mailto: shortcut open Outlook Express, not new message

Thanks PA Bear - to create the shortcut, I right-clicked my desktop and
chose New Shortcut. In the command box that came up, I typed 'mailto:'
(without the apostrophes) and then named the new shortcut " New Mail Out".
When I right-click on the new New Mail Out icon and select 'Properties',
there is only a 'General' tab which informs me that the file type is an
Internet Shortcut which opens with Outlook Express.
What I have just discovered is that, if I drag the shortcut to my
Quicklaunch toolbar, the icon changes from the OE envelope to an IE icon and
going into 'Properties' in this icon brings up a second shortcut tab to
accompany the General tab - this tab does not appear in the desktop icon
Properties?!
The Quicklaunch icon tells me that the Target is: "C:\Documents and
Settings\XXXXX\Desktop\New Mail Out.url" and starts in "C:\Documents and
Settings\XXXXX\Desktop". Everything else seems normal with the information
in this icon but it STILL opens up OE and not a new blank message, as I want
it to.
I have come across this workaround:
"1. Open Outlook Express or Outlook and open a new email message. You can
leave it blank or add whatever signature or text you want to appear whenever
a new message is opened via the New Menu entry (in effect, you are creating
a new message template)
2 Click File Save As and save the file with a name like Blank.eml if you
are using Outlook Express." This saved *.eml message was then renamed 'New
Mail Out' and bears the *.eml envelope icon. As there are *.eml messages on
my desktop for quick access to, I want to change the icon for this blank
template (to distinguish it from saved messages) but find that this option
is not available in 'Properties. Previously, I was able to change the OE
blank message icon to something brighter and easier to distinguish it as a
blank message template.
Ideally I would like to restore my previous icons and settings to allow
me to access my outgoing mail quicker, once again, without having to do a
uninstall and then reinstallation of OE, risking losing all my identities
and messages.

HTH?

Cheers,

alba.

--

Also, thanks to Stan for his PM. Effectively, the advice you give is
sound but it means creating copies of the blank *.eml as mentioned in the
workaround above - either one blank *.eml template, as I have now, or
multiple templates for all my contacts. This would mean having to go
looking thru a folder for the right message template for the right
recipient. Ideally, I would like to try to sort out the problem with the
mailto: shortcut and then I can assign it its own icon. Appreciate the
comments and help though! Thanks again!!

--

Post the shortcut you created.
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread

(PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.701 / Virus Database: 458 - Release Date: 07/06/2004

You've been answered already. Please check the original thread.

--=20
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

"alba" wrote in message =
...
Thanks PA Bear - to create the shortcut, I right-clicked my desktop and
chose New Shortcut. In the command box that came up, I typed 'mailto:'
(without the apostrophes) and then named the new shortcut " New Mail =
Out".
When I right-click on the new New Mail Out icon and select =
'Properties',
there is only a 'General' tab which informs me that the file type is an
Internet Shortcut which opens with Outlook Express.
What I have just discovered is that, if I drag the shortcut to my
Quicklaunch toolbar, the icon changes from the OE envelope to an IE icon =
and
going into 'Properties' in this icon brings up a second shortcut tab to
accompany the General tab - this tab does not appear in the desktop icon
Properties?!
The Quicklaunch icon tells me that the Target is: "C:\Documents and
Settings\XXXXX\Desktop\New Mail Out.url" and starts in "C:\Documents and
Settings\XXXXX\Desktop". Everything else seems normal with the =
information
in this icon but it STILL opens up OE and not a new blank message, as I =
want
it to.
I have come across this workaround:
"1. Open Outlook Express or Outlook and open a new email message. You =
can
leave it blank or add whatever signature or text you want to appear =
whenever
a new message is opened via the New Menu entry (in effect, you are =
creating
a new message template)
2 Click File Save As and save the file with a name like Blank.eml if =
you
are using Outlook Express." This saved *.eml message was then renamed =
'New
Mail Out' and bears the *.eml envelope icon. As there are *.eml =
messages on
my desktop for quick access to, I want to change the icon for this blank
template (to distinguish it from saved messages) but find that this =
option
is not available in 'Properties. Previously, I was able to change the =
OE
blank message icon to something brighter and easier to distinguish it as =
a
blank message template.
Ideally I would like to restore my previous icons and settings to =
allow
me to access my outgoing mail quicker, once again, without having to do =
a
uninstall and then reinstallation of OE, risking losing all my =
identities
and messages.

HTH?

Cheers,

alba.

--=20

Also, thanks to Stan for his PM. Effectively, the advice you give =
is
sound but it means creating copies of the blank *.eml as mentioned in =
the
workaround above - either one blank *.eml template, as I have now, or
multiple templates for all my contacts. This would mean having to go
looking thru a folder for the right message template for the right
recipient. Ideally, I would like to try to sort out the problem with =
the
mailto: shortcut and then I can assign it its own icon. Appreciate the
comments and help though! Thanks again!!

--

Post the shortcut you created.
HTH - Please Reply to This Thread

(PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE), AH-VSOP



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.701 / Virus Database: 458 - Release Date: 07/06/2004