Using Quick Parts in Microsoft Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010
Think back to your emails from the last month. How often did multiple emails contain the same information? This information could have been directions, privacy policies, answers to frequently asked questions... you get the idea. The Microsoft Office Quick Parts function allows you to build in saved auto text or images into your emails that you can easily access and use with just a few clicks.
Creating Quick Parts template
- Create a new Mail message (from the File menu click New then Mail Message).
Tip. You can also create a Quick Part based off an incoming email message - drag it temporarily to the Outbox folder, open it, then continue below.
- In the body of the message type the text that you are interested in saving as a Quick Part. You can also apply any Formatting to it (color, text size, etc.)
- Highlight the text passage. Click the Insert Tab and then click on Quick Parts.
- From here you can assign your new passage a Name and begin creating Categories if you have a variety of types of text that you will be saving. You are also given room to provide a brief Description of your Text so you will remember what you have saved. After you fill in all the details, just click OK.
Using Outlook Quick Parts
- Click the Insert Tab and then click on Quick Parts.
- Click the desired Quick Part that you are interested in using from the list.
- You have the option of just inserting them where your cursor is in the message or Outlook provides a few Insert Options. Once you have your Quick Parts text highlighted Right Click it to see the image below. You have the ability to automatically insert your Quick part as a Header, Footer, at the End of a Document, etc.
Managing Quick Parts
Editing Quick Part properties
- Click the Insert Tab and then click on Quick Parts.
- Right Click on your desired Quick Part and choose Edit Properties - here you can edit the name, description and category.
Editing content (there is only one way - the long way)
- Remember the name and category of the Quick Part you will be editing (you will need this for your last step).
- Insert your Quick Part into a message (see instructions above if you have forgotten this step already).
- Make your necessary changes in the body of you message.
- Highlight the text, click on Quick Parts and select "Save selection to Quick Part Gallery".
- Enter the same name and category as the original Quick Part when prompted- Outlook will then suggest that you replace the existing Quick Part.
Before I send you off to use Quick Parts I need deliver both the good and the bad news about this function.
Bad news first (the good news is much better, I promise)- if you are creating lots of Quick Parts:
- There are no search options making finding the right one somewhat difficult or time consuming.
- There is also no hierarchy; you only get categories of one level.
- Both previewing and editing the content of your Quick Part is very difficult.
- Lastly, there is no easy way to share your Quick Parts with another person or send it to another PC.
Now, the GOOD news! One of the best things about Quick Parts is that it is built into Microsoft Outlook, and works everywhere. You can use Quick Parts in mail messages, calendar requests, etc. and it is simple once you do the set up.
Template Phrases for Outlook: easy-to-use alternative to Quick Parts
Since there were so many limitations with the Quick Parts function AbleBits has provided an excellent way to address these issues: Template Phrases for Outlook.
I prefer to use the Template Phrases add-in because it addresses all of the weaknesses of Quick Parts and creates a stronger function for you! It features Shared Templates, Quick Search and a Favorites or Recently Used function- saving you and anyone that you share repeated information with time. Now, how easy and quick does it sound to send those directions or FAQ's over and over and over again?
You may also be interested in
- Create effective reply templates
- Insert images and attach files to your templates
- Add predefined and customizable fields
- Share your templates with colleagues
25 responses to "Using Quick Parts in Microsoft Outlook 2016, 2013, 2010"
When I create a new Quick Part, why when I close Outlook and then re-open it, the quick part is not there and I have to re-create it.
I am having the same problem. I have created entries before and they have worked just fine. I cannot even get old ones to delete and stay deleted. Once I close Outlook everything goes back to my old settings. Please help!
Hello Brooks,
I am sorry, we haven't encountered this problem before. Please contact Microsoft support service (http://support.microsoft.com) regarding the issue.
i need more info. its not enough brah
can someone please help me
Hello Dick,
Please specify what information you are looking for.
When I insert a Quick Part into the text of a reply to an email, the formatting of the Quick Part is not preserved, but rather defaults to the formatting of the original email (to which I am replying). Is there any way to preserve the formatting of the Quick Part (or to insert a Quick Part and use "keep source formatting" as you can do with a cut/paste operation in Word)?
I am also having this problem - was there ever a solution found?
Are you inserting it into a plain text email? In plain text emails, there is no formatting.
Is there a way to create a quick access toolbar icon for a specific quick part? For the moment the fastest way to insert the quickpart is to use the F3 trick which is not ideal because you need to remember the name of your quickpart.
My quick parts is not on the tool bar. where do i find it at?
Under the "Insert" tab.
We are working now with a cloud version of Microsoft Outlook 2010 and unfortunately the Quick links creation button are not available any longer. Are there any possibilities to add it?
I am using Quick Parts for Customer Service responses. Is there a maximum number allowed? I tried to save some new ones and the "Save Selection" was no longer available. Otherwise can you recommend a goos program that uses Outlook to do this?
Thank you
How can I let my co-workers use/access my quick parts in a Shared mailbox?
You misspelled template
Thank you very much! We corrected the misspelling.
Can someone tell me if Quick parts from office 2010 will work in office 2013....if so what is the proper export/import procedure? Thx
I am using Outlook 2016. I've used Quick Parts with the previous versions and was able to save a Quick Part in Rich Text to add in an attachment. Then when I would use the Quick Part (in HTML), I would just delete the attachment from the body of the email and it would still be attached. Now using Outlook 2016, the attachment disappears altogether. How do I keep that from happening?
Hi Jamie,
What happens if you create a new e-mail and then insert the quick part with attachment?
Wilma
This does not explain Outlook 2016. How can I use Quick Parts in 2016? The layout is different from 2013.
Is there a way to create a quick part for a shared mailbox? So that everyone who uses the mailbox can use it? Or can I only create them for my Outlook?
Thanks
Sophie
Can you add attachments to a quick part?
Are you able to add attachments to a quick part?
Can an attachment be added to Quick Parts?