Using Advanced Delivery Options

When sending a message, we have several options for how and when the message is sent. Let's explore these options.

Once again, we will send a message to ourself so that we can see the options at work.

Step 1. Move to the Home tab, if necessary.

Step 2. To open a new, Untitled-Message form, in the New group on the Ribbon,

Click

A new Untitled-Message form appears.

Step 3. To create the message, type this information into the appropriate fields:

Before we send this message, we will add some options.

Requesting Delivery and Read Receipts

Let's say that we want to confirm that our message is received and read. We can request delivery and read receipts for this message.

Step 1. To open the Properties dialog box, in the Tags group,

Click

The Properties dialog box opens:

Step 2. To request a delivery receipt, in the Voting and Tracking options section,

Click the "Request a delivery receipt for this message" checkbox

Step 3. To request a read receipt, in the Voting and Tracking options section,

Click the "Request a read receipt for this message" checkbox

Now when the message is correctly delivered, we will receive a notice in our Inbox. When the message is read, we will receive a second notice.

Before we close the Properties dialog box, let's look at a few other options.

Using the Importance Setting

When sending a message, we can using the Importance setting to indicate to our recipients the priority of our message. Should this be read immediately or can it wait until later in the day?

Step 1. To view the Importance options,

Click

We have three options: Low, Normal, and High.

Step 2. To set the Importance level to High,

Click High

When the message is delivered, there will be an exclamation point in the recipient's Inbox indicating that this is an important message. There will also be a note in the InfoBar when the message is opened.

Using the Sensitivity Setting

Outlook also includes a Sensitivity setting. This allows us to inform our recipients if a message is personal, private, or confidential. It is important to note that the Sensitivity setting does not prevent the recipient from moving, copying, or forwarding the email. It simply asks them not to.

Step 1. To view the Sensitivity options,

Click

We have four options: Normal, Personal, Private, and Confidential.

Step 2. To set the Sensitivity level to Private,

Click Private

When the message is delivered, there will also be a note in the InfoBar asking the recipient to treat the message as Private.

Step 3. To accept all of these options, at the bottom of the dialog box,

Click

We are returned to our message.

Step 4. To continue, on the header of the message,

Click

A few moments after sending the message, several things occur in our Inbox. Because we sent the message to our own account, we have a new message with the subject, Surprise Party. We also asked for a delivery receipt, so we have a message from Microsoft Outlook with the subject, Delivered: Surprise Party.

Step 5. To open the message, in the Inbox,

Double-Click the message with the subject, Surprise Party

You see a warning that a read receipt was requested and the option to send or not send the receipt.

Step 6. To send the read receipt,

Click

The message opens. And moment later, another message appears in our Inbox telling us that the message, Surprise Party, has been read.

In the opened message, we can see in the InfoBar that this message was sent with High importance and that the message should be treated as Private.

Step 7. To close the message and return to the Inbox,

Click