Monday, June 10, 2013

Transition to Outlook from Hotmail

Outlook.com
Having used Hotmail for a very long-time, when Outlook.com was first introduced, I wasn't all that certain that I liked the changes.  However, it did not take long to appreciate the different features and I have put behind me any skepticism I had about the change.

Even though the migration of your Hotmail account to Outlook.com was completed a number of weeks ago, you may still be struggling to discover how to complete tasks that were second nature before the migration.

First a few quick tips and then a closer look at attachments and the Actions link.  

Quick Tips

Following is a selection of quick tips that will help you navigate the new design for Outlook.com:
  • To see the Menu bar, click any e-mail.
  • Click "New" to start a new e-mail.
  • To add additional recipient(s) to an e-mail, click To or the box below To.
  • To reply all or forward an e-mail, click the down arrow next to Reply or click Actions, shown below.

Attachments

Sending and replying to e-mail is, of course, the primary function of your account.  Often times that includes an attachment to accompany the message.

The familiar paperclip icon has been relocated from the e-mail creation area to a more logical location, the Menu bar.  This change makes complete sense due to the ability to not only attach a file but also embed a picture inline or share a file or picture from SkyDrive.

Hotmail Before:

Hotmail Create email


Outlook.com After:

The change to Outlook.com still includes the familiar paperclip icon.  It is the wording and location that have changed.  Insert is a better description because the option to insert pictures inline or share a link to a file from SkyDrive can also be added to your e-mail.

Outlook.com Attachments

  • Selecting "Files as attachments" is the familiar option for attaching a file or picture that can be downloaded by the recipient.
     
  • When you select "Pictures inline", you can navigate to an image to embed the picture right in the e-mail. Repeat the action to add additional pictures.
     
  • I love SkyDrive and believe that "Share from SkyDrive" is the ideal way to send large files rather than weighing family and friends inbox with large files. 

    Sharing from SkyDrive is also much easier than selecting multiple pictures with the "Pictures inline" option since it is a one-step process to select multiple files at one time.  Place a check in each picture or document to be shared by clicking the image or file name.

    Share from SkyDrive


    There will be a note at the bottom of the e-mail with instructions to the recipient to click the link to access the file(s).

Actions

It is not uncommon that there is more than one way to accomplish a task.  For example, one way to print an e-mail is to click the ellipsis (...) from the Menu bar and select Print.  With keyboard shortcuts set, the keyboard shortcut Shift +P will also provide the print option.  


There is a third way to print e-mails as well as access other useful functions.  With the e-mail open, clicking the familiar Actions link, carried forward from a Windows Live Hotmail update, provides not only the link to print but other immediate actions such as Forward, Delete or identifying the e-mail as Junk.  

Outlook.com Actions

Although the Outlook.com Junk e-mail filters are excellent, information contained in the message source, often referred to as the "Full Header" is useful when questioning whether an e-mail that slips through is a phishing attempt or spoofed address.  

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I am an Outlook.com and SkyDrive Insider.  If you have a question about this article, please leave a comment and I'll do my best to assist.

Learn more about the Outlook.com Insiders program here or the SkyDrive Insiders program from here.

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Since Hotmail changed over to outlook I have not been able to attach any files to email. I've searched the web and have found many with the same problem but no answer to fix this problem.

Some of the awnswers posted were to disable Silverlight, Restore IE 9 from IE 10, restore web options to original, etc.. however nothing has restored my ability to attach files to the new outlook.

This has been on going from the day outlook was installed.

Any insight or help would be appreciate as three doesn't seem to be an answer coming from MS any time soon.

Thanks,
Mike F.

Corrine said...

Hi, Mike F.

I believe that the following information left as a comment on a different blog post was meant to be added as supplemental information so have copy/pasted it here rather than publishing in the other location:

"Here are the error codes issued after trying to attach a file or picture.

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: IEXPLORE.EXE
Application Version: 10.0.9200.16576
Application Timestamp: 515e30fe
Fault Module Name: MSHTML.dll
Fault Module Version: 10.0.9200.16576
Fault Module Timestamp: 515e45ac
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 009bf787
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: a7aa
Additional Information 2: a7aa91f17ea749d42a4de3b390fa5b3d
Additional Information 3: a7aa
Additional Information 4: a7aa91f17ea749d42a4de3b390fa5b3d

Anonymous at 9:11 AM"

Corrine said...

In researching your problem, Mike F., I have located two solutions that worked for others.

1. Uninstall, at least temporarily, Internet Download Manager and see if that solves the problem. (Alternatively you could try going to the C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Download Manager folder and then right-click the IDMIECC.dll and rename it to IDMIECC.old.)

2. Create a new user account, instructions at Fix a corrupted user profile.

If you would prefer not to create a new user account at this time or you do not have IDC installed, I suggest registering at Sysnative.com and submitting a crash report in the BSOD, Crashes, Kernel Debugging forum to be analyzed.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Corrine,

I just found a temp solution also that works better in hopes that the MS updates today might fix the root cause of the problem.

I found that if I use the "inprivate browsing link for IE to open IE 10 and then use MS outlook I can finally attach files to my email.

Thanks for the info.

Mike F.

Anonymous said...

Hi Connie (hope you do mind me being so informal). I wonder if you could tell me how to get rid of the dumb message that is in my inbox ever time that I open Outlook online; "Wow, you've got a very clean inbox!"

Thank you for writing your blog.
Dennis

Corrine said...

Thank you for providing the work-around you found, Mike.

I forgot to ask you if you have the same problem with an alternate browser.

Anonymous said...

I only have IE 10 on my computer.

Mike

Corrine said...

@Dennis

Apologies for not publishing your question before. I just found it in the spam folder.

I don't mind the informality, except that my name isn't Connie. ;)

Is your Outlook.com inbox empty of any new mail? That is the only reason that comes to mind as to why you are receiving that message.

Peter Griffioen said...

FYI. Skydrive is going to be renamed as it clashes with BSKYB owned by News Limited. M$ do not want to go through a lengthy legal session.