Menu Close

Modal Dialogs and Outlook 2003

So I open an e-mail in outlook by double clicking on it (which opens it in a new window), from 10 new emails that are to a distribution list.

I want to create a rule from them so I go back o the main Inbox window. Then I say "Tools", "Rules and Alerts", "New Rule"…

Then I want to add a rule for messages sent to the distribution list, however now the address (which I promptly forgot because human brains tend to forget unimportant things) is obscured. Since both "Rules and Alerts", and "New Rule Wizard" dialogs are modal, I have to cancel not once, but twice, in order to move the window so I can see it.

Yes, I "could have" right-clicked on the mesage and say "Create Rule", but since the Inbox view doesn’t have a "To" column by default (and I agree, it is stupid to add one), I don’t actually know which of these messages are sent to the Distribution list and which are specifically to me, right?

Yes, I can also add "Create Rule" when the message is open, however this is on the "Actions" menu, when the rules engine on the Inbox is on the "Tools" menu. So for a while I don’t find it. I guess I need training – after all, I’ve only been using windows applications since Windows 2.0 came out.

Too many choices getting in the way, and not one matching the way a user thinks.

 

technorati tags: , ,