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Outlook New Mail Message Shortcut
I found an easy way to create a Microsoft Outlook New Mail Message shortcut. The shortcut lets me create a new message without having to open Outlook. First, create the following batch file:
@Echo off
Start Outlook.exe /c ipm.note
Exit
Name this file newmsg.bat and save it in the folder in which outlook.exe resides (e.g., C:\program files\microsoft office\office). Next, create a shortcut for the batch file on your desktop: right-click the file, select Create Shortcut, then drag the shortcut to your desktop. You can also add this shortcut to your Quick Launch toolbar.
Erasmo J. Medina
emedina@cyberdude.com
Reader Comments
You can also use this command from the RUN box:
Mailto:user@host.com?subject=text
[enter]
Greg -September 06, 2001
I'd like to know if it is possible to create a shortcut for a form in the Outlook toolbar so users could launch it automatically.
Thanks
Joao Paulo Ramos -September 13, 2001
Or, if you're using Win2K, create a shortcut this way:
On an open part of the desktop, rightclick to open the side menu. Click NEW > SHORTCUT. A create shortcut wizard opens. In the box that asks for the location of the shortcut, type "mailto:" Then give your shortcut a name like "blank email." Click FINISH and you're done. It's also great should you find yourself sending many new emails to the same address. After typing "mailto:" add the email address that you want create a shortcut to, as in "mailto:comment@outlook.com" then name your new shortcut appropriately.
Very simple to create and very handy.
Sean -November 06, 2001
Nice trick, but if you add " /c ipm.note" at the end of the shortcut it will do the same but witout the need of the bat file.
Edward -June 27, 2003
Ok I have a question I am trying to select a mailto link form a website
open outlook with the user and subject and attach a word doc automatically?
any idea's??
Please help!!
David Chamberlain -January 28, 2004
Even easier is create a desktop short cut with the contents MAILTO: Name the shortcut whatever you want and drag it to your quick star bar.
Graham Burkin -April 21, 2004
fgfg
Anonymous User -February 02, 2005
Oh my lord!! Once I read these other comments I immediately felt like a big dummy! With as many times as I have used the MAILTO: command in creating websites and other pieces of software, my stupidity must have taken over when I wanted to have a quick launch icon to make Outlook open up with a new e-mail message with only 1 click! It was sooooo easy and obvious and it still hadn't occured to me until I read these comments. Hmmm....we all sometimes suffer from CRS...I guess.
Anonymous User -July 01, 2005
BETTER STILL...
NO Need to create a batch file
NO Need to type in the run menu
How can I start a new E-mail message from a desktop shortcut? SIMPLE...
It isn't difficult to create a new e-mail message in Outlook: Just click the toolbar's New button when the Inbox folder is displayed. Starting a new e-mail message this way naturally requires that Outlook is running, but many users don't keep Outlook running on the desktop. For these users, simplify the task of sending a new e-mail by creating a mailto: item shortcut on the desktop or in the Quick Start menu.
Follow these steps to create a mailto: item shortcut:
1. Right-click the desktop and choose New | Shortcut.
2. In the Create Shortcut dialog box, enter mailto: as the item to launch and click Next.
3. Specify New Mail Message as the shortcut name, then click Finish.
4. Drag the shortcut to the Quick Start toolbar to make it quickly accessible without minimizing all applications.
When the user double-clicks the shortcut, Outlook launches and will prompt the user for a profile unless there is one set as the default. However, only the new message form appears--the rest of Outlook stays hidden, running in the background. Outlook doesn't consume any CPU time unless the user is actually sending a message; the rest of the time it waits silently until it's needed again.
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