It is not for nothing that the Dummies series is so successful: More often than not (this book is a case in point), Dummies books deliver clear, concise introductions to complex software. This guide starts off with an introduction to Outlook's interface with details on how to use the package's drag-and-drop capabilities. It then teaches you how to manage files and folders and create new views and forms. Additional chapters focus on Outlook's Inbox and Contacts features, and show you how to work with the Calendar, Notes, Journal, and Tasks sections. The final section of the book, "The Part of Tens," offers ten of almost everything: shortcuts, things Outlook can't do, ways to use Office 97 for snappier e-mail, ways to use Outlook and the Internet, and so on. The author provides a lot of detail and ease-of-use tips while making your introduction to the package as painless as possible.

Book Description
When you open up your brand-new Microsoft Office 97 productivity software suite, you find an exciting new program: Outlook, Microsoft's cutting-edge e-mail tool and personal information manager. With its workgroup collaboration features, including task and contact lists, Outlook is one program you want to take advantage of right away. Use your e-mail to create contact lists and maintain your calendar; use your contact list and calendar to generate e-mail and schedule appointments; keep electronic sticky notes that can serve as reminders, and track it all with a nifty journaling feature. Outlook lets you drag and drop items from one module to another for instant integration and can seamlessly interact with the rest of the Microsoft Office 97 productivity suite as well. Microsoft Outlook For Dummies shows you how. Plus, with author Bill Dyszel's expert guidance, you get practical, how-to tips on effectively integrating Outlook with all your other programs, so you can improve accuracy while cutting redundancy.

From the Back Cover
Microsoft Outlook For Dummies is your handy guide to Outlook, the all-in-one tool for e-mail, appointments, names and addresses, phone calls, tasks, and documents. Outlook is the most exciting new part of Microsoft Office 97 because it lets you automatically perform a variety of tasks routinely in a single program. With this down-to-earth reference at your side, you will quickly become more productive and organized. Inside, find helpful advice on how to: Mix and match the same basic steps in Outlook Groups to keep records, make contacts, manage tasks, and exchange e-mail in a flash Send and read your e-mail from the Internet and organize your messages for future reference Keep track of the names, addresses, and scads of personal information about everyone that you work with, write, or call Drag and drop items from one Outlook module to another to avoid retyping information over and over Use electronic "sticky notes" to manage random scraps of information Print your schedule and create electronic to-do lists to help in planning Record your incoming phone calls and use Outlook's AutoDialer to make outgoing calls for you Flag e-mail and other items as triggers for action Track every minute of your day with the Journal

About the Author
Bill Dyszel writes frequently for leading magazines, including PC Magazine, Success Magazine, Chief Executive Magazine, and Computer Shopper, while also working as a consultant to many of New York's leading firms in the securities, advertising, and publishing industries. His list of current and former clients includes Salomon Brothers, First Boston, Goldman Sachs, Ogilvy & Mather, KMPG Peat Marwick, and many others. An award-winning public speaker, he enjoys entertaining audiences with talks about the pleasures and pitfalls of using modern technology. He is also the author of PalmPilot For Dummies. The world of high technology has led Mr. Dyszel to grapple with such subjects as Multimedia (or how to make your $2,000 computer do the work of a $20 radio), Personal Information Managers (how to make your $3,000 laptop computer do the work of a $3.00 date book), and graphics programs (how to make your $5,000 package of computers and peripheral devices do the work of a 50-cent box of crayons). All joking aside, he has found that after you figure out the process, most of this stuff can be useful, helpful, and yes, even cool. Like many public figures with skeletons in their closets, this author has a secret past. Before entering the computer industry, Mr. Dyszel sang with the New York City Opera and worked regularly on the New York stage as a singer, actor, and writer in numerous plays, musicals, and operas. His opera spoof -- 99% ARTFREE! -- won critical praise from The New York Times, New York Daily News, and the Associated Press when he performed the show Off-Broadway.

FROM THE PUBLISHER