How do I standardize Outlook fonts across company?

[chawk]

I want to force a standard font across 50+ computers. Can I use a registry
hack or some other tool to set the font values in Tools/Options/Mail
Format/Fonts? Is this easier to do with Stationary? If so, how do I go that
route. Much appreciated!!!

 

[Pat Willener]

Have you checked if there is such an option in the group policy
(template OUTLK11.ADM)?

 

[chawk]

I've never used ADM files ... I'll see what I can find.

 

[chawk]

After further review, it doesn't appear the Outlook ADM file allows you to
standardize the fonts. Am I wrong?

 

[Pat Willener]

I also went through the template, but you are right - there seems to be
no option to fix a font. There is one option to make it mandatory to
use the font of the stationery (using gpedi.msc: User Configuration ->
Administrative Templates -> Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 -> Tools |
Options -> Mail Format -> Stationery and Fonts -> Stationery Fonts:
allows you three options
- Use the font specified in stationery
- Use user's font on replies and fwds
- Always use user's fonts

You may try to experiment with that (and limiting the stationeries users
can have/use).

I also searched the registry; it does not appear as if the default font
is kept in there.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Outlook’s font settings are located in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\MailSettings key. One way to do what you want is to configure a desktop user with the settings you want, then either export that key as a .reg file or use the Office Profile Wizard to capture and distribute the settings. (Complete details in the ORK). By manipulating the OPW's .ini file, you can get as granular as you want in terms of what settings you want to capture.

(Also, from my latest book The registry value that controls the default stationery for the user is in the following registry value:

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\MailSettings
Value name: NewStationery
Value type: REG_EXPAND_SZ
Value: Name of the HTML file, without the .htm tag

For example, if the name of the stationery file is “Company Letterhead.htm,†the value for NewStationery would be “Company Letterhead.â€

Similarly, a value called NewTheme controls the default theme for messages created using WordMail.

You can also enforce a mandatory stationery file by creating a NewStationery value in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Common\MailSettings key. You can even create that value and leave it blank as part of a strategy to prevent the user from using any HTML stationery at all.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers