Viewing Mail

Outlook Express will display four "panes" in the main message window, the list of folders (upper left), the list of messages (upper right), the "preview pane" which shows the beginning of the selected message (lower right) and the Contacts list (lower left). One of the message summary lines in the message list will be selected (default is the last one)

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The layout can be altered by using the View/Layout menu to change the panes that are shown and their position.

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To read a message, click on the message summary line (see above). If you have enabled the "preview pane" the message can be viewed in the preview pane below the message list. Having the preview pane enabled meant that some messages carrying viruses were opened automatically causing the virus to infect the system. Although this bug has been fixed I have been slow to turn the preview pane back on.

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Messages can be viewed in a separate window by double clicking (below) This has the advantage that the window can be resized to see more of the message or any attached Xray pictures.

Note the Reply, Reply all, Forward, Print and Delete Icons in this window. They allow you to perform these functions without going back to the original folder. "Previous" and "Next" refer to messages in the Inbox list. Clicking on Next will bring up the next message.

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