Flummoxed by Spontaneous Insert/Attach Change(2003 XP Home)

[obillo]

To attach a file to an e-mail I was taught to go to the paperclip, click
Insert a File, identify the file, and click Insert. the file would appear as
an attachment on its own line up at the top of the e-mail. I always wondered
why clicking Insert produced an attachment--and never found out.

Now when I do that--same thing, keystroke for keystroke--the file appears in
the body of the e-mail message. Same thing happens if when selecting file to
attach I double-click (discovered by accident). I've asked a couple of other
casual users, and they said Insert, for them, ALWAYS put the file in the body
of the message and NEVER hung it on as an attachment. So they're as mystified
as I am.

Frankly, I would like to be able to choose whether the filed is inserted or
attached. So far as I know I have not changed my routine--but maybe I've
accidentally activated something all unawares.

What to do?

 

[grammatim]

That doesn't seem to be a question about Word.

 

[Gordon Bentley-Mix]

Not necessarily a question about Word, but somewhat related, as reading
between the lines leads me to believe that you are talking about Outlook.

The behaviour you have described occurs based on the format of the email
message. If the format is "HTML" or "Plain Text", then attachments appear in
the "Attach..." field in the header area of the message window. However, if
the format is "Rich Text", the attachment is embedded into the body of the
message.

The default format for new messages can be set (in Outlook 2003 and possibly
other versions) under Tools | Options... and changing the value selected in
the "Compose in this message format:" dropdown on the "Mail Format" tab of
the "Options" dialog box. This is the same location where you can select
whether to use Word to edit and/or view email messages.

Note that the format of replies to email messages is determined by the
format of the original message. Therefore, if someone sends you a message in
"Rich Text" format and you reply to or forward it and add an attachment, the
attachment will be embedded into the body of the message.
--
Cheers!

Gordon Bentley-Mix
Word MVP

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[obillo]

Just back from a trip abroad to find your post, GB-M--it answers my question
perfectly. Many thanks! Ocillo