After you click on one of Actions, you are presented with a Rule Description, with underlined values, which you will click on to apply values.

The last step would be to assign a name to rule you just created and then click OK.

As you can see from above choices, there are MANY things you can do to organize your incoming email.

Let's do one together, don't worry, you can always change this later.

Exercise: Let's say you want your OverHall IT! issue to stand out from rest of your emails when it is delivered, you know you don't want to miss a single issue so you have decided to COLOR CODE this incoming email.

>>Open Outlook Express >>Click on TOOLS at top of your screen >>Move your Pointer to Message Rules; slide Pointer over to Mail and Click >>Click New >>In Conditions, Click in box: Where From Line Contains people. You should now have a check mark in that box >>In Actions, Click in box: Highlight with color. You should now have a check mark in that box

Did you notice each time you clicked on a box a value popped up in Rule Description area with your chosen Conditions and Actions underlined? This is where you enter values you want to apply. Now we are going to go there and work:

>> Click on underlined condition CONTAINS PEOPLE >>Here you would type in overhall@chesapeake.net OR you can choose someone from you address book >>Click ADD >>Click OK >>Now, back at Rule Description, Click on underlined action COLOR >>In Select Color Box click on little black down arrow to view and select your color choices >>Select red >>Click OK

The last step is to assign rule a name, although you may leave default name already provided.

>>Type in OverHall IT! newsletter >>Click OK >>Click OK or continue creating other new message rules for your other incoming email

I hope you explore this wonderful way to organize your email and have fun!

Outlook and most other email programs also provide message rules, although steps and wording might be somewhat different. Just check out help section for steps you'll need to take in your email program. ~~~~ The Organizing Wizard, Janet L. Hall, is a Professional Organizer, Speaker, and Author. She is owner of OverHall Consulting, and Organizing By Phone. Subscribe to her FREE organizing newsletter at http://www.overhall.com/newsletter.htm or visit her web site at http://www.overhall.com

Copyright 2001 by OverHall Consulting P.O. Box 263, Port Republic, MD 20676 All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy, or distribute so long as article is kept intact, this copyright notice and full information about contacting author is attached.

The basics for most offices are phone, fax, computer and printer, and file cabinets. The file cabinet can also be used for miscellaneous supplies if you are tight on space.

We all have a picture in our minds of ideal office. Unfortunately, we have to work within certain parameters. It can be done. You just need a little ingenuity sometimes.

Since there are so many differences between individuals and what they have to work with it is very difficult to be very specific in what to purchase. We would suggest being sure to get basics: phone, fax, computer, printer and file cabinet, and work from there. Obviously, if you can devote a whole room to an office it will be a lot easier than if your space is limited.

The aforementioned should get you started on set up of your home office. If you need help, contact us.

Copyright DeFiore Enterprises 2001