How to Read Email Messages Using AutoPreview

If you receive loads of email messages in your Microsoft Outlook 2010 Inbox, one the best ways to quickly scan through them is to make use of the Reading pane. An even better option is to use a feature known as AutoPreview. AutoPreview displays the first three lines of the message along with the name of the sender, the date the message was sent, and the subject. In this Outlook 2010 tutorial, you’ll learn how to read email messages without opening them.

To Read Email Messages Using AutoPreview

1. Select the Inbox, if you have more than one Inbox.

2. On the View tab, in the Current View group, click Change View, and then click Preview.

When you enable the preview option, the Reading pane will be disabled. You can enable the Reading Pane by following the steps given below;

1. Navigate to the View tab.

2. In the Current View group, click View Settings, and then click Other Settings.

3. In the Advanced View Settings: Preview dialog box, in the Reading Pane section, click Right or Bottom and click OK.

4. Close the Advanced View Settings: Preview dialog box.

By default, AutoPreview is turned on only for unread messages.

How to Activate AutoPreview for all Messages

1. On the View tab, in the Current View group, click View Settings, and then click Other Settings.

2. In the Advanced View Settings: Preview dialog box, in the AutoPreview section, click Preview all items.

You can also activate AutoPreview for all Mail Folders. To do this:

1. On the View tab, in the Current View group, click Change View, and then click Preview.

2. Click Apply Current View to Other Mail Folders.

3. In the Apply View dialog box, check the folders to which you want to apply the view and click OK. If necessary, check the Apply view to subfolders check box to apply the setting to subfolders of the folders that you selected.

And, if you find the AutoPreview feature altogether noisy, and prefer the old style of accessing your email messages, you can turn off AutoPreview.

How to Turn off AutoPreview

On the View tab, in the Current View group, click Change View, and then click Compact.

To turn off AutoPreview in all other folders as well, click Apply Current View to Other Mail Folders. In the Apply View dialog box, check the folders to which you want to disable AutoPreview and click OK. If necessary, check the Apply view to subfolders check box to apply the setting to subfolders of the folders that you selected.

Do you find the 3 line AutoPreview feature to read your email messages handy?