Entries tagged "Microsoft Office"
Manage Task List in Microsoft Word: Embedding Emails from Outlook
For the last few years, I have been using Microsoft Outlook for managing tasks. The main problem that I have been experiencing is with flagging emails as tasks. For some reason, the newly created task isn't always staying in my task list. It usually appears at first, but I need to wait for around 30 to 40 seconds to make sure the task doesn't disappear. I am not sure what causes the issue, but quite a few of my tasks disappear on me. When it happens, I need to reflag the email as a task. Since I am having trouble figuring out why the flag disappears, I spent the last year or so experimenting with Microsoft Word to manage tasks. [Continue reading]
Save Single Email Message to Multiple Outlook Folders
I use a series of folders to keep my email archive organized. The folders are designed to match the navigational structure of the websites I manage so that emails are easier to locate when needed. The problem is that some emails don't fit neatly within these folders. I'll receive an email, for example, that contains a newsletter to post online and asks to make changes to the about section for the website. Should that email be archived with the messages related to the newsletters section or should it be saved with the about section emails. It finally dawned on me that I don't need to make that sometimes tough decision. [Continue reading]
Avoid Losing Emails Flagged as Tasks
A downside of flagging emails as tasks in Outlook is that they are one in the same. If you delete the task, for example, the email will also be deleted. Outlook at least warns you before something like that happens. However, I found a way to delete several tasks / emails without any warning from Outlook. Luckily, I was able to recover the lost emails with a bit of work. [Continue reading]
Store Task Emails in Microsoft Outlook Data Files
Flagging emails as tasks has been complicated by the fact that I organize messages into Outlook Data Files. Once a flagged email is moved to a Data File, the corresponding task disappears from my task list. I've been working around this shortcoming by manually creating a task based on the email. However, it turns out that flagged emails can be saved to Data Files. The setting to have them appear in the task list is just buried. [Continue reading]
Streamline Process for Flagging Emails as Tasks in Microsoft Outlook
I currently use Microsoft Outlook to manage tasks. One thing I have been wanting to simplify is the process for flagging and categorizing email messages so they appear under Tasks. While the solution discussed in this post doesn't exactly meet my needs, it does simplify the process for many cases. [Continue reading]
A Faster Way to Block Senders in Outlook
To combat spam, I'm using the Block Sender feature in Outlook. Flagging messages to block is a fairly simple process, but an increasing amount of spam has been making its way into my inbox. The number of steps involved to flag all the messages adds up quickly. So I decided to look to my typical time saver when it comes to Microsoft products, the Quick Access Toolbar. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Flag Emails as Tasks Before They Get Lost in the Sent Mail Folder
Part of managing my task list involves monitoring the email requests I send to co-workers. Since I can't remember the details of every request, I flag the messages in Microsoft Outlook so they appear in my task list. The problem is that I don't always remember to go to my Sent Mail folder and flag the requests. And some of them end up being lost. So I am getting into the habit of flagging emails as they are being written. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Leveraging Task Descriptions
Managing tasks in Microsoft Outlook is made easy by the versatility of the task description field. Not only do you have the ability to create bulleted lists, bold text, etc., but you can also embed emails and other documents within the description. No more digging through folders trying to find that one message needed to complete a specific aspect of a task. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Create Customizable Tasks
Sometimes I just need more control over the tasks created in Microsoft Outlook. Being able to flag emails that I may need to follow up with is great, but the options for customizing the resulting tasks can be too limiting. For the times where you need more control, Outlook provides additional ways to create tasks. [Continue reading]
Manage Tasks in Outlook: Flagging Emails as Tasks
My primary goal for switching to Microsoft Outlook was so I could track requests that I send to co-workers through email. If I don't flag the requests shortly after sending them, there's a good chance that I'll forget to follow up. Let's take a quick look at how I currently use Outlook to stay on top of these types of requests. [Continue reading]