How to add text AFTER quoted reply, without vertical blue bar?

[David Karr]

Using Outlook 2007 on Win XP.

Typically, when I quote a note that I'm replying to, I either add my
text before the quoted part (if it's an ordinary short email), or
either after the quoted part, or pieces interspersed in the quoted
area.

When I add the text before, I don't have any issues.

However, if I try to add the text after the quote area, or
interspersed in the quoted area, I can't figure out how to get rid of
the vertical blue bar on the left edge. I don't see anything obvious
in formatting that would fix this.

 

[F.H. Muffman]

Using Outlook 2007 on Win XP.

Typically, when I quote a note that I'm replying to, I either add my
text before the quoted part (if it's an ordinary short email), or
either after the quoted part, or pieces interspersed in the quoted
area.

When I add the text before, I don't have any issues.

However, if I try to add the text after the quote area, or
interspersed in the quoted area, I can't figure out how to get rid of
the vertical blue bar on the left edge. I don't see anything obvious
in formatting that would fix this.

Tools - Options - E-mail Options, uncheck Mark my comments with.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Tools - Options - E-mail Options, uncheck Mark my comments with.

I don't believe that setting controls the blue bar. Rather, it's
Tools>Options>E-mail Options>When replying to a message. The "Prefix each
line of the original message" selection will cause the blue line for RIch Text
or HTML messages.

 

[David Karr]

I don't believe that setting controls the blue bar.  Rather, it's
Tools>Options>E-mail Options>When replying to a message.  The "Prefix each
line of the original message" selection will cause the blue line for RIchText
or HTML messages.

I'm using the obnoxious new menu system in Office 2007, so I can't
figure out where those options are that you're suggesting. I sure
wish I could just use the old menu layout.

 

[F.H. Muffman]

Tools - Options - E-mail Options, uncheck Mark my comments with.

I'm using the obnoxious new menu system in Office 2007, so I can't
figure out where those options are that you're suggesting. I sure
wish I could just use the old menu layout.

Exactly where we said it is. Tools - Options - E-mail.... I missed the setting
Brian suggested, mostly because it's greyed out on my system and completely
overlooked it.

 

[David Karr]

I don't believe that setting controls the blue bar.  Rather, it's
Tools>Options>E-mail Options>When replying to a message.  The "Prefix each
line of the original message" selection will cause the blue line for RIchText
or HTML messages.

Ok, now that I realized you were referring to the menu bar in the main
outlook window, as opposed to the message window, I found that
option. However, that's not the issue. I want the lines of the
original message prefixed with something to set it apart. In RichText
it creates the blue bar, in plain text, it uses ">". If I'm in plain
text, my problem is easy to solve, because it's just plain text. In
RichText however, I have the quoted lines with the blue bar, but I
want to ADD text after the quoted area, and that text I'm trying to
add gets the blue bar on it.

 

[F.H. Muffman]

Tools - Options - E-mail Options, uncheck Mark my comments with.

Ok, now that I realized you were referring to the menu bar in the main
outlook window, as opposed to the message window, I found that
option. However, that's not the issue. I want the lines of the
original message prefixed with something to set it apart. In RichText
it creates the blue bar, in plain text, it uses ">". If I'm in plain
text, my problem is easy to solve, because it's just plain text. In
RichText however, I have the quoted lines with the blue bar, but I
want to ADD text after the quoted area, and that text I'm trying to
add gets the blue bar on it.

Technically, since Microsoft Outlook is a top posting program, there is no
'after the quoted area'. There's the new text area, at the top, and there's
the quoted material below it. If you add material below the area, apar

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I'm using the obnoxious new menu system in Office 2007, so I can't
figure out where those options are that you're suggesting.

Exactly where I said. The main Outlook window has mostly the same menus as
Outlook 2003. (Wait until Outlook 2010 for the RIbbon on the main window.
Then the options will be on the backstage - a separate tab near the ribbon,
similar to the Office Orb in Outlook 2007.)

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I want the lines of the original message prefixed with something to set it
apart. In RichText
it creates the blue bar, in plain text, it uses ">". If I'm in plain text,
my problem is easy to solve, because
it's just plain text. In RichText however, I have the quoted lines with the
blue bar, but I
want to ADD text after the quoted area, and that text I'm trying to add gets
the blue bar on it.

Not possible.

 

[David Karr]

Not possible.

Blech.

Is there a way to convert specific messages to plain text before I
reply to them?

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

Outlook does not use that "obnoxious" new menu in the main window where you
need to make the changes. It uses the old classic menu in OL 2007.

Don't worry, Outlook 2010 will.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, David Karr asked:

| On Aug 6, 12:23 pm, "Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]"
||
|| ||
||| Tools - Options - E-mail Options, uncheck Mark my comments with.
||
|| I don't believe that setting controls the blue bar. Rather, it's
|| Tools>Options>E-mail Options>When replying to a message. The "Prefix
|| each line of the original message" selection will cause the blue
|| line for RIch Text or HTML messages.
|| --
|| Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]
|
| I'm using the obnoxious new menu system in Office 2007, so I can't
| figure out where those options are that you're suggesting. I sure
| wish I could just use the old menu layout.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

You can always try the utility here:
http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/outlook-quotefix/

I use OE Quotefix quite successfully (IMHO) but some folks don't like my
quoting of posts. <eg>

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, David Karr asked:

| On Aug 6, 1:36 pm, "Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]"
||
|| ||
||| I want the lines of the original message prefixed with something to
||| set it apart. In RichText
||| it creates the blue bar, in plain text, it uses ">". If I'm in
||| plain text, my problem is easy to solve, because
||| it's just plain text. In RichText however, I have the quoted lines
||| with the blue bar, but I
||| want to ADD text after the quoted area, and that text I'm trying to
||| add gets the blue bar on it.
||
|| Not possible.
|
| Blech.
|
| Is there a way to convert specific messages to plain text before I
| reply to them?

 

[David Karr]

You can always try the utility here:http://home.in.tum.de/~jain/software/outlook-quotefix/

I use OE Quotefix quite successfully (IMHO) but some folks don't like my
quoting of posts.  <eg>

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
ALWAYS post your Outlook version.
How to ask a question:http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

After furious head scratching, David Karr asked:


||
||||
||| I want the lines of the original message prefixed with something to
||| set it apart. In RichText
||| it creates the blue bar, in plain text, it uses ">". If I'm in
||| plain text, my problem is easy to solve, because
||| it's just plain text. In RichText however, I have the quoted lines
||| with the blue bar, but I
||| want to ADD text after the quoted area, and that text I'm trying to
||| add gets the blue bar on it.
||
|| Not possible.
|
| Blech.
|
| Is there a way to convert specific messages to plain text before I
| reply to them?

It looks good, almost exactly how the SuperCite package in Emacs
works.

However, this is apparently specific to plain text, and my situation
is specific to RichText. Was that not clear?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Is there a way to convert specific messages to plain text before I
reply to them?

Click Reply, then click Format>Plain Text.

As Milly states, I, too, like Outlook Quotefix. It works only on Plain Text
messages, though.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

However, this is apparently specific to plain text, and my situation
is specific to RichText. Was that not clear?

The point is that 1) I've heard of nothing that will work for Rich Text (or
HTML) and 2) you asked about converting it to Plain Text first. I believe
Outlook Quotefix will handle the message when you convert it.

 

[David Karr]

Click Reply, then click Format>Plain Text.

The problem with that is that I now have the original note contents,
unquoted. Is there an easy way to now quote the existing contents
before adding my comments? Will QuoteFix provide that feature?

 

[David Karr]

The point is that 1) I've heard of nothing that will work for Rich Text (or
HTML) and 2) you asked about converting it to Plain Text first.  I believe
Outlook Quotefix will handle the message when you convert it.

After installing QuoteFix and getting into the usage guide, I see that
it says

"You must not use Microsoft Word for editing your messages, i.e.
uncheck [Tools -> Options -> Mail Format -> use Microsoft Word to edit
e-mail messages]."

I have no such option in Outlook 2007.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

I have no such option in Outlook 2007.

Quotefix's web page also says it doesn't work with Outlook 2007. I forgot you
said initially that you were using Outlook 2007.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

The problem with that is that I now have the original note contents,
unquoted. Is there an easy way to now quote the existing contents
before adding my comments? Will QuoteFix provide that feature?

I think you're out of luck. COntacts Microsoft and tell them you want to be
able to intersperse your reply information with the original message. Who
knows? Maybe someday it'll happen.