Here's a quick tutorial on the very basics of Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5 which comes with Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Buttons to look for...

Attach		Attachment
Control Menu
		Bcc Blind Carbon Copy
		To	Carbon copy

Final Note: This page is extremely loooong as the entire tutorial is on it.. from beginning to end!


[compose/send]
[adding bits & pieces]
[checking/viewing]
[replying/forwarding]
[deleting]
COMPOSE/SEND
To Compose an Email (when you're ONLINE)
Note: you don't need to be connected to the Internet to compose a message. You can write all your messages offline then send them when you go online. This is useful if you want all the messages to out together. It will also save you time and money especially if you pay for your internet connection by the hour.
 
click the New Mail button on your toolbar
a New Message window will appear
In the To Box type the e-mail address
In the Subject box type the subject of the message (Don't leave this out as some people screen their mail by subject line)
Type your message in the message area
If you want to check your spelling click the ABC Spelling button on your toolbar or press the F7 key on your keyboard. (Yes those buttons on your keyboard really do something..dust them off and head over to COMPUTER if you want more keyboard shortcuts)Once that is done, give your message the quick once over, double check the email address is correct the click the Send button on the toolbar

Compose an Email (when you're OFFLINE)
Compose your message as above
instead of clicking the Send/Receive button click File on the control menu
select Send Later

your message will be stored in the Outbox
when you are ready to send it click the Send/Receive button your on the toolbar

Saving a message before you've finished it
On the Control Menu
click File
Select Save
A message box will then appear telling you that your messages has been saved in your Drafts folder.

To finish your message
click the Drafts Folder in Folder List  view
or
click the Drafts Icon Outlook Bar  view
find your message
double click on it
the message will open in a new window ready for you to finish off

Sending the same message to more than one person
In the To Box type the e-mail addresses of all the recipients separateing each address with a semicolon
example:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; mary@domain.comorIn the To Box type the email address of a single person
In the CC(Carbon Copy)

box type the rest of the names
example: To: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
         CC: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NOTE: all recipients will be able to view the names and email addresses of everyone else who received the same email. If you prefer the recipients to NOT know who else is receiving the message use BCC(Blind Carbon Copy) instead. 

If you want to check that your message has been sent
click on the Sent Items folder in Folder List view
or
click on the Sent Items button in Outlook Bar view
this will show all the messages that have been sent. If your message isn't listed there them check the Outbox Folder/Button and see if it's sitting in there waiting to be sent. If this is the case click the Send/Receive button on the toolbar

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ADDING BITS & PIECIES
Attaching a file to your messages
click New Mail Buttonon the toolbar
a new window will open
type your message
click the Attachment Button on the toolbar
or
on the control menu click Insert, then select File Attachment the Insert Attachment dialog boxwill open
in the Look in box locate the file/s that you want to send
in the File Name box type or select the name of the file
to select multiple files hold the CTRL key down as you click on each individual file
click the Attach button
the Insert Attachment dialog box will close
you message will be visible again and listed in Attach will the files you have selected
click the Send button on the toolbar

Sprucing up your email
Note: Not all the people you send email to can receive HTML formatted emails. HTML allows you to add colour and stationery, change the font and background, add music etc. If the recipient isn't able to view HTML format mail all they will see is a pile of letters and characters that will be near impossible to decipher. Always ask them first or let them know that your going to do a trial run.

To enable HTML formatting
click Tools on the Control menu
click Options
click the Send tab
under Mail Sending Format select the option next to HTML
click OK and the Options dialog box will close

Using Stationery
Note: Outlook Express does come with a limited amount of stationery but if it doesn't tickle your fancy don't worry as there is plenty more available for downloading from the internet

click the New Mail Button on the toolbar
click Format from the control menu
select Apply Stationery
select one of the options shown (or select More Stationery)
the New Message window will now show the stationery you have chosen
type your message
click the Send button on the toolbar
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CHECKING/VIEWING
Checking for new mail
When you open Outlook Express it will automatically check for new mail, it it doesn't do this then click the Send/Receivebutton on your toolbar

Reading your mail
To view a message in the Preview pane
Locate the message in the you want to view from the list
click the subject line of the message
the content of the message appears in the preview pane

To view the message in a separate window
Locate the message in the you want to view from the list
double click the subject line of the message
A separate window will open showing you the entire message
when you have read the message click the Close button in the top right corner of the window

Viewing a message attachment
NOTE: be very careful when you open an email attachment that are programs, zipped files or a complete 'unknown' file type as it may contain a virus. Never open an attachment from someone you don't know.

select the message (it will turn blue)
right click the attachment icon
select Save Attachments...
the Save Attachment As dialog box will open
from the Save to box select a the folder you want to store the file
click the Save buttonordouble click the message so the message window opens
select Save As
in the File Name box enter the name if it hasn't already done so
in the File Type box enter the extension if it hasn't already done so
click the Save button

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REPLYING/FORWARDING
Replying to a message
click the message you want to reply to
click the Reply Button on the toolbar
type your message
click Send

Forwarding a message
click the message you want to forward (it will go blue)
click the Forward Button on the toolbar
the message window will appear
in the To box type the address of the person you want to send it to
click Send on the toolbar

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DELETING
 
To Delete a Message
find the message in the list
click on it (it will go blue)
right click on the area that is blue
select delete from the side menu orfind the message in the list
click on it (it will go blue)
click the Delete Button on the toolbar

To Delete Multiple Messages all in a row
click on the first message you want to delete
hold the SHIFT key down, scroll down to the last message and select the last message All the messages to be deleted will shaded blue
release the SHIFT key
click the Delete Button on the toolbar
or
right click on any area that is blue
select delete from the side menu

To Delete Select Messages
click on the first message you want to delete
hold the CTRL key down
click on the individual messages you want to delete
if you want to 'unselect' a message click on it again
all the messages to be deleted will shaded blue
release the CRTL key
click the Delete Button on the toolbar

or
right click on any area that is blue
select delete from the Side Menu
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