How to create an E-mail Message template or an E-mail Message form in Outlook

When you use Outlook, you can create a template or form to use when you send e-mail messages. If you create a template or a form, the e-mail messages that you send have the same format. This article describes how to create an e-mail message template and an e-mail message form.

How to Create an E-mail Message Template

1. In Office Outlook 2003, follow these steps:
   1. On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
   2. Clear the Use Microsoft Office Word 2003 to edit e-mail messages check box.
   3. Click Apply, and then click OK.
2. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Mail Message.
3. Type the recipient, subject, and message that you want.
4. On the File menu, click Save As.
5. In the Save As Type list, click Outlook Template (*.oft).
   
   The file name is automatically the subject line of your message.
6. Click Save.

How to Create an Item Based on Your E-mail Message Template

1. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Choose Form.
2. In the Look In list, click User Templates in File System.
3. Click your template in the list, and then click Open.

You can also create an e-mail message form. An e-mail message form gives you the same result as an e-mail message template.

How to Create an E-mail Message Form

1. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Mail Message.
2. Type the recipient, subject, and message that you want.
3. On the Tools menu, point to Forms, and then click Publish Form As.
4. In the Look In list, click Personal Forms Library.
5. In the Display Name box, type the name that you want for the form.
6. In the Form name box, type a file name for the form if you want the file name to be different than the display name.
7. Click Publish.
8. If you are prompted to save the form definition with the item, click Yes.

How to Create an Item Based on Your E-mail Message Form

1. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Choose Form.
2. In the Look In list, click Personal Forms Library, click your form, and then click Open.

To add fields to your e-mail message form, you must customize the e-mail message form in the Outlook Forms design environment.