Group by is "destroyed" when sorting by another column

[Jim]

For years I have used categories to organize the various email folders,
including inbox. Using "group by" categories keeps things neat and
available.

Today I was upgraded to Outlook 2003 and things looked, well, messy. So, it
was configured to "group by" categories and all looked well. Then, I sorted
by date and the "group by" box was cleared. Nothing I do keeps it set so to
use it it must be constantly reset.

After reading many similar issues here is one of the things I've tried.

View | Arrange By | Current View | Define Views | Reset
View | Arrange By | Custom | Group By
Categories, ascending, Expand/Collapse "As last viewed"

Looks great. Click on another column so sort and now
View | Arrange By | Custom | Group By
is empty and the display is one massive pile of email.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Brian Tillman]

For years I have used categories to organize the various email
folders, including inbox. Using "group by" categories keeps things
neat and available.

Today I was upgraded to Outlook 2003 and things looked, well, messy. So,
it was configured to "group by" categories and all looked well. Then, I
sorted by date and the "group by" box was cleared. Nothing I
do keeps it set so to use it it must be constantly reset.

After reading many similar issues here is one of the things I've
tried.
View | Arrange By | Current View | Define Views | Reset
View | Arrange By | Custom | Group By
Categories, ascending, Expand/Collapse "As last viewed"

Looks great. Click on another column so sort and now
View | Arrange By | Custom | Group By
is empty and the display is one massive pile of email.

What am I doing wrong?

When you want to group by another column, right-click it and choose "Group
by This Field".

 

[Jim]

Thanks Brian

So, 2003 eliminated the ability to remember the users "group by" preference.
Oh well, thanks for the tip. I guess this forces Categories to take up
space in the header. Since it *WAS* the group header there was no reason
for it to be in the subgroup header. Now, it must be there to allow it to
be easily recreated.

One more question. Since I wanted to group it by categories and sort it by
any individual head and since that is impossible, how can the Group By be
quickly set up to be by "Category / Date", "Category / From", or "Category /
<any displayed header>"....?

 

[Brian Tillman]

One more question. Since I wanted to group it by categories and sort
it by any individual head and since that is impossible, how can the
Group By be quickly set up to be by "Category / Date", "Category /
From", or "Category / <any displayed header>"....?

Have you tried sorting it in an ungrouped view and then grouping by the
other field? That seems to preserve sorting within the group. I also find
that I can sort by at least some fields after having grouped by another, but
I can't say I've tried your exact scenario.