How to view all e-mail messages in plain text format in Outlook 2003 (831607)

SUMMARY

Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 provides a new option named the Read all standard mail in plain text option that permits you to view all e-mail messages in plain text format. If you are concerned about the threat of a virus or of some other type of malicious script executing through HTML or through Microsoft Outlook Rich Text Format (RTF), you can use the Read all standard mail in plain text option to prevent Outlook 2003 from rendering those formats. With the Read all standard mail in plain text option turned on, Outlook 2003 displays all standard e-mail messages in plain text format. The Read all standard mail in plain text option is for display purposes only. The original e-mail message is not converted to plain text format.

MORE INFORMATION

To turn on the Read all standard mail in plain text option, follow these steps:

Start Outlook 2003.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
On the Preferences tab, in the E-mail area, click E-mail Options.
In the Message handling area, click to select the Read all standard mail in plain text check box.

Note By default, the Read all standard mail in plain text option is turned off.

When the Read all standard mail in plain text option is turned on, you receive the following notification on the InfoBar at the top of the e-mail message:

This message was converted to plain text.

How Outlook 2003 Prints, Replies to and Forwards E-Mail Messages When You Use the Read All Standard Mail in Plain Text Option

If the Read all standard mail in plain text option is turned on, Outlook 2003 uses the display format that you are currently using to initiate any print, reply to or forward functions for the e-mail message.

How to Use the Read All Standard Mail in Plain Text Option for Digitally Signed Mail

Depending on your configuration, Outlook 2003 may not be able to view all e-mail messages in plain text format. If you receive an e-mail message and all the following conditions are true

You have the Read all standard mail in plain text option turned on.
The e-mail message is not in plain text format.
The e-mail message was digitally signed with a Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (S/MIME) signature.

you may receive the following message when you try to view the e-mail message:

This signed message was not sent in plain text. Outlook is configured to only view messages in plain text, but cannot do that without breaking the signature. If you would like to view this message in its original format, click here.

In the case where digital signatures are used, Outlook 2003 must display the e-mail message in the original format that is specified by the sender, or you must turn on the Read all digitally signed mail in plain text option. To turn on the Read all digitally signed mail in plain text option, click to select the Read all digitally signed mail in plain text check box under the Read all standard mail in plain text option.