Does PowerPlugs: Stationery add much size (and therefore download time) to my email messages?

Will my email recipients be able to see my stationery, even if they don't use Microsoft Outlook or PowerPlugs: Stationery?

In most cases, yes. Although PowerPlugs: Stationery will only create email messages in Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, the message format (which includes graphics and formatted text) is recognized and supported by almost all of today's popular email programs and Web browsers. Please see the list of compatible programs below:

Outlook Express
5.5 through 6.0

back to table

AOL 6.0

back to table

Netscape Mail

back to table

Hotmail

back to table

Yahoo! Mail

back to table

Does PowerPlugs: Stationery add much size (and therefore download time) to my email messages?

The attractive graphics and formatting that PowerPlugs: Stationery adds to an email message only increase the file size by about 5KB, which is approximately 10% for an average 40K email (including attachments). When using a standard dial-up modem connection, this will add a negligible 2 or 3 seconds to the time it takes to download a message. Of course, for those using a broadband Internet connection, it will produce virtually no measurable slowdown at all.

How do I install PowerPlugs: Stationery?

Make sure Outlook and Word are both closed. After you have purchased PowerPlugs: Stationery (or registered for the free trial version), download the software from the link(s) provided. Locate the downloaded file on your computer, then simply double-click the file to begin installation.

Note: During installation, even after closing Outlook and Word, PowerPlugs: Stationery may detect that some components of these programs are still running. In that case it will display a dialog box allowing you to close them down completely. Simply click the "Close Application" button to proceed with the installation.

How do I uninstall PowerPlugs: Stationery?

Make sure Outlook and Word are both closed prior to uninstalling PowerPlugs: Stationery. Then choose one of these two recommended ways to uninstall PowerPlugs: Stationery:

Note: During uninstallation, even after closing Outlook and Word, PowerPlugs: Stationery may detect that some components of these programs are still running. In that case it will display a dialog box allowing you to close them down completely. Simply click the "Close Application" button to proceed with the uninstallation.

How can I disable PowerPlugs: Stationery without uninstalling it?

To disable PowerPlugs: Stationery without uninstalling it, simply uncheck the option "Show this dialog box for each new email." that appears at the bottom of the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog box, and then click the Apply button. The latest stationery you selected will automatically be used for subsequent new messages.

How do I enable PowerPlugs: Stationery, if I have previously disabled it?

There are two ways to turn PowerPlugs: Stationery back on after it has been disabled:
• Click the Stationery button on the standard toolbar
   -or-
• From the Tools menu, select PowerPlugs: Stationery

Once the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog box appears, place a check mark by the option 'Show this dialog box for each new mail', and then click the Apply button.

Why doesn't the "To:" field of a new message get filled in when I click an email hyperlink on a Web page?

This issue, which only affects Outlook when Word is set as the email editor, arises because the email address of the email hyperlink is not carried into the new message through the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog. To let Word fill-in the email address automatically, you can uncheck the 'Show this dialog box for each new email' option in the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog box.

However, if you prefer to see the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog box each time you create a new message, you should leave that option checked and use an alternate method of filling-in the "To:" field. When you wish to create a new message by following an email hyperlink, right-click the link and select "Copy Shortcut" (in Internet Explorer) or "Copy link location" (in Netscape and Mozilla). This will copy the corresponding email address to the clipboard. Then, in your new mail message, simply paste the link into the "To:" field by pressing the hotkey combination Ctrl+V while your cursor is in the "To:" field. Or, you can manually type the email address of the hyperlink into the "To:" field. (Find the address by pointing to an email hyperlink such as this one; the address appears following "mailto:" in your browser's status bar.)

Can I create messages with plain text or plain backgrounds when PowerPlugs: Stationery is installed?

When no graphics or fancy text are desired, you can easily change the format of a new message:

• To create a message with a white background and formatted text: Select File > New > Mail message to open a new message window. When the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog box appears, select the category "Microsoft & Other" on the left side, and on the right side select the Stationery Style called "Blank". Your new message will have a plain white background. You can change the appearance of the text by selecting sizes, colors, and styles from the Format > Font menu.
• To create a message with a white background and plain (unformatted) text: Open a new message window, then click Tools > Options > Mail Format. From the "Send in this message format" list, select "Plain Text". You can change a message from HTML to plain text at any time before sending it, but be aware that any graphics will be deleted and font settings will be converted to plain text.

The next time you create a new message, the PowerPlugs: Stationery dialog box will appear and you will again have the usual selection of colorful PowerPlugs: Stationery designs to choose from.

Why does my cursor jump to various areas on the screen when I use the Tab key to indent?

PowerPlugs: Stationery uses HTML tables to position images and graphics in Outlook. When tables are present, the role of the Tab key changes. Instead of merely indenting the cursor, the tab key actually relocates the cursor in the next cell of the table. As an alternative to the Tab key, you can simply use your keyboard's space bar to add a certain number of blank spaces at the beginning of a paragraph.

Why don't the graphics always show up when the message is printed?

When Microsoft Outlook prints a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) message with pictures from the Internet, the pictures may not print correctly or may not print at all. Print Preview is also not available for HTML emails. These limitations are present in Microsoft Outlook even without PowerPlugs: Stationery installed.

The omission of graphics when printing generally occurs after you install Internet Explorer version 5.5 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Internet Explorer version 6.0. Microsoft suggests obtaining the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 5.5 or the supported fix for Internet Explorer 6.0. You will also need the supported fix for Outlook.

Another effective way to print a message with accompanying graphics is to set Word as your email editor, and then print the message from Word. Take the following steps to change your settings:

Why is there an automatic message footer at the bottom of every message I send?

Messages created with the free trial version of PowerPlugs: Stationery will automatically include a small link to the PowerPlugs: Stationery home page, to help spread the word about this great new line of Outlook stationery. This link appears in a footer at the very bottom of your messages. Purchased volumes of PowerPlugs: Stationery do not insert this link. If you're interested in using PowerPlugs: Stationery without the automatic message footer, you can order one or more volumes by clicking an "Add to cart" button below.

How long does the free trial version of PowerPlugs: Stationery last?

The free trial version of PowerPlugs: Stationery expires 10 days after you first use it.

How can I get more stationery designs?

Five volumes of PowerPlugs: Stationery are now available — click any of the "Add to cart" buttons below to order. Each volume includes 25 eye-catching stationery templates, so it's easy to pick the perfect look for any message. You can download a free trial version of PowerPlugs: Stationery (see above), or purchase from this list: