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Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

NOTE:
Due to data loss with OfficeZealot's blog server, all comments posted between April 28 and June 8 , 2005 to any of my blog entries were inadvertently deleted.  The end of this blog entry contains the text of the comments applicable to this posting that I was able to recover.

Outlook (versions 2000/2002/2003) stores the settings that you see under Tools|Options|Mail Format|Message Format section in the follow registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\[9.0][10.0][11.0]\Outlook\Options\Mail\EditorPreference.

Here are the possible values, in decimal format:

HTML = 131072
HTML & Word To Edit = 131073
Rich Text = 196610
Rich Text & Word To Edit = 196609
Plain Text = 65536
Plain Text & Word To Edit = 65537

UseWordMail = 1 (to read Rich Text Email; key does not exist if never set, 0 if off)

Knowing where and what these settings are could be valuable if you have an application that needs to detect or modify them.  Just use your favourite registry API calls or wrapper classes for read/write access.

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 COMMENTS RESTORED FROM BACKUP:

Wed 4/27/2005 8:40 AM Barb

How can I make sure I receive mail sent in HTML and copied to myself from the incoming plain text to HTML?

Wed 4/27/2005 8:43 AM Barb

Oooops, I forgot to say I am using Outlook 2002 SP3

Wed 4/27/2005 10:15 AM Barb

No, what I am saying is I don't understand when I send an email HTML (to myself) it arrives in palin text. I tried to forward an email with GIFS inserted and the email arrived with GIFS as attachments. Whenever other pople send me HTML it looks just fine with the pics inserted/embedded?

Wed 4/27/2005 11:03 AM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

Barb: I can't recall what the settings are in Outlook 2002, but in 2003 you can configure the format of outgoing e-mails - see Tools -> Options -> Mail Format -> Internet Format. If your e-mail address is in your Contacts or Address Book, you also have an options to configure this setting for that particular address (works for other entries as well, so your sending options can be configured per-person).

Sun 5/1/2005 7:18 PM Stewart Dannock

"Unable to use Word 2002 as email editor with Outlook 2003

I have just upgraded a client's exchange server to 2003, and have also upgraded clients to Outlook to 2003. Is there a way to "trick" Outlook into using Word 2002 as the email editor. At the moment the option is greyed out, and users can no longer send HTML messages. I assume this is deliberate by Microsoft to force you into upgrading all Office rather than just Outlook. Just hoping there's a way around it."

Sun 5/1/2005 11:00 PM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

Stewart: Sorry, there's no way to trick it. The versions have had to match for every version of Office that has been released, AFAIK.

Wed 5/25/2005 11:30 PM Keith

Is there a way to change the default editor without having to restart Outlook?

Thu 5/26/2005 11:31 AM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

Keith: Not if you alter the registry key.

Thu 5/26/2005 3:06 PM Terry

"I have setting in Group Policy to control this. However, I want to prevent the use of Word as an email editor, but not limit the users ability to choose a format. Currently I see no way to separate the the two. You either allow everything or nothing (in this regard anyway).

Anyone know a way around that? It's pretty aggravating."

Thu 5/26/2005 3:55 PM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

"Terry: I believe you can set the default choices for message formats in the UI using the Custom Installation Wizard or the Custom Maintenance Wizard, and then enforce those settings with Group Policy (such as restrict to not use Word). I've never played with GPO and Outlook, but maybe this article will point you in the right direction:

Managing Outlook Settings for Office 2003 SP1:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/45017/45017.html

Fri 5/27/2005 12:12 AM Keith

My issue is that I have a macro that creates an email in html, but if users have Word chosen as their editor it just causes me grief. So is there no way to force outlook to create a new email with the default html editor if Word is chosen as the default editor?

Fri 5/27/2005 9:17 AM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

Keith: There's no way that I know of. What errors are occuring if they use Word? Can you prevent them from choosing Word as their default editor by using Group Policies?

Fri 5/27/2005 1:43 PM Jason

Is there a way to modify ReplyStyle under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Preferences without restarting Outlook?

Sun 5/29/2005 11:27 PM Stefan Hansen

Is there an easy way to force all users to use the same font and size? Group policy? Reg keys?

Mon 5/30/2005 10:17 AM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

Jason: Most, if not all manual changes to Outlook registry settings require restarting Outlook for them to take effect.

Mon 5/30/2005 10:24 AM Eric Legault http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault

Stefan: It looks like there are no Group Policy options, but you can change some font properties with the Custom Installation Wizard or the Custom Maintenance Wizard.

Mon 6/6/2005 11:48 PM  Andrew Verk

Quick editting of messages

I always edit received messages to delete unwanted portions of the emails, and to convert just to text as necessary, before I save them in my folders, thus reducing space.

I notice that Outlook allows for immediate editing of emails that come in rich text format. For other formats (plain text, html) I first need to select Edit->Edit message before I can edit anything.

Can some registry or other settings be changed so that I can always immediately edit messages?

Thanks for your help!

END COMMENTS RESTORE
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Published Tuesday, August 03, 2004 3:42 PM by legault
Filed under:

Comments

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

is there any chance to activate Word 97 for use in Outlook 2003?
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 5:21 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Are you saying that you have Outlook set to use Word to edit e-mail messages, but it is not being used? Are you using multiple versions of Word? Are you getting any specific errors?

Please verify your settings as per the following link (applies to OL2003 also):

253646 - OL2000: How to Enable or Disable Word as Your Default E-mail Editor:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;253646&Product=out
Wednesday, September 15, 2004 8:17 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

DO you know of any recistry setting that removes the ability for users to choose the option to use word as thier email editor?
Thx
Monday, October 11, 2004 12:28 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Not off hand, but this feature is probably available by using System Policies; also consult the Office Resource Kit to see what you can do with System Policies and locking down certain features with custom deployment options.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 9:05 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

I have a problem with Outlook. Whenever I attempt to open "any" text editor (I normally use word) I receive an error of the following type:
*******************************************
Name of Editor at the top

Enclosed box states:" Can't find this file. Make sure the path and filename are correct."

OK Button
************************************

I can send a copy of message if you provide an e-mail address. How do I correct?

I "Assume" the registry has a link which has been corrupted.

I have attempted:
1) Detect and repair
2) Uninstall Office XP and reinstall
with the same result.

My e-mail is bsydnes@comcast.net

Thanks.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004 1:20 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Do you know where the settings are for the default fonts in the registry?? As in, the read, reply, blah blah? I can't find anywhere on the web where anyone knows this information and I've gotten a request to standardize this feature on our Outlook Interfaces...
Tuesday, November 09, 2004 10:05 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

You might be able to control the default font for messages using the ORK (http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/2003/default.htm). This would only apply for settings available for control via System Policies or using a custom installation package to control default settings. AFAIK, the fonts for the application interface can't be modified.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004 9:56 PM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Do you know of any tweaks that can be done to fool Outlook 2003 into using Word 2000 as the HTML editor? We just migrated to Exchange 2003, and upgraded all the workstations to Outlook 2003 also. I have some steamed users who can no longer write their pretty e-mails and get spell check on-the-fly.

-Rick
Thursday, November 11, 2004 9:47 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Rick: No, sorry. Your versions of Word and Outlook *must* match to use WordMail.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004 11:22 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Can you pls. give me an example how to use the outlook 2003 macro featrue to switch on and off the wore editor option.
Most propably the UseWordMail statement?
Friday, November 19, 2004 10:48 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Robert - all of the code involved doesn't even use the Outlook Object model. You simply have to code changing the registry value. How to do that involves far too much code to illustrate here, but there's a great article on MSDN that shows you how to access and edit registry settings beyond those you can do with VB's GetSettings and SaveSetting functions:

The Registry Made Easy:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnovba01/html/RegistryMadeEasy.asp?frame=true
Monday, November 22, 2004 8:43 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

The registry key for the fonts in outlook is: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\MailSettings
Friday, December 24, 2004 2:13 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

I seem to have a problem with setting new user defaults. We are using a plain installation of Office 2003 (not SP1) delivered via SMS, no transforms. We use a script to run a profile wizard import to set up new users the 1st time they log on. The OPS file was created with all the settings we need. However, the registry key for the default message format is being set (or left at?) to RTF even though we have recorded the setting as HTML. Hex editing of the OPS file verifies that the correct value is there, yet after the setting import users are set at RTF.

Any ideas?
Monday, January 24, 2005 2:16 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Neil: sorry, I don't have much experience with deployment issues. Have you tried searching the Knowledge Base? You might also want to try posting your issue to the microsoft.public.outlook.configuration or microsoft.public.outlook.installation newsgroups.

An alternative may be to configure these registry settings using group policies.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005 8:10 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

I tried changing the registry settings for the mail settings manually using regedit. I want to switch from Plain Text & Word To Edit = 65537 to Plain Text = 65536. However, when I brought up the Mail Format tab, Outlook didn't see the change and the original setting (Word to edit) was still set. Is there something I'm doing wrong? Does there have to be and order to making the change so Outlook will see it?
Thanks.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 12:52 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Elliot: Did you restart Outlook?
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 2:05 PM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Is there anyway to change the default Save As type from HTML to MSG (outlook message format)

If the user forgets to change the save as type then they lose the attachment when saving the email????


Thanks
Wednesday, February 16, 2005 5:15 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Brendan: Sorry, there is no way to change the default Save As choice. If you need full control over this, you would have to write an Add-In that provides an alternate way to save attachments, but it wouldn't prevent people from using the built-in method (there are no Attachment events that you can hook into).
Monday, February 21, 2005 9:08 AM by legault

# Reading message in Rich Text

I would like to be able to read all messages sent to me in Rich Text format. I do not want to have to edit a message every single time someone sends me a message in html or plain text format. Is their a way to automatically convert messages sent in html and plain text formats so that when I open a message, it pops up in rich text format?

Thanks,

Joe
Friday, March 11, 2005 6:37 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

You can convert Plain Text messages to Rich Text by opening the message and choosing Rich Text from the Format menu (but for HTML, you have to convert to Plaint Text first, then Rich Text).

Otherwise, you can implement the code from this link to do it automatically:

To convert incoming HTML messages to Outlook Rich Text or plain text format:
http://www.outlookcode.com/d/code/zaphtml.htm
Friday, March 11, 2005 11:31 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

How do I save emails as msg format while using MS Word as email editor?
Monday, March 21, 2005 11:38 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Sean: Easy - choose the .msg format in your "Save As" options within Word. Same with VBA - .SaveAs(olMsg).
Monday, March 21, 2005 11:49 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Thanks
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 10:46 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

How can I make sure I receive mail sent in HTML and copied to myself from the incoming plain text to HTML?
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 7:40 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Oooops, I forgot to say I am using Outlook 2002 SP3
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 7:43 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Barb: Sorry, I'm having trouble understanding your question. Do you want to convert an e-mail received in Plain Text to HTML format, essentially modifying the original message? Or do you need to create an HTML message and copy text from an existing Plain Text message to the new message, converting the copied text to HTML?
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:48 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

No, what I am saying is I don't understand when I send an email HTML (to myself) it arrives in palin text. I tried to forward an email with GIFS inserted and the email arrived with GIFS as attachments. Whenever other pople send me HTML it looks just fine with the pics inserted/embedded?
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 9:15 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Barb: I can't recall what the settings are in Outlook 2002, but in 2003 you can configure the format of outgoing e-mails - see Tools -> Options -> Mail Format -> Internet Format. If your e-mail address is in your Contacts or Address Book, you also have an options to configure this setting for that particular address (works for other entries as well, so your sending options can be configured per-person).
Wednesday, April 27, 2005 10:03 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Unbelievable! I submitted a related question a few days ago, and come back today to see if there have been any replies, and I see that my post has been deleted. Just like that! (It was displayed before). If you don't know how to answer a question, at least you could be humble enough to say so.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005 3:22 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Andrew: There was a problem with Office Zealot's blog server - all comments since early May have been deleted.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005 3:43 PM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Hi, I just wanted to know if you could help.
I have setup a signature both for composing and replying which includes a picture.
Now if i receive an email in html format and reply to it - its shows the signature fine - however if i receive an email in plain text the signature comes out in plain text without the picture.
I guess what i'm saying is - is there anyway to change the settings so that when i reply or forward a plain text message it is in html format by default - otherwise i am having to change it manully and insert the signature

Would appreicate any help

Thanks
Friday, September 02, 2005 5:11 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Is there a regitry edit that will set it so that all mail I compose is in Rich Text with out the ability for users to change this.
Thursday, September 08, 2005 9:18 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Rahul: Sure, this can be done. This macro assumes you have the message that you want to reply to already open. Just map it to a custom button, click it, and presto!

Sub ReplyInHTMLFormat()
Dim objReply As Outlook.MailItem

If ActiveInspector Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
If ActiveInspector.CurrentItem.Class <> olMail Then Exit Sub

Set objReply = ActiveInspector.CurrentItem.Reply
objReply.BodyFormat = olFormatHTML
objReply.Display

Set objReply = Nothing
End Sub
Friday, September 09, 2005 9:49 PM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Michelle: Yes, you can do this with Group Policies I believe:

Microsoft Office Assistance: Managing Users' Configurations by Policy:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011402401033.aspx

If you're not in a domain environment however, you are out of luck I'm afraid.
Friday, September 09, 2005 9:51 PM by legault

# Setting the email Subject for all new messages

How can I put some text automatically into the subject area of all new email messages? (Where I work the subject line has to have some particular text before it is alllowed to be sent out.)
Wednesday, October 05, 2005 8:35 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Nick: This article is tailor made for your situation:

Getting a Handle on Your E-mails with VBA:
http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault/articles/2224.aspx

Just modify objMailItem.Subject in the objMailItem_Open event.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005 9:42 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

How can I stop Word/Outlook 2002 from sending forwarded emails as msg's?
Thursday, December 01, 2005 9:03 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Jason: Go to Tools -> Options, and click the "E-mail Options..." button on the Preferences tab. Then choose something other than "Attach original message" in the drop-down box labelled "When forwarding a message".
Wednesday, December 07, 2005 11:51 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Any way to disable the use of stationary while allowing users to still use HTML?
Thursday, December 29, 2005 8:15 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Bob: Short of obscuring the functions by disabling the menus with a COM Add-In or other trickery, not really.
Thursday, December 29, 2005 9:02 AM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

I was trying the Macro above that makes plain text messages HTML format by default when replying. I can't get it to work... any pointers? Thanks
Monday, January 09, 2006 7:16 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Can I change the following in the registry:

"When an HTML message contains pictures located on the Internet, send a copy of the pictures instead of the reference to their location"

It's placed under Tools/Options, Mail Format, Internet Format.

Thanks in advance!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006 7:55 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Ginny: (sorry for being late, I just realized mail forwarding for the comments posted on my blog was broken and am just now replying to them) Can you get the macro to fire at all? If you put a breakpoint somewhere in your procedure, does it stop there?
Sunday, February 05, 2006 5:52 PM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

Brian: (sorry for being late, I just realized mail forwarding for the comments posted on my blog was broken and am just now replying to them) I don't think so - I couldn't find it.
Sunday, February 05, 2006 8:05 PM by legault

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

How can you automatically reply to a message in HTML format, even if it arrives as plain text? My signature uses HTML and would like to always reply as an HTML message.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 3:33 PM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

TSC: You can use the techniques described in my post (http://blogs.officezealot.com/legault/articles/2224.aspx) to get started on getting a handle to the reply message. However, the EditorType is read-only so you'd have to automate clicking the Format->HTML menu item.
Thursday, February 16, 2006 2:38 PM by legault

# re: Replying to plain text emails

Eric,

I use Outlook 2003. When I receive emails in Plain Text format and I hit the reply button, my signature is inserted but it comes out double spaced and the formatting is removed. How can I reply to a plain text message and maintain my reply in its original format? I have double checked all my settings. Can you help?

Clay
Thursday, May 11, 2006 9:38 AM by Anonymous

# re: Outlook's Message Format Settings In The Registry

This could be due to a line in your signature exceeding 76 characters in length. You can check this in Options -> Mail Format -> Internet Format.
Friday, May 12, 2006 11:14 AM by legault

# Forward custom format

Hello Guys ,

Is it possible with Outlook to change the format of the forwarded message. Outlook has 4 formats , but non of them would do the job , because I would like to remove the header of the original message and to keep only the message body.
Thank you
Tuesday, August 08, 2006 7:28 AM by Anonymous
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