Setting General Outlook Options

You can set general options to automatically empty deleted items, make Outlook your default e-mail program, set advanced options, and customize the Navigation and Reading panes. By default, you must empty the Deleted Items folder yourself to permanently delete items it contains, such as messages and tasks . Although this gives you the opportunity to retrieve an item that you no longer want deleted, it also increases the size of your Outlook files, and can slow performance. As part of a good maintenance strategy, you can have Outlook empty the Deleted Items folder when you exit the program. Outlook's advanced options include a wide range of settings from warnings about deleting items to add-in programs. You can also set appearance options for the Date Navigator and working hours per day/week for tasks.

Set the Empty Deleted Items on Exit Option

Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.

Click the Other tab.

Click the Empty The Deleted Items Folder Upon Exiting check box.

Click OK.

Set Navigation Pane Options

Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.

Click the Other tab.

Click Navigation Pane Options.

Select or clear the check boxes with the buttons you want to show or hide on the Navigation pane.

Click OK, and then click OK again.

Set Reading Pane Options

Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.

Click the Other tab.

Click Reading Pane.

Select or clear the check boxes with the option to mark items as read or use the single key reading using space bar.

Click OK, and then click OK again.

Specify Advanced Options

Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.

Click the Other tab.

Click Advanced Options.

Select general options and specify settings. Common options include:

• Click Browse to select a startup folder.

• Select or clear the Provide Feedback With Sound check box.

• Select or clear the Show Paste Options Buttons check box.

Select appearance options and specify settings.

Click OK, and then click OK again.