Messages you send can be flagged to alert you, or the recipient, that action is required.
Flag for yourself
You're sending a message that requires a response. You want to make sure you don't forget about the request, and you get the information you need. A flag to yourself lets you know that you asked others for a response. By adding a flag, you'll see a to-do item in Tasks and the Tasks peek.
- Select Message > Follow Up.
- Select Today, Tomorrow, This Week, Next Week, No Date, or Custom.
Since the message will be out of sight in your Sent Items folder, we recommend you add a reminder for yourself. Reminders are alert dialog boxes that appear when follow up is due, just like the ones you see for upcoming meetings or appointments.
To add a reminder for yourself, select Follow Up > Add Reminder. Enter the date and time for when you want the reminder dialog box to appear.
Flag for recipients
A flag on a message to recipients adds extra emphasis. A flag appears in the message list and text appears above the From line in the message. If the recipient is also using Outlook, an item will be added to his or her to-do list.
- Select Message > Follow Up.
- Select Custom.
- Check the Flag for Recipients box.
- In the Custom dialog box, we recommend changing the default Flag to text to a description or action. For example, you could type Send Anne an answer to the permit question. This is the text the recipient will get above the From line.
For added visibility, you can include a reminder. Reminders are alert dialog boxes that appear when follow up is due, just like you see for a meeting or appointment that's about to start.
To add a reminder for recipients, check the Flag for Recipients box, and then enter the date and time you want the reminder dialog box to appear for the recipients.
Tip
Use discretion when adding a reminder to a flag for recipients. Ask yourself if you really need to interrupt the recipient with a reminder dialog box or if a flag is sufficient.
How do the flag dates on the Follow Up menu work?
Use flags to mark items for follow-up and to include reminders. The following default start dates, due dates, and reminder times are available for flags. You can customize each of the settings.
| Flag | Start date | Due date | Reminder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Current date | Current date | One hour before the end time of today's work day |
| Tomorrow | Current date plus one day | Current date plus one day | Start time of current day plus one work day |
| This Week | Current date plus two days, but no later than the last work day of this week | Last work day of this week | Start time of current day plus two work days |
| Next Week | First work day of next week | Last work day of next week | Start time of the first work day of next week |
| No Date | No date | No date | Current date |
| Custom | Current date is displayed; choose a custom date if desired | Current date is displayed; choose a custom date if desired | Current date is displayed; choose a custom date if desired |