Microsoft KB Archive/183397

= OL98: AutoSignature Uses Format of Received Message =

Article ID: 183397

Article Last Modified on 4/12/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 98 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q183397





SUMMARY
When you forward or reply to a message and insert an AutoSignature, your signature appears in plain text. When you receive a message in Microsoft Outlook 98, the Outlook editor determines the format used when the message was composed, and uses this format to display the message. When you reply or forward the message, Outlook applies the same format. If the format is plain text, the format of the signature converts to plain text also.



MORE INFORMATION
Outlook allows you to create an AutoSignature in HTML, Microsoft Outlook Rich Text, and Plain Text message formats. If you use either HTML or Microsoft Outlook Rich Text as your default mail format, you can apply font and paragraph characteristics to your Signature. If you use Plain Text as your default Mail format, your Signature uses the font you chose to display when composing and reading plain text.

To apply a default message format, follow these steps:
 * 1) On the Tools menu, click Options.
 * 2) On the Mail Format tab, in the Message Format section, click to select one of the formats in the "Send in this message format" list.

If you use Microsoft Word 97 as your e-mail editor (WordMail), the AutoSignature is stored in a Word template, not in Outlook and does not affect the format of the Signature in a reply or forward.

To create an AutoSignature using WordMail, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open a new mail message.
 * 2) Enter the signature as you want it to appear. You can also insert graphics in this mode.
 * 3) Select the signature you entered.
 * 4) On the Tools menu, click AutoSignature.
 * 5) Close the e-mail message.

You can mimic multiple AutoSignatures by defining several templates each containing a different signature.

To create templates for AutoSignatures, follow these steps:
 * 1) Open a new email message.
 * 2) Enter the signature as you want it to appear. You can insert graphics in this mode.
 * 3) On the File menu, click Save As.
 * 4) In Save As Type, click to select Outlook Template from the list.
 * 5) Type a name for your template in the File Name box, and click Save.
 * 6) Close the e-mail message.

NOTE: To use your AutoSignature templates, on the Compose menu, click Choose Template and then double-click the template you want.

