Specifying E-Mail Receiving Options

You can specify advance options to customize the way you receive e-mail. To specify advanced e-mail options, you work in the Advanced E-Mail Options dialog box. In it you can select settings to indicate when new items arrive in your Inbox. For example, when you receive a new message, by default Outlook plays a sound, briefly changes the mouse cursor, shows an envelope icon in the notification area of the taskbar, and displays a New Mail Desktop Alert. If you find one or more of these distracting, you can turn off the appropriate option. To conserve space on your taskbar, you can hide the Outlook 2003 Window taskbar button when Outlook is minimized. When you hide the Outlook Window taskbar buttons , the Outlook icon is displayed only in the notification area.

Specify Options for Receiving New E-Mail

Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.

Click the Preferences tab, and then click E-Mail Options.

Click Advanced E-Mail Options.

Select options and specify settings. Common options include:

• The Play A Sound check box.

• The Show An Envelope Icon In The Notification Area check box.

• The Display A New Mail Desktop Alert (Default Inbox Only) check box.

Click OK in each dialog box.

Set Desktop Alert Settings

Click the Tools menu, and then click Options.

Click the Preferences tab, click E-Mail Options, and then click Advanced E-Mail Options.

Click Desktop Alert Settings.

Drag the sliders to set alert duration and transparency.

Click Preview to see your changes.

Click OK in each dialog box.

Hide Outlook Window Taskbar Buttons

Right-click the Outlook icon in the notification area on the taskbar.

Click Hide When Minimized.

Select the option again to show Outlook Window taskbar buttons.