Microsoft Outlook 2003

Automating Appearance with Stationery

Using stationery is a great way to add interest to your messages and express your personality. You can use a stationery already established by Outlook, or create one on your own.

What Stationery Isn't
Creating a New Message with Stationery
Changing the Look of Stationery
Creating Custom Stationery
Setting a Default Stationery

What Stationery Isn't

Outlook's Stationery only controls the visual appearance of the message. If the content is what you want to standardize, refer to the following:

You can create Signature Blocks for paragraphs of content and insert these signatures throughout your message
You can use Templates to create a base message (including the subject line) and use it as a base for future messages

Creating a New Message with Stationery

To apply a stationery that Outlook applies to a new message, use the following instructions:

From the Navigation pane, click MAIL
From the Actions menu, select New Mail Message Using » More Stationery...
The Select a Stationery dialog box appears.
From the Stationery scroll box, select the desired stationery
NOTE: An example of the selected stationery appears in the Preview box.
Click OK
A new message appears.

Changing the Look of Stationery

You can easily make adjustments to the appearance of a stationery that Outlook provides. For example, you may wish to change the font, background color, or picture of an established stationery.

From the Tools menu, select Options...
The Options dialog box appears.
Select the Mail Format tab
In the Message format section, from the Compose in this message format pull-down list, select HTML
In the Stationery and Fonts section, click STATIONERY PICKER...
The Stationery Picker dialog box appears.
NOTE: If this option is grayed out, make sure HTML is selected under Compose in this message format.
In the Stationery scroll box, select the stationery you want to alter
NOTE: Some styles of Stationery can not be edited.
Click EDIT...
The Edit Stationery dialog box appears.
In the Message font section, click CHANGE FONT...
The Font dialog box appears.
In the Font dialog box, make the desired changes
Click OK
To change the background picture
1. From the Background section, select Picture
2. From the Picture pull-down list, select the desired option
OR
To have the background as a solid color
1. From the Background section, select Color
2. From the Color pull-down list, select the desired color
  NOTE: Stationery can have either a background picture or a solid color background.
To exit the Edit Stationery dialog box, click OK
To exit the Stationery Picker dialog box, click OK
To exit the Options dialog box, click OK

Creating Custom Stationery

If none of the stationery options that Outlook provides suits you, you can create your own personalized stationery. Review the options available before creating your stationery.

Creating Custom Stationery: Options

There are several methods you can use to create your custom stationery.

To create from scratch:

Complete steps 1-5 of Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure
Select Start with a blank stationery
Complete steps 7-14 of Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure

To create using an existing stationery:

Complete steps 1-5 of Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure
Select Use this existing stationery as a template
From the pull-down list, select the desired stationery
Complete steps 7-14 of Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure

To create using a file:

Complete steps 1-5 of Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure
Select Use this file as a template
Type the file name in the text box
OR
1. Click BROWSE...
  The File to use as a template dialog box appears.
2. Using the Look in pull-down list and other navigational tools, locate and select the desired file
3. Click SELECT
Complete steps 7-14 of Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure

Creating Custom Stationery: Procedure

These instructions will guide you through the process of creating custom stationery.

From the Tools menu, select Options...
The Options dialog box appears.
Select the Mail Format tab
In the Stationery and Fonts section, click STATIONERY PICKER...
The Stationery Picker dialog box appears.
NOTE: If this option is grayed out, make sure HTML is selected under Compose in this message format.
Click NEW...
The Create New Stationery dialog box appears.
In the Enter a name for your new stationery text box, type a name
Select how you would like to create the custom stationery
NOTE: You may create a custom stationery from scratch, using an existing stationery, or using a file.
Click NEXT
The Edit Stationery dialog box appears.
In the Message font section, click CHANGE FONT...
The Font dialog box appears.
In the Font dialog box, make the desired changes
Click OK
To change the background picture
1. From the Background section, select Picture
2. From the Picture pull-down list, select the desired option
OR
To have the background as a solid color
1. From the Background section, select Color
2. From the Color pull-down list, select the desired color
  NOTE: Stationery can have either a background picture or a solid color background.
To exit the Edit Stationery dialog box, click OK
To exit the Stationery Picker dialog box, click OK
To exit the Options dialog box, click OK

Setting a Default Stationery

If you do not want to select a stationery every time you send a message, you can select a default stationery.

From the Tools menu, select Options...
The Options dialog box appears.
Select the Mail Format tab
In the Stationery and Fonts section, from the Use this stationery by default pull-down list, select the desired stationery
Click OK

Turning Off the Default Stationery

From the Tools menu, select Options
The Options dialog box appears.
Select the Mail Format tab
In the Stationery and Fonts section, from the Use this stationery by default pull-down list, select <None>
Click OK
You will now need to select a stationery when you want to use one.