3rd December 2001

Gnomies know that the quickest way to a geek's heart is through his or her e-mail client. Someone recently submitted this tip: "Both Outlook 2000 and 2002 (XP) allow users to customize toolbars. Users typically use this option to add shortcuts to features that are buried deep in menus, while more advanced users add shortcuts to macros they've already created. Here's one way that you can add a menu with a list of people or messages who you e-mail frequently. First, you need to add a new menu item that will hold the list of items; if you only want to add one item, you don't need to create a menu. Follow these steps to create the menu item: Go to View | Toolbars | Customize and click the Commands tab (don't close the Customize dialog box until instructed). From the Categories list, select New Menu and then drag the New Menu item from the Commands list to where you want to place it on the menu bar or toolbar. Right-click the New Menu item and name it accordingly. Now, follow these steps to create a message: in the Categories list, go to File. Then, from the Commands list, drag the Mail Message item to the menu item (that you've named). Right- click the Mail Message item and rename it (whatever you wish). At the bottom of that same context menu, go to Assign Hyperlink and select Open. When the Open menu appears, click E-Mail Address from the 'Link To' column, then fill in the E-mail Address and / or Subject fields for your new message (optional). Click OK. Repeat these steps if you want to add more addresses. When you're done, close the Customize dialog box." Bam!