Outlook should warn you if there is no attachment

[DannyJUK]

I've lost count of the number of times that I've sent an e-mail to which I
intended to attach a file, but forgot to actually attach it. I've also lost
count of the number of times I've had to send a "there's no attachment"
e-mail to colleagues when they've done the same thing. Clearly my colleagues
and I should work on improving our attention to detail, but given the
frequency with which it happens (and the irritation and embarassment that
results), I wonder if there's not a way that the software could help us
absent-minded types.

Would it not be possible for Outlook to recognise when a user types in the
word "attached", "attachment" or "attachments" into the body of an e-mail (in
a similar way to which it monitors and recognises spelling mistakes) and
then, if there is in fact no attachment to the e-mail, to prompt them before
sending it, asking whether they meant to attach a file?

----------------
This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "I
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follow this
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and then
click "I Agree" in the message pane.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...a2347c898&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

"There are seldom technological solutions to behavioral problems."

--
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, DannyJUK asked:

| I've lost count of the number of times that I've sent an e-mail to
| which I intended to attach a file, but forgot to actually attach it.
| I've also lost count of the number of times I've had to send a
| "there's no attachment" e-mail to colleagues when they've done the
| same thing. Clearly my colleagues and I should work on improving our
| attention to detail, but given the frequency with which it happens
| (and the irritation and embarassment that results), I wonder if
| there's not a way that the software could help us absent-minded types.
|
| Would it not be possible for Outlook to recognise when a user types
| in the word "attached", "attachment" or "attachments" into the body
| of an e-mail (in a similar way to which it monitors and recognises
| spelling mistakes) and then, if there is in fact no attachment to the
| e-mail, to prompt them before sending it, asking whether they meant
| to attach a file?
|
| ----------------
| This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to the
| suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click
| the "I Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the
| button, follow this link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft
| Web-based Newsreader and then click "I Agree" in the message pane.
|
|
http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...a2347c898&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[VanguardLH]

I've lost count of the number of times that I've sent an e-mail to which I
intended to attach a file, but forgot to actually attach it. ...

<snipped the rest about the OP's forgetfulness>

There is not enough disk space to handle every user's want foradditional
behavior. Most animals eventually relearn their behavior after repeated
punishment. Microsoft realized that users might want additional behaviors
or features but for so few users that it wasn't worth their time to waste
their manpower, so they made their products extensible. You can install
add-ins or macros that add the behaviors or features that you want.

If you are incapable of relearning your flaws (yep, that's your fault, not
the program's), there are add-ins that will try to detect if you meant to
include an attachment but they can only guess (which means they could be
wrong as many times as they are correct in their guessing), like:

http://www.sperrysoftware.com/Outlook/Attachment-Forget-Me-Not.asp
http://www.officelabs.com/projects/forgottenattachmentdetector/Pages/default.aspx

Oops, sorry. Didn't realize that you did not want help. Suggestions are
not questions.