OL97: "Microsoft Word as E-mail Editor" Option Unavailable

• Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

When designing a form in Microsoft Outlook 97, the option to "Always use Microsoft Word as the e-mail editor" is unavailable or dimmed. This option is located on the Properties tab and is only available when the new form is based on a Message or Post note. It is unavailable if the form is based on any of the other Outlook modules, such as an Appointment, Task, Task Request, Contact, or Journal item.

CAUSE

Significant editing features, such as those that are available with Word, are not usually necessary in items other than the Message or Post notes. For example, when entering a contact using the contact form, almost all of the information is entered into fields (name, address, telephone numbers, and so on). Therefore, there is no need to have Word as the e-mail editor in contact forms.

MORE INFORMATION

Checking this option sets Microsoft Word as the editor for the "message" part of the form. Because the Message and Post notes are the built-in forms that would most often benefit from the additional features of Word, the option is available only to those forms.