L
Lasse
I just installed Office 2003 and really bounced when I got to OutLook.
I have read a lot of postings on this issue, but I think that sofar nobody
has pinpointed my relevant problem. For me it's all about the GUI ant limited
space on the screen.
My strongest objection against the navigation pane is that it can not be
divided into several columns. Since most mail content is "dynamically
formatted" the width of the mail/reading area is not crucial. However, if
one, like I use the folder wiew for navigation a lot there is a requirement
for as much height in that collumn as possible. I have a large catalog
structure...
In OutLook 2003 as opposed to v.2000 this area has to compete with space
used by favourites and the buttons. I have seen some suggestions from
Microsoft, but they all have their disadvantages. I will list them below with
comments and make suggestions for improvment.
1. Take away the shortcuts in favourites: To begin with, why can't the
section be removed (hidden) completely? Second, if I take away the shortcuts
there is no option to use shortcuts, which I want.
I could use the buttons to access OutLook functionality, BUT it can not be
customised to contain the "shortcuts" that I want, as in the old v2000
OutLook bar. Therefor this is not a satisfactory solution.
2. Minimise the buttons: Ok solution for saving space. Problem with buttons
is as I statet above that I can't customise whatever shortcut I need. Comment
- Doesn't replace functionality of shorcuts.
3. Third party solutions: NOT OK for my IT department or the current company
platform. Comment: Bad solution for company users
4. Install OutLook-bar from older version of OutLook: NOT OK for the same
reason as in 3.
5. Create Toolbar: Well, it works BUT there will be no customised icons and
the toolbar conflicts with the desktoplayout since it is not integrated in
the most optimised location of the program Layout. No customised icons is
pretty serios since the eye is more prone to interpret pictures rather than
having to read the text what functionatliy each button have. Comment - Not an
optimal solution.
Having all that said here is the improvment suggestions. Solution could be
one or another or a combination...
1: Make it possible to chose "Classic OutLook wiew", like in the rest of
Windows. This would solve my problem completely...
2: Make it possible to separate the navigation pane into several columns.
Also make it possible to hide/unhide the different sections. Favourites works
ok, but make it optional to use bigger icons. That would give favourites the
same functionality as the old OutLook-bar.
3: I liked the double functionality of being able to chose for instance
"Calender" from both OutLook bar and the catalog wiew. Why has that
dissapeared? There is so much multi-access to most other functionality in
Windows so I really don't understand why OutLook had to be so "stripped".
Last, i must say that I regard the "forced" layout change as not very well
thought through. Microsoft has to understand that it's users develop a
working-style based upon the functionality of a program, which in this case
has been standard for over 8 years. Updating should imply better/more
functionality, not forcing a change of the way of working upon the users
without actually improving functionality. Then it's really another product...
Best Regards/ Lasse
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...4743&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.installation
I have read a lot of postings on this issue, but I think that sofar nobody
has pinpointed my relevant problem. For me it's all about the GUI ant limited
space on the screen.
My strongest objection against the navigation pane is that it can not be
divided into several columns. Since most mail content is "dynamically
formatted" the width of the mail/reading area is not crucial. However, if
one, like I use the folder wiew for navigation a lot there is a requirement
for as much height in that collumn as possible. I have a large catalog
structure...
In OutLook 2003 as opposed to v.2000 this area has to compete with space
used by favourites and the buttons. I have seen some suggestions from
Microsoft, but they all have their disadvantages. I will list them below with
comments and make suggestions for improvment.
1. Take away the shortcuts in favourites: To begin with, why can't the
section be removed (hidden) completely? Second, if I take away the shortcuts
there is no option to use shortcuts, which I want.
I could use the buttons to access OutLook functionality, BUT it can not be
customised to contain the "shortcuts" that I want, as in the old v2000
OutLook bar. Therefor this is not a satisfactory solution.
2. Minimise the buttons: Ok solution for saving space. Problem with buttons
is as I statet above that I can't customise whatever shortcut I need. Comment
- Doesn't replace functionality of shorcuts.
3. Third party solutions: NOT OK for my IT department or the current company
platform. Comment: Bad solution for company users
4. Install OutLook-bar from older version of OutLook: NOT OK for the same
reason as in 3.
5. Create Toolbar: Well, it works BUT there will be no customised icons and
the toolbar conflicts with the desktoplayout since it is not integrated in
the most optimised location of the program Layout. No customised icons is
pretty serios since the eye is more prone to interpret pictures rather than
having to read the text what functionatliy each button have. Comment - Not an
optimal solution.
Having all that said here is the improvment suggestions. Solution could be
one or another or a combination...
1: Make it possible to chose "Classic OutLook wiew", like in the rest of
Windows. This would solve my problem completely...
2: Make it possible to separate the navigation pane into several columns.
Also make it possible to hide/unhide the different sections. Favourites works
ok, but make it optional to use bigger icons. That would give favourites the
same functionality as the old OutLook-bar.
3: I liked the double functionality of being able to chose for instance
"Calender" from both OutLook bar and the catalog wiew. Why has that
dissapeared? There is so much multi-access to most other functionality in
Windows so I really don't understand why OutLook had to be so "stripped".
Last, i must say that I regard the "forced" layout change as not very well
thought through. Microsoft has to understand that it's users develop a
working-style based upon the functionality of a program, which in this case
has been standard for over 8 years. Updating should imply better/more
functionality, not forcing a change of the way of working upon the users
without actually improving functionality. Then it's really another product...
Best Regards/ Lasse
----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...4743&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.installation