Outlook HTML message format (OL XP / OL 2003)

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The one issue I have with using the HTML format for messages is that when they are sent to email clients that don’t do a good job in handling HTML a double space is displayed following each use of the carriage return (paragraph mark).

The same thing happens when a sent item is saved to a task or calendar item – all of the double spaces are there as well.

I don’t suppose there is a way to eliminate this?

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use shift enter when creating paragraphs, not enter.

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Yes – shift-enter will work since it is only a line feed character, but then all of the formatting from the previous paragraph will flow to the next paragraph. Not a good solution.

The better solution would be to allow one to build a template for email messages (using word) where you could then use paragraph spacing. Then, only one paragraph mark would be needed.

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How does one get OL to use a Word .dot without useing Word as the email editor?

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Using Word templates without having Word as your e-mail editor is not possible.

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Where can I access the template that word uses for email? I did not think that it could be changed.

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I believe that the Template is called Email.dot – and that it is in one of your hidden folders. (Make sure your Folder Options in Control Panel are set to show such folders.) Normally, opening a Template inside Word enables you to customise it. Try doing this with Outlook closed. HTH

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Beginning with Outlook 2002, it uses normal.dot. Email.dot caused a lot of problems and was one of the major reasons why no one recommended word as the editor in older versions.

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Now I am confused.

Mary is right that email.dot is not used, but if you select HTML format, Word uses a file called email.htm. I found this file while I was looking for email.dot. I can edit it and insert paragraph spacing etc. It also allows the insertion of picture files (a scanned in signature and logo, for example, and these will be displayed properly in a new message. If you de-select Word as the email editor, the pictures then do not display – there is a boundary box with a little red ‘x’ in the upper left-hand corner similar to the boundary box you get on a webpage when you have show pictures turned off.

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Now I am confused.

Mary is right that email.dot is not used, but if you select HTML format, Word uses a file called email.htm. I found this file while I was looking for email.dot. I can edit it and insert paragraph spacing etc. It also allows the insertion of picture files (a scanned in signature and logo, for example, and these will be displayed properly in a new message. If you de-select Word as the email editor, the pictures then do not display – there is a boundary box with a little red ‘x’ in the upper left-hand corner similar to the boundary box you get on a webpage when you have show pictures turned off.

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So… normal.dot is used for HTML messages even if Word is NOT the email editor? If so I wonder why all the styles I have set up in normal.dot don’t show up my OL XP style selections. Am I missing something here?

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This thing is still confusing me a little, as now my graphics don’t work as I thought they did.

But as to your issue, I do not believe Normal.dot has any functionality with email messages. Search your hard drive for email.htm and open that – then edit it using word. Put in your style requirements and then save the file back to its original location.

Now when you restart Outlook you should see your styles – even if you don’t use Word. It works for me.

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This thing is still confusing me a little, as now my graphics don’t work as I thought they did.

But as to your issue, I do not believe Normal.dot has any functionality with email messages. Search your hard drive for email.htm and open that – then edit it using word. Put in your style requirements and then save the file back to its original location.

Now when you restart Outlook you should see your styles – even if you don’t use Word. It works for me.

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BTW — if you select RTF or Plain text, email.htm has no function.

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Makes sense to me. Thanks, you guys.

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Makes sense to me. Thanks, you guys.

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BTW — if you select RTF or Plain text, email.htm has no function.

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So… normal.dot is used for HTML messages even if Word is NOT the email editor? If so I wonder why all the styles I have set up in normal.dot don’t show up my OL XP style selections. Am I missing something here?

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Thanks for the refresher. The memory was getting a bit foggy. (The fact that styles didn’t seem to be crossing over didn’t help!)

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Thanks for the refresher. The memory was getting a bit foggy. (The fact that styles didn’t seem to be crossing over didn’t help!)

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Beginning with Outlook 2002, it uses normal.dot. Email.dot caused a lot of problems and was one of the major reasons why no one recommended word as the editor in older versions.

Reply | Quote

I believe that the Template is called Email.dot – and that it is in one of your hidden folders. (Make sure your Folder Options in Control Panel are set to show such folders.) Normally, opening a Template inside Word enables you to customise it. Try doing this with Outlook closed. HTH

Reply | Quote

Where can I access the template that word uses for email? I did not think that it could be changed.

Reply | Quote

Using Word templates without having Word as your e-mail editor is not possible.

Reply | Quote

How does one get OL to use a Word .dot without useing Word as the email editor?

Reply | Quote

Yes – shift-enter will work since it is only a line feed character, but then all of the formatting from the previous paragraph will flow to the next paragraph. Not a good solution.

The better solution would be to allow one to build a template for email messages (using word) where you could then use paragraph spacing. Then, only one paragraph mark would be needed.

Reply | Quote

use shift enter when creating paragraphs, not enter.

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