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Microsoft Outlook keyboard shortcuts

Electronic circuits

I use Outlook extensively, and not only for sending and receiving messages. It is a repository for all commitments, reminders and notes. Surprisingly enough, I never bothered to look into shortcuts, until the other day, when I accidentally hit three random keys together and a 'Move Item to' window popped up.

A quick search returned this complete yet simple and very clear list of Outlook shortcuts by the RNIB. I have started using these few ones straight away:

  • Delete message from message window: Ctrl + D (if you are viewing an individual message, the Delete key removes text, this shortcut lets you delete the message without using the mouse).
  • Move cursor to top of email list: Home (when you have scrolled through a long list of messages and want to go back to the top).
  • Launch Advanced Find: Ctrl + Shift + F (I rely heavily on the advanced search to find information stored in Outlook at work where we are not allowed to install any indexing software. Now I can do it without leaving the keyboard).
  • Move directly to Inbox: Ctrl + Shift + I (again, I must be using this dozens of times a day).
  • Move selected item to folder: Ctrl + Shift + V (especially useful when you are processing all your messages in the morning or after lunch, and want to file them quickly one after the other).
  • Launch flag for follow up dialog box: Ctrl + Shift + G (same as the point above).

I was already aware of the following shortcuts to create new items, have been using them regularly and recommend them strongly:

  • Create a new email message: Ctrl + Shift + M
  • Create a new appointment item: Ctrl + Shift + A
  • Create a new contact item: Ctrl + Shift + C
  • Create a new task item: Ctrl + Shift + K
  • Create a new note item: Ctrl + Shift + N

I hope you find these useful too.

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