Setting Up E-Mail Reminders in Outlook 2007

In Microsoft Outlook 2007, you can set up a reminder to respond to or follow up on e-mail messages. If you know your way around the Calendar and Tasks windows in Outlook 2007, you know that the Reminder message box appears when an appointment or meeting is about to take place or a task deadline is about to fall. Similarly, you can put the Reminders dialog box to work in regard to e-mail messages.

To set up a reminder to reply to or follow up an e-mail message, note these steps:

1. Select the message you need to be reminded about.

2. Click the Follow Up button and choose Add Reminder.

You see the Custom dialog box. You can also right-click a message and choose Follow Up --> Add Reminder to see the dialog box.

3. On the Flag To drop-down list, choose an option that describes why the e-mail message needs your attention later; or, if none of the options suits you, enter a description in the Flag To text box.

The description you choose or enter appears above the message in the Reading pane, and message window, as well in the Reminder message box.

4. Choose the date and time that you want the Reminder message box to appear.

By default, the Reminder message box appears 15 minutes before the date and time you enter. To change this setting, choose Tools --> Options. On the Preferences tab of the Options dialog box, enter a new setting in the Default Reminder drop-down list.

5. Click OK.

When the reminder falls due, you see the Reminder message box where you can click the Open Item button to open the e-mail message.

Similar features are available in previous versions of outlook as well as many other email programs, for details or instructions on creating your own out of office reminder or automated reply call The Technology Coach Today!