How To Make Outlook 2007 Look & Feel More Like Thunderbird

These instructions are intended to help a new user of Outlook 2007 who is coming from a Thunderbird environment feel more comfortable. These instructions were written with Thunderbird 2.0.0.9 operating in IMAP mode on Windows Vista. All of these steps can you bring you closer to the Thunderbird interface, but not all of them have to be used.

• In the View menu, select Reading Pane --> Bottom
• As in Thunderbird, the balance between the message listings and the reading pane can be adjusted by dragging the horizontal bar that separates them up or down.
• The To-Do Bar on the extreme right hand side of the interface can be removed to gain more screen space and/or simplify the interface. To do so, choose the View menu and select To-Do Bar --> Off

Outlook 2007 allows significant configurability for the messages pane. These configurations can be saved as specific views.

1. First create a new view.
   1. In the mail folder, select Inbox
   2. Select View --> Current View --> Define Views... The Custom View Organizer window opens.
   3. Under Views for folder "Inbox": select Current view settings
   4. Click the New... button. The Create a New View window opens.
   5. Under Name a new view: type Thunderbird
   6. Ensure that Table is selected under Type of view:
   7. Under Can be used on, select the All Mail and Post folders
   8. Click the OK button. The Customize View: Thunderbird window opens and allows you to adjust your look and feel.
2. Click the Fields... button. The Show Fields window displays.
   1. Under Show these fields in this order:, ensure that the fields are in this order:

      Importance
      Attachment
      Subject
      From
      Received

   2. You can remove all other fields or leave them at the end of the list.
   3. Click the OK button.
3. Click the Sort... button. The Sorts window displays.
   1. Under Sort items by, ensure that Received is selected.
   2. Select the Ascending radio button.
   3. Click the OK button.
4. Click the Other Settings... button. The Other Settings window displays.
1. Click the Column Font... button.
2. Under Font: select Arial
3. Under Size: select 9
4. Click the OK button.
5. Click the Row Font... button.
6. Under Font: select Arial
7. Under Size: select 9
8. Click the OK button.
9. Click the OK button.
5. Click the Automatic Formatting... button. The Automatic Formatting window displays.
   1. Under Rules for this view, select Unread messages
   2. Click the Font... button.
   3. Under Font: select Arial
   4. Under Font style: select Bold
   5. Under Size: select 9
   6. Click the OK button.
6. Click the Format Columns... button. The Format Columns window displays.
   1. Replace these Outlook names with these Thunderbird names:
   
   

   Available fields:	Label:
   Categories	Label
   From	Who
   Received	Date

   
   
   2. Click the OK button.
   3. Click the OK button.

Note that these particular settings are by folder: in other words, they must be set for each folder (there is no global setting). To do this, select the folder you wish to modify, and select View --> Current View --> Thunderbird

Support

Primary computing support is usually located in the schools, units, and residences, close to the faculty, staff, and students being served. Contact lists are available for:

• Faculty Support
• Staff Support
• Student Support

To look up your local support provider, select your University affiliation above. You may also call First Call at 215-573-4778 to request a referral if you are not sure who to contact.