Using Outlook Express E-Mail

Double click on the Outlook Express icon on the desktop to open it.

Any e-mails received will be shown as a list. On the list will be the names of the senders of the e-mail and the subject of the e-mail and the dates of the e-mail. Unread messages will appear with a "closed envelope" illustration next to the sender's name. If the envelope appears to be closed, this means that the message has not yet been read. If the envelope appears open, it means that it has been read previously.

When you open the message, do so by double-clicking on the person's name. This opens the message in a new screen. You will be able to read the entire message by scrolling down the page if it's too large for one screen. Scrolling down is done by placing the pointer at the far right of the screen and clicking on the little arrow that points downward.

After you've read the message, you can take one of serveral possible steps. First is to answer the e-mail. To to this, click on "Reply", which opens a new message screen with the name of the person you're replying to in the proper place. It will also make reference to the original message in the subject line. As soon as this reply screen opens, you can begin typing your message.

When you finish writing the message, click on "Send" at the top left of the screen and the message will be on its way.

If, after reading an e-mail you have received, you don't want to respond to it, and want to remove it, click on "Delete" at the top of the message you've just read. If you don't want to delete it, but would rather go on to another message, click "Next" or "Previous."

If you want a paper copy of the message, click on "Print."

If you want to Send e-mail to start out, click on "New Message" after you have opened the program. When the program first opens, it automatically opens to the Inbox. To immediately send e-mail, rather than read it, click on "New Mail" at the upper left of the Inbox screen.

When you click on "New Mail", it will open a completely blank screen for the new message. To address the new message, click on the word "To" (with the little illustration of the address book next to it) at the upper left side of the screen. This is called the address line. When you click on this word, the address list will pop open. Select by clicking on the name of the person you want to send the message to. It will be placed into the "To" window at the right of the address list. If you want to send the same message to more than one person, repeat this process for all of the intended recipients.

You can also designate a "cc" (or carbon copy) to others in the same way. This is usually done in a business environment, so formality isn't necessary for personal e-mails.

Then click into the blank subject line and type in a subject name for the e-mail.

Then click into the large white area of the page and type the message. It can be as long as you wish. There's no limit to size.

When you have finished writing the e-mail, click on "Send" at the upper left of the screen and the message will be on its way.

When you have completely finshed with e-mail, close down the program by clicking on the little box with the "x" at the far upper right corner of all open screens.