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Make the switch to Outlook 2013
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Make the switch to Outlook 2013

Make the switch to Outlook 2013

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This video gives you a quick overview of the major changes in Outlook 2013.

Signatures

Start a new email message, click MESSAGE > Signature > Signatures.

Out of Office messages

From your Inbox, click FILE > Automatic replies. If you don’t have an Exchange account, you won’t see that button. Click Send Automatic Replies, select an optional start and stop time, enter a message, click OK.

The Outlook window

Click Mail, Calendar, People, or Tasks to switch between your Inbox, calendar, and so on. Click the ellipsis (...) to see Notes and Folders.

The ribbon

Outlook has several ribbons, all different. The Inbox ribbon is different than the ribbon for an email message, and so on.

The Backstage

Click FILE. Commands vary depending on where you are. For example, Save Attachments only appears when you are in Mail, and Save Calendar only appears when you are in Calendar.

Contacts are now People

Click People to work with your contacts.

If you already know Outlook 2003 or 2007 and want to get upto speed fast with Outlook 2013, you are in the right place.

When you open Outlook 2013 for the first time, you'll notice some changes.

First, there is a ribbon where the menu bar used to be.

All your favorite commands are still there, but now they are easier to get to. For example, you can click here to start a new email message.

And, then use the ribbon in the message to do things like insert a Table, or a Hyperlink.

And click the REVIEW tab to check spelling.

Look what happens now when you click FILE.

This is the backstage where you go to work with email accounts and data files.

It is also where you go to set up Automatic Replies when you are out of the office.

And, where you go to manage Options like, for example, your Signatures.

When you open a message, there is a different backstage.

And, this is where you go to do things like Print.

And, most importantly Recall a message that you wish you hadn't sent.

The new Outlook interface is designed for speed.

With one click, you can select a message here, and see it over here.

Then, with a second click, you can Reply to it, write your reply in the Reading Pane, or Pop Out to another window.

If the default layout isn't to your liking, you can personalize it. First, you can modify your space by collapsing or expanding panes.

Hover over a tab to take a peek.

Then, click the pin to add it to your workspace and click the X to remove it.

For more options, go to the VIEWtab.

Here you can change your message preview, or turn off the Reading Pane.

You'll find the same kinds of options in Calendar, People, and Tasks.

One more thing you may have noticed is that 'People' are more prominent. Just hold your mouse over a name and a tool bar pops up with more options.

Right-click a name to add someone to your Outlook contacts.

The contacts area is now called People with a whole new way to look at the contact information.

So, we have just shown you a quick overview of what has changed. Now, let's go into more detail.

Up Next, get a first in-depth look at Outlook 2013. Let's get started.

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