OL98: AutoSignature Uses Format of Received Message

ID: Q183397

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Outlook 98

SYMPTOMS

When you forward or reply to a message and insert an AutoSignature, your signature appears in plain text.


CAUSE

When you receive a message in Microsoft Outlook 98, the Outlook editor determines the format used when the message was composed, and uses this format to display the message. When you reply or forward the message, Outlook applies the same format. If the format is plain text, the format of the signature converts to plain text also.


MORE INFORMATION

Outlook allows you to create an AutoSignature in HTML, Microsoft Outlook Rich Text, and Plain Text message formats. If you use either HTML or Microsoft Outlook Rich Text as your default mail format, you can apply font and paragraph characteristics to your Signature. If you use Plain Text as your default Mail format, your Signature uses the font you chose to display when composing and reading plain text.

To apply a default message format, follow these steps:

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. On the Mail Format tab, in the Message Format section, click to select one of the formats in the "Send in this message format" list.


If you use Microsoft Word 97 as your e-mail editor (WordMail), the AutoSignature is stored in a Word template, not in Outlook and does not affect the format of the Signature in a reply or forward.

To create an AutoSignature using WordMail, follow these steps:
  1. Open a new mail message.


  2. Enter the signature as you want it to appear. You can also insert graphics in this mode.


  3. Select the signature you entered.


  4. On the Tools menu, click AutoSignature.


  5. Close the e-mail message.


You can mimic multiple AutoSignatures by defining several templates each containing a different signature.

To create templates for AutoSignatures, follow these steps:
  1. Open a new email message.


  2. Enter the signature as you want it to appear. You can insert graphics in this mode.


  3. On the File menu, click Save As.


  4. In Save As Type, click to select Outlook Template from the list.


  5. Type a name for your template in the File Name box, and click Save.


  6. Close the e-mail message.


NOTE: To use your AutoSignature templates, on the Compose menu, click Choose Template and then double-click the template you want.


REFERENCES

For more information on using AutoSignature, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q179436 OL98: Using AutoSignatures in Outlook

Q180443 OL98: AutoSignature Problems Using WordMail

Q179771 OL98: Bookman Old Style Font Does Not Bold in AutoSignature

Additional query words: 98

Keywords : GnlFrmt MsgRply
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: August 5, 1999
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