how do I change the default mail format for message replies?

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Can we have any workaround for this issue such as using Outlook Macro/VB
script to change to HTML whenever i Forward/Reply to a text mail.

Ask in microsoft.public.outlook.program_vba for code help and visit
http://www.outlookcode.com/ for tips on how to write it.

 

[JOSHUABEIJING]

Can no one recommend an add-in to fix this, or some other solution? You two
bickering about the reason you don't have this option/why you should is
certainly not helping. Anyone can click the right places (manually) to
convert the message back to HTML, then switch to a font that isn't horrible ,
then re-paste in a nice signature, but certainly there must be a
better/faster/2007 solution. Anyone?

I would like to kindly point out that you have attacked your customer
base when they are turning to you in frustration for answers - and
when they are giving Microsoft wonderful opportunities to listen for
future upgrades to Outlook to meet the customers' needs.

You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that I have a "customer base"
and work for Microsoft.

This is my first exposure to your customer service level and your personal
work
ethic.

You can imply nothing about my work ethic by what I post here. I don't get
paid to post here.

The specific responses that will be linked with your name
"Brian Tillman" and Microsoft are-- calling the customer
"untrainable" and then responding that "no one here will care if the
customer (and therefore all customers) switch to Mac" when the
customer was offended by your "untrainable" remark.

You seem to be reading messages I never posted. Nowhere did I state anyone
was untrainable. Did you even see the question mark in the sentence? I was
asking if the person considered himself untrainable. I had said it is easy
to train oneself to make choices allowed by the software and the person
responded that he disagreed that it was easy to train himself. Ergo, he
must consider himself untrainable, but I decided I had to ask. I don't make
assumptions about people, unlike, apparently, you.

In the future, I
would like to suggest that you keep in mind that you do not represent
your own opinions and that you are a representative of a company and
their brand.

Wrong. Everything I post here is my own opinion. Perhaps you don't
understand what newsgroups are. They're peer-to-peer venues. While
Microsoft employees do occasionally post here, you'll always see "[MSFT]"
after their names. Most of the rest of us are just people who use Outlook
every day.

 

[smcnully]

I find it remarkable that there are so many inquiries at this site and across
the web plus a third party product that apparently answers the mail (Bells &
Whistles for Outlook-no affiliation to me), and yet the MVP traffic can be
summarized as "well Mircrosoft doesn't think your time as the sender is lees
important than the potential that you might inconvenience a recipient. Bless
there little hearts. They must know better than all of us what we really
need.

 

[Gordon]

I find it remarkable that there are so many inquiries at this site and
across
the web plus a third party product that apparently answers the mail (Bells
&
Whistles for Outlook-no affiliation to me), and yet the MVP traffic can be
summarized as "well Mircrosoft doesn't think your time as the sender is
lees
important than the potential that you might inconvenience a recipient.
Bless
there little hearts. They must know better than all of us what we really
need.

Well for starters, have you never thought that someone who sends email in
plain text does that for a reason? Have you never thought perhaps that that
person doesn't want ANY HTML emails on their machine?
To change that in your reply just because YOU want to is the height of a)
ignorance and b) arrogance.

 

[smcnully]

It's probably ignorance on my part and arrogance on yours.

A careful study of even a handful of these posts will indicate that the
problem manifests itself in thread of reflected e-mail. Many of us do
business almost exclusively with other Outlook client users—mine are US
government users who have their SW mandated to them. In these instances, the
mail almost always starts as either rich text of HTML but in some gateway,
spam filter, mail store and forward site, or something (perhaps even in the
client itself) the plain text attribute gets set and all formatting lost. I
don’t actually know of a single mail recipient in my address book who doesn’t
use Outlook but I have this problem with virtually every one at one time or
another.

I happen to think that it’s a pretty arrogant attitude to assume that I as
the replying party cannot forecast the bulk of my reply requirements and make
exceptional changes when I know a recipient prefers or needs plain text
rather than forcing me to use a tool in a mode where overriding the default
is the normal mode of operation.

As the CIO for my company, we always look for software that meets our user
needs rather than software that routinely requires recurring or redundant
data entry. Resetting the message format for essentially every reply forces
me and my workforce to work for the computer rather than having the computer
work for us. But as I stated in an earlier post, the need is great enough
that a third party developer has put a solution on the market. That will
rarely happen if the need does not exist.

 

[Gordon]

It's probably ignorance on my part and arrogance on yours.

A careful study of even a handful of these posts will indicate that the
problem manifests itself in thread of reflected e-mail. Many of us do
business almost exclusively with other Outlook client users—mine are US
government users who have their SW mandated to them. In these instances,
the
mail almost always starts as either rich text of HTML but in some gateway,
spam filter, mail store and forward site, or something (perhaps even in
the
client itself) the plain text attribute gets set and all formatting lost.
I
don’t actually know of a single mail recipient in my address book who
doesn’t
use Outlook but I have this problem with virtually every one at one time
or
another.

I happen to think that it’s a pretty arrogant attitude to assume that I as
the replying party cannot forecast the bulk of my reply requirements and
make
exceptional changes when I know a recipient prefers or needs plain text
rather than forcing me to use a tool in a mode where overriding the
default
is the normal mode of operation.

As the CIO for my company, we always look for software that meets our user
needs rather than software that routinely requires recurring or redundant
data entry. Resetting the message format for essentially every reply
forces
me and my workforce to work for the computer rather than having the
computer
work for us. But as I stated in an earlier post, the need is great
enough
that a third party developer has put a solution on the market. That will
rarely happen if the need does not exist.

What a load of BOLLOCKS!

 

[senny]

Hi,

couple of ideas for you:
- Ms Outlook -> Options -> Mail Format tab - in the "Message format" section
please check that you choosed HTML as the format to compose message ...
- Ms Outlook -> Options -> Mail Format tab -> Stationery and Fonts ->
Personal Stationery tab - in the "Composing and reading plain text messages"
section click on the FONT button and choose desred font ...

If these solutions above doesn't help, try this one:
http://www.emailaddressmanager.com/outlook/format.html
I didn't test it so I don't guarantee ...

If nothing from above helps you then continue to do it manually or maybe
someone else will help you ...

Can no one recommend an add-in to fix this, or some other solution? You two
bickering about the reason you don't have this option/why you should is
certainly not helping. Anyone can click the right places (manually) to
convert the message back to HTML, then switch to a font that isn't horrible ,
then re-paste in a nice signature, but certainly there must be a
better/faster/2007 solution. Anyone?

I would like to kindly point out that you have attacked your customer
base when they are turning to you in frustration for answers - and
when they are giving Microsoft wonderful opportunities to listen for
future upgrades to Outlook to meet the customers' needs.

You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that I have a "customer base"
and work for Microsoft.

This is my first exposure to your customer service level and your personal
work
ethic.

You can imply nothing about my work ethic by what I post here. I don't get
paid to post here.

The specific responses that will be linked with your name
"Brian Tillman" and Microsoft are-- calling the customer
"untrainable" and then responding that "no one here will care if the
customer (and therefore all customers) switch to Mac" when the
customer was offended by your "untrainable" remark.

You seem to be reading messages I never posted. Nowhere did I state anyone
was untrainable. Did you even see the question mark in the sentence? I was
asking if the person considered himself untrainable. I had said it is easy
to train oneself to make choices allowed by the software and the person
responded that he disagreed that it was easy to train himself. Ergo, he
must consider himself untrainable, but I decided I had to ask. I don't make
assumptions about people, unlike, apparently, you.

In the future, I
would like to suggest that you keep in mind that you do not represent
your own opinions and that you are a representative of a company and
their brand.

Wrong. Everything I post here is my own opinion. Perhaps you don't
understand what newsgroups are. They're peer-to-peer venues. While
Microsoft employees do occasionally post here, you'll always see "[MSFT]"
after their names. Most of the rest of us are just people who use Outlook
every day.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I find it remarkable that there are so many inquiries at this site and
across
the web plus a third party product that apparently answers the mail (Bells
&
Whistles for Outlook-no affiliation to me), and yet the MVP traffic can be
summarized as "well Mircrosoft doesn't think your time as the sender is
lees
important than the potential that you might inconvenience a recipient.
Bless
there little hearts. They must know better than all of us what we really
need.

All I was trying to say is that programming questions are off topic in this
particular newsgroup and to supply you with the location of the newsgroup
where it is on topic. I was making no assertion of the value of your time.

 

[Lionizer]

I came here trying to get Outlook to default to Plain Text for replies.

I will not participate in the mud throwing about who choose which format and
why - rest assured that I have good reasons why I would prefer my replies to
HTML emails to default to plain text.

If anyone has something useful to add to the thread it would be most welcome.
I use Outlook 2007 - maybe I can get plain text by rolling back to 2003?

 

[Gordon]

I came here trying to get Outlook to default to Plain Text for replies.

I will not participate in the mud throwing about who choose which format
and
why - rest assured that I have good reasons why I would prefer my replies
to
HTML emails to default to plain text.

AFAIK you can't. period. Not automatically. (You may be able to do it with
code....)

 

[Mike Sperry]

Hi,

Does http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/hp012305451033.aspx help?

Mike Sperry
http://www.SperrySoftware.com
Find 37 Outlook add-ins that can make a difference!

 

[Mike from Mars]

Can no one recommend an add-in to fix this, or some other solution? You two
bickering about the reason you don't have this option/why you should is
certainly not helping. Anyone can click the right places (manually) to
convert the message back to HTML, then switch to a font that isn't horrible ,
then re-paste in a nice signature, but certainly there must be a
better/faster/2007 solution. Anyone?

I would like to kindly point out that you have attacked your customer
base when they are turning to you in frustration for answers - and
when they are giving Microsoft wonderful opportunities to listen for
future upgrades to Outlook to meet the customers' needs.

You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that I have a "customer base"
and work for Microsoft.

This is my first exposure to your customer service level and your personal
work
ethic.

You can imply nothing about my work ethic by what I post here. I don't get
paid to post here.

The specific responses that will be linked with your name
"Brian Tillman" and Microsoft are-- calling the customer
"untrainable" and then responding that "no one here will care if the
customer (and therefore all customers) switch to Mac" when the
customer was offended by your "untrainable" remark.

You seem to be reading messages I never posted. Nowhere did I state anyone
was untrainable. Did you even see the question mark in the sentence? I was
asking if the person considered himself untrainable. I had said it is easy
to train oneself to make choices allowed by the software and the person
responded that he disagreed that it was easy to train himself. Ergo, he
must consider himself untrainable, but I decided I had to ask. I don't make
assumptions about people, unlike, apparently, you.

In the future, I
would like to suggest that you keep in mind that you do not represent
your own opinions and that you are a representative of a company and
their brand.

Wrong. Everything I post here is my own opinion. Perhaps you don't
understand what newsgroups are. They're peer-to-peer venues. While
Microsoft employees do occasionally post here, you'll always see "[MSFT]"
after their names. Most of the rest of us are just people who use Outlook
every day.

 

[Mike from Mars]

Might help if I reply at the top not the bottom!!

Well rude or not I need the HTML format for a number of reasons and
apologies to anyone not wanting to receive an HTML format email. Whats the
use of having the option if you can not use it. My solution was - go to
"Tools" then "Options" then "Mail Format". Choose "Internet Format" and in
"Outlook Rich Text Options" in the drop box choose "Convert to HTML Format"
and hey presto HTML format is automatically set for new emails, email replies
and email forwards. I prefer not to take two days to fix the next problem I
encounter with Microsoft Outlook!

"Mike from Mars" I'm not from Mars but sounded quite catchy

Can no one recommend an add-in to fix this, or some other solution? You two
bickering about the reason you don't have this option/why you should is
certainly not helping. Anyone can click the right places (manually) to
convert the message back to HTML, then switch to a font that isn't horrible ,
then re-paste in a nice signature, but certainly there must be a
better/faster/2007 solution. Anyone?

I would like to kindly point out that you have attacked your customer
base when they are turning to you in frustration for answers - and
when they are giving Microsoft wonderful opportunities to listen for
future upgrades to Outlook to meet the customers' needs.

You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that I have a "customer base"
and work for Microsoft.

This is my first exposure to your customer service level and your personal
work
ethic.

You can imply nothing about my work ethic by what I post here. I don't get
paid to post here.

The specific responses that will be linked with your name
"Brian Tillman" and Microsoft are-- calling the customer
"untrainable" and then responding that "no one here will care if the
customer (and therefore all customers) switch to Mac" when the
customer was offended by your "untrainable" remark.

You seem to be reading messages I never posted. Nowhere did I state anyone
was untrainable. Did you even see the question mark in the sentence? I was
asking if the person considered himself untrainable. I had said it is easy
to train oneself to make choices allowed by the software and the person
responded that he disagreed that it was easy to train himself. Ergo, he
must consider himself untrainable, but I decided I had to ask. I don't make
assumptions about people, unlike, apparently, you.

In the future, I
would like to suggest that you keep in mind that you do not represent
your own opinions and that you are a representative of a company and
their brand.

Wrong. Everything I post here is my own opinion. Perhaps you don't
understand what newsgroups are. They're peer-to-peer venues. While
Microsoft employees do occasionally post here, you'll always see "[MSFT]"
after their names. Most of the rest of us are just people who use Outlook
every day.

 

[Mike from Mars]

My solution was - go to "Tools" then "Options" then "Mail Format". Choose
"Internet Format" and in "Outlook Rich Text Options" in the drop box choose
"Convert to HTML Format" and hey presto HTML format is automatically set for
new emails, email replies and email forwards. I prefer not to take two days
to fix the next problem I encounter with Microsoft Outlook!

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Might help if I reply at the top not the bottom!!

I found your prior reply just fine, but it would have helped if you had used
cut judiciously instead of retaining so much unrelated text from the prior
messages.

 

[How?How?How?]

Where are the answers to the oringal issue of "how do I change the default
mail format for message replies?" How? How? How?

Can no one recommend an add-in to fix this, or some other solution? You two
bickering about the reason you don't have this option/why you should is
certainly not helping. Anyone can click the right places (manually) to
convert the message back to HTML, then switch to a font that isn't horrible ,
then re-paste in a nice signature, but certainly there must be a
better/faster/2007 solution. Anyone?

I would like to kindly point out that you have attacked your customer
base when they are turning to you in frustration for answers - and
when they are giving Microsoft wonderful opportunities to listen for
future upgrades to Outlook to meet the customers' needs.

You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that I have a "customer base"
and work for Microsoft.

This is my first exposure to your customer service level and your personal
work
ethic.

You can imply nothing about my work ethic by what I post here. I don't get
paid to post here.

The specific responses that will be linked with your name
"Brian Tillman" and Microsoft are-- calling the customer
"untrainable" and then responding that "no one here will care if the
customer (and therefore all customers) switch to Mac" when the
customer was offended by your "untrainable" remark.

You seem to be reading messages I never posted. Nowhere did I state anyone
was untrainable. Did you even see the question mark in the sentence? I was
asking if the person considered himself untrainable. I had said it is easy
to train oneself to make choices allowed by the software and the person
responded that he disagreed that it was easy to train himself. Ergo, he
must consider himself untrainable, but I decided I had to ask. I don't make
assumptions about people, unlike, apparently, you.

In the future, I
would like to suggest that you keep in mind that you do not represent
your own opinions and that you are a representative of a company and
their brand.

Wrong. Everything I post here is my own opinion. Perhaps you don't
understand what newsgroups are. They're peer-to-peer venues. While
Microsoft employees do occasionally post here, you'll always see "[MSFT]"
after their names. Most of the rest of us are just people who use Outlook
every day.

 

[Gordon]

Where are the answers to the oringal issue of "how do I change the default
mail format for message replies?" How? How? How?

Only manually AFAIK. And take note - it's not courteous to reply in a
different format unless there is a VERY good reason...

 

[Ranger]

I agree with MS Pat C 100%
in reading this thread (yet another who would like to see this option
available as it was in older versions of out look (97?)). I am also a second
level support represenative with a large corp. Thankfully coments like
Brian's would be grounds for disiplinary action with my employer. No
corperation is so large as it can survive it's client base. Ask GM or Ford

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

This forum is a peer support forum (i.e., free/volunteers), not staffed by
Microsoft. To be honest, we get a lot of people who say if they can't get
'whatever feature' they will take their ball and go back to t-bird, Mac,
Eudora, Linux, whatever. 99.9% of the time its an empty threat thrown out
in frustration and will hurt them more than it'll ever hurt MS, sorta like
telling the only store in town that you won't shop there ever again.

There is not much we, as peer support, can do to stop someone who prefers to
use another product - frankly, everyone should use the product that meets
*their needs* the best. If its outlook, fine, if not, that is fine too.

I don't recall the ability to always use HTML as an option in Outlook 97.
Actually now that I think for a minute, Outlook 97 didn't support HTML so it
always read and replied with plain text. I'm pretty sure neither outlook
98 or 2000 supported it. Outlook Express did however, so maybe the Internet
Only modes of Outlook 98/2000 did. (I have a VM of 2000-IMO around here
somewhere - if I find it, I will double check. ) I believe its still a
feature in the replacements for Outlook Express.

Most versions of Outlook support always using plain text. In the early days,
converting to HTML was bad because not all clients supported HTML and it
took longer to download and the recipient often had to pay by the minute or
by the KB - it also filled small mailboxes faster than plain text because it
was so much larger. In the 10 yrs that have passed, the first reasons are
still valid - thanks to the number of people using smartphones and cellular
modems. Mailboxes are larger and most smartphones can hold several GB of
mail, so storage space is not so much of an issue.



--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I agree with MS Pat C 100%
in reading this thread (yet another who would like to see this option
available as it was in older versions of out look (97?)). I am also a second
level support represenative with a large corp. Thankfully coments like
Brian's would be grounds for disiplinary action with my employer. No
corperation is so large as it can survive it's client base. Ask GM or Ford

Why would any employer care if I think people reading this newsgroup don't
have a vested interest in what mail client you use? Use what suits you. If
something other than Outlook provides the features you want or need, use it.
If you prefer to use Outlook, then live with its idiosyncracies and petition
Microsoft for any changes you like, then wait (but don't hold your breath
while you do). I suspect even Microsoft people would say, "We'd love it if
you use Outlook but if you think another client suits your purposes better,
then by all means use it."