Weekly Computer Tip # 350
8 October 2011

Set a date using plain English
(Outlook 2000 - 2010)

When you add an appointment, meeting, task or reminder in Outlook you can either type the date or time (for instance 08/10/2011 and 13:00) or you can pick a date and time by clicking the arrow at the right end of any of the date and time boxes. But there's an easier way.

Here's how:

1. Click in the date or time box.
2. Type a description of the date or time.

So what works? ... Tomorrow. Next week. Next Thursday. Next year. First Monday of January. First Fri of Feb. 12/12. Christmas. 9AM. 5PM. 17.15. Well, you get my drift.

So next time you receive an email message and you don't want to take immediate action, but want to make sure you won't forget it either, simply drag the message to the Tasks folder, tick the Reminder check box and use plain English.

By the way, I know it's been five weeks since my last tip so I won't promise anything but in principle...

.