca
'Jus trying to do my part for my FRiends.
9
posted on
07/20/2002 10:48:18 AM PDT
by
dinasour
To: dinasour
I often use the method you describe, even though I know HTML pretty well. It's just so much faster. Sometimes I save messages that I know I may want to use again later.
I use the same version of Outlook Express as you mentioned too. I once installed the full Outlook program,but as far as I could tell, it did not have the source button available where I could edit the message HTML.
For that reason only, I uninstalled it and stayed with Express. (perhaps I just missed it - can anyone tell me?)
10
posted on
07/20/2002 10:50:58 AM PDT
by
kcpopps
To: kcpopps
I have both Outlook and Outlook Express installed. You should be able to run them separately, although only one of them will be your default email program. You may have to restore the shortcut for Outlook Express.
11
posted on
07/20/2002 10:55:34 AM PDT
by
dinasour
To: kcpopps
Just Testing Thanks for showing this...
It Really saves a lot of time for me. A real shortcut
What else can I do?
To: dinasour
Go Back to DU, Clymer!
Cool! Thanks!
13
posted on
07/20/2002 4:12:47 PM PDT
by
timpad
To: dinasour
cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14
posted on
07/20/2002 6:01:05 PM PDT
by
chnsmok
To: dinasour
I'm still waiting for JR to implement a style-property filter so I can do more precise formatting--especially with tables--than is possible without the style tag. One of my favorite tricks used to be to use tables to overlay graphics on images; without the style tag, such formatting gets altered based upon a user's "font size" selection.
15
posted on
07/20/2002 6:50:38 PM PDT
by
supercat
To: dinasour
For those with Netscape Communicator, the Composer function is an HTML editor that allows you to compose, change fonts, add pics, etc, until you like what you see. Then do view
source and paste as with Outlook. It is much faster than trying to type in HTML codes while making your message.
16
posted on
07/20/2002 6:54:07 PM PDT
by
gcruse
To: gcruse
I will have to check that out. Being a good drone, I tend to gravitate to Microsoft products. Also, as a geek, what I really wanted was the spell checker, more so than format tools.
There are also tons of HTML editors out there For Example, but they tend to be optimized for complex web pages. The editor in Outlook is optimized (or simplified) for messages and I find that convenient.
17
posted on
07/20/2002 8:53:19 PM PDT
by
dinasour
To: ActionNewsBill
What else can I do?
Well what do you what to do? (That was the insert horizontal line tool).
You will note, that when I quoted your message, I got the font and colors (mostly). All I had to do is select the text from my browser and paste it in my message window. No muss, no fuss. This trick may also work when you are composing articles from a web page, although as noted in message #15 not all the HTML thingies are supported by JimRob so you will have to be sure that preview looks ok.
If you are composing your magnum opus, you may want to take a while to consider it. Click on File/Save and your message will be saved in "drafts" so you can review it when you are sober.
Also for your magnum opus, you may want to paste your message into Word, if you have it. Had I done that here, I would have found a few more stupid-non-spelling errors.
Another think that I like, is that because I am composing in a separate window, it's easier to surf around to find links, etc., without losing my place.
18
posted on
07/20/2002 9:16:55 PM PDT
by
dinasour
To: chnsmok
You need to paste over the initial http stuff.
19
posted on
07/20/2002 9:35:31 PM PDT
by
dinasour
To: supercat
No matter how many times I try to proof it, there is always something like:
Go create an forum message...
Instead of
To create a forum message...
Some day, they will create a spell check that knows what I mean, rather than what I say.
20
posted on
07/20/2002 9:47:52 PM PDT
by
dinasour
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