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August 29, 2001 12:00 AM

Outlook New Mail Message Shortcut

Windows IT Pro
InstantDoc ID #21941
Rating: (4)

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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.

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Comments
  • OneWay7
    5 years ago
    Dec 28, 2007

    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.

  • Anonymous User
    7 years ago
    Jul 01, 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
    7 years ago
    Feb 02, 2005

    fgfg

  • Graham Burkin
    8 years ago
    Apr 21, 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.

  • David Chamberlain
    8 years ago
    Jan 28, 2004

    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!!

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