After changing folders in Outlook 2003, the focus remains in the left pane.
Is there a way to force focus to the right pane automatically? For instance,
when moving from Inbox to Contacts, I would like the first contact to be the
active item, not the Contacts folder object on the left. This way I can
efficiently begin typing the addressee name I wish to find without clicking
on a contact or using CTRL+TAB.

I have just discovered that this is related to Outlook Today or the mailbox
home page. View properties for the mailbox object in Outlook, on the
Homepage tab; If I uncheck "Show homepage by default for this folder" the
right pane items are selected or active after changing folders. With this
box checked, the left pane remains active after changing folders.
Unfortunately, I have a user that likes to start Outlook in with Outlook
Today. Is there a way to change this behavior?

"Todd Akin" wrote:

> After changing folders in Outlook 2003, the focus remains in the left pane.
> Is there a way to force focus to the right pane automatically? For instance,
> when moving from Inbox to Contacts, I would like the first contact to be the
> active item, not the Contacts folder object on the left. This way I can
> efficiently begin typing the addressee name I wish to find without clicking
> on a contact or using CTRL+TAB.

Todd Akin <Todd (E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> After changing folders in Outlook 2003, the focus remains in the left
> pane. Is there a way to force focus to the right pane automatically?
> For instance, when moving from Inbox to Contacts, I would like the
> first contact to be the active item, not the Contacts folder object
> on the left. This way I can efficiently begin typing the addressee
> name I wish to find without clicking on a contact or using CTRL+TAB.

Is your startup folder set to "Outlook Today"? If so, change it to, say,
your Inbox and what you want should work.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]

Thanks for your reply. We've tried that and as long as the home page option
is selected in the mailbox properties, the object in the right pane is
deselected when you change folders. My default is Folder list and the
behavior is as I described.

"Brian Tillman" wrote:

> Todd Akin <Todd (E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > After changing folders in Outlook 2003, the focus remains in the left
> > pane. Is there a way to force focus to the right pane automatically?
> > For instance, when moving from Inbox to Contacts, I would like the
> > first contact to be the active item, not the Contacts folder object
> > on the left. This way I can efficiently begin typing the addressee
> > name I wish to find without clicking on a contact or using CTRL+TAB.
>
> Is your startup folder set to "Outlook Today"? If so, change it to, say,
> your Inbox and what you want should work.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
>
>

Actually, my Outlook is set to start in Inbox.

"Brian Tillman" wrote:

> Todd Akin <Todd (E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > After changing folders in Outlook 2003, the focus remains in the left
> > pane. Is there a way to force focus to the right pane automatically?
> > For instance, when moving from Inbox to Contacts, I would like the
> > first contact to be the active item, not the Contacts folder object
> > on the left. This way I can efficiently begin typing the addressee
> > name I wish to find without clicking on a contact or using CTRL+TAB.
>
> Is your startup folder set to "Outlook Today"? If so, change it to, say,
> your Inbox and what you want should work.
> --
> Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
>
>

Todd Akin <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Thanks for your reply. We've tried that and as long as the home page
> option is selected in the mailbox properties, the object in the right
> pane is deselected when you change folders. My default is Folder
> list and the behavior is as I described.

Sorry, but "Folder List" is not a startup folder. You can't possibly have
that selected. You confirmed in your post at 11:23 AM EDT that I was
correct.
--
Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]