Monday, July 21, 2008

Make Outlook 2007 search ALL folders instead of just the current folder

Search in Outlook 2007 is awesome. Depending on the way you work, this little tweak will save you a little time every time you need to do a search for emails.

Outlook (by default) searches emails in the current folder you are in. The Search results also come up with a link at the bottom to "Try Searching all Mail Items". I find myself ALWAYS clicking on the Search All link as I rarely bother to move to the relevant folder first.

Here's a quick setting changing that will force Outlook to search all mail items by default.

Click Tools-Options.
Click the Search Options button on the Preferences tab to display the Search Options box.



Click All folders and then click OK.

Do you have any other Search tricks that you find useful. Share it with other readers by leaving a comment on the blog.

Related Posts:
Human-Friendly Power Searches in Outlook 2007
Fixing Search Problems in Outlook 2007

Human-Friendly Power Searches in Outlook 2007

Did you know that Outlook let's you refine your searches using human-friendly "English" words. The following examples will get you started ...

If I want to find all emails that were sent by James Raman, I just need to type the following into the Search Box...
From: James Raman



If I want to find all emails with the word Rugby anywhere in the subject, I just have to type the following in the Search Box...
Subject: Rugby

If I want to find all emails with the word Rugby in the Subject that were sent by James Raman, I just have to type the following in the Search Box...
From: James Raman and Subject:Rugby

I can even refine this further to something like...
From: James Raman and Subject:Rugby and To:Sanjay

Other tags that you can use include BCC and CC.

This simple technique has greatly reduced the time it takes me to find emails. I hope you find it useful.

Do you have any other Search tricks that you find useful. Share it with other readers by leaving a comment on the blog.

Related Tips:
Fixing Search Problems in Outlook 2007

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Displaying Multiple Time Zones in Your Outlook Calendar

Do you need to arrange a meeting with someone in another time zone? Or maybe you're traveling and need to know the time at home and at your temporary destination.

Here's a super simple tip to viewing two time-zones in your Outlook Calendar.

Display your Calendar in Outlook (either Day or Week view).

Right-Click over any of the time labels on the left hand corner to display the pop-up menu. (see big red dot in picture)


Click on Change Time Zone to display the Time Zone settings screen.



Tick the "Show an additional time zone" checkbox and enter the rest of the settings.
Click OK .

Your Calendar will now be displayed with both time zones.



You can choose to leave both time zones displayed or turn one off once you're done by following the steps above(but clearing the tick next to "Show an additional time zone").

Minimize Outlook to the System Tray

This is a great tweak if you frequently have many programs or documents open and you need more space on your Task Bar. A simple setting change will minimize Outlook to the System Tray instead of the Windows Task Bar.


Right Click on the Outlook icon in the System Tray.
On the menu that displays, click/tick Hide when Minimized.

Now when you minimize Outlook, it will now not show on your Task Bar. To display Outlook again after it is minimized, double-click the Outlook icon in the System Tray.