Rich Text and HTML Formatting

Outlook can send and display messages in several formats. However the three formats available for messages are plaintext, Rich Text Format and HTML. The plain text format is the simplest format understood by all email programs.

Rich text format stores sophisticated formatting information as ordinary text, with special bracketed codes representing the font and layout instruction. RTF supports text formatting, bullet alignments and linked objects.

To set the default Format for new messages

• Select Tools > Options.

• Select Mail Format tab.
• Click the format which you want to select in the message format area near the top.

To Create a message in a Specific Format choose actions > New Mail message using > Format.

Or, if already composing a message select from the "message format" list box just to the right of the options button.

One of the important features is the ability to use the styles and formatting task pane. To use this Select Format > Styles and formatting to open the task pane.

Elizabeth has just send an HTML message to her friend John but unfortunately her mail program doesn't understand HTML. The mail program automatically displays a plain text version in the message body.

What are the issues related with the message format?

• A RTF formatted message sent to a recipient, is converted to HTML by default by Outlook to preserve the formatting in the message.
• Choosing plain text or RTF for Internet messages will make the users not see formatting in the message and attachments may not be received.
• If the message is a task or meeting request, it is converted automatically to iCal format. This is a common format for Internet calendar items.
• Outlook preserves the format of the message you are replying to.
• Outlook uses the same format that the message is displayed in for the reply.
• If you change the format of the message, the reply is formatted with the new display format.