How do I turn off the reading pane in Outlook 2003?

[Steve Taylor]

Can anyone tell me how to turn off the reading pane completely - i.e. so that
it never ever appears under any circumstances whatsoever? I load outlook from
my start up folder with the switch "C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE" /nopreview which seems to stop the reading pane
appearing except when I create a new outlook subfoldder to my inbox folder.
Is it possible to completely stop the reading pane? I am happy to have a
solution which means I can never ever change my mind and get the reading pane
back. I don't want it, it's not needed.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Modify your default view; View-> Arrange By-> Current View-> Define Views...

Just curious; why don't you like it?

 

[Steve Taylor]

Cheers. That doesn't seem to work. I went into the settings and the reading
pane for Inbox is already set to off. Sure enough there's no reading pane on
any existing folders. It's only when I create a new folder that I get the
reading pane back by default.

I just don't like to use the space that way. I end up scanning emails and
half reading them, thinking I've read them .... I'd much rather open emails
when I want to open them, not have them opened by default.

Thanks for trying to help.

Steve

 

[Roady [MVP]]

That is the method though; views for new folders are being created based on
the default Messages view. When you modify it this way (and not through
Customize...) it applies to all folders still in the default Messages view.

Instead of starting Outlook with the /nopreview switch all the time start it
only once with the /cleanviews switch and then modify the default Messages
view. After this use the default Outlook shortcut again without any
switches.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


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