Hi Kelly,

Outlook 2003 by default saves the send mail on "Send mail" folder. You don't need the Ctrl+Shift+Y key.

Luis

I might be revealing my OCD tendencies here, but I do a regular review-and-file on my "Sent Mail" folder in Outlook and file all the messages I've sent into the appropriate email reference file. (I have folders set up by Client, Project, etc.) Makes it very easy and fast for me to find all messages related to any topic, whether I've sent or received it. If you stay on top of it (daily or weekly, depending on how many emails you send) it only takes a few minutes, and I've found it valuable.

Of course, the DavidCo Outlook Plugin has this as a feature, making it easy to keep groups of emails related to a project together.

Hi folks...Kelly here

Thanks for your comments.

Luis--just to clarify, what I am referring to is when a copy of an email is best kept in a project or reference email folder. The Ctrl+Shift+Y shortcut saves you the step of having to cc: yourself and process it again from In or going back to Sent to find it, unless you've got a great habit built-in to do this like Meghan. Really could be a personal preference thing here about what matches your style and good habit of doing email.

And yes, the GTD Outlook Add-in does this filing step too--really easily I might add!

Kelly here: I've been trying this shortcut out with a few clients this week and it doesn't seem to work consistently in earlier versions of Outlook, as far as I can tell. I'm testing it on v.2003, 11.63, if that makes a difference. Just wanted to mention in case some of you have tried this and it's not working properly.

There is a configuration piece in Outlook on whether sent items end up in the Sent folder or not. I have it set to no, so all my sent email ends up in my inbox where I just process it as any other piece of email.

I can make the decision on whether I can junk it, file it or mark it as waitingFor.

It works for Outlook2K not sure about the newer versions.

As part of my Weekly Review I would process all the messages in my sent items file within Outlook, filing those I wanted to keep for reference in the relevant project file.

This was until I recently started using the ClearContext add in. This great tool has saved me a lot of processing time and compiments the GTD add in which I also use.

If you're an Outlook user I'd recommend you take a look: http://www.clearcontext.com/index.html

Question on Clear Context (looks like a great program!): can you incorporate projects into the process via a topic? Like @Projects and then each topic would be a project that you could see in a consolidated view? I'm still dealing with the best way to handle projects via outlook (Mind Manager works, but is not as efficient as I would like for reviewing).

Also, can you file the e-mail messages off Exchange and into your personal .pst file? I assume so, but want to make sure.

It also sounds like you are using this as well as the GTD Outlook addin. How does the multiple tool bars work out?

And clarify for us if you are using the PRO version or the free categorization of the e-mail version. Methinks that makes a difference in the tool bars.

Downloading the trial version Tuesday, but would love to hear the answers vs. figuring it out.

Thanks for the comment. It helps all of us.

Not that I'm interested, or anything...

(Thanks, Kelly - great posts)

Scot

Re. ClearContext Comment

Scot,

I been using the free personal use download to evaluate the tool.

The overlap with the GTD add in is Topic (Clear Context) vs Project(GTD). I duplicate the entries on these fields to keep things in sync.

A useful part of ClearContext is that it can auto assign topics to inbound email and file it direct in the topic/project folder.

I also like how you can assign priority to Topics or Contacts. This then sorts and colour codes inbound emails in your inbox. I know this can be done in Outlook, but it's a lot easier to do with Clear Context.

Re Multiple toolbars, I am using the ClearContext toolbar for nearly all actions whilst staying with the GTD methodology. I guess the reason I keep the GTD add in is that I like grouping my Tasks by project for reviewing purposes. I'm sure I could utilise ClearContext to provide this functionality via the Topics field, but I haven't worked through it yet.

Hope it helps you.

Derek

Re. Clear Context

Scot,

I guess you can coordinate projects via the topics field. I'm only really utilising clearcontext for my email at present, but you can also assign topics to appointments and tasks so I guess it would work well. I'm still using the GTD add in so at present I duplicate the project and topic fields to keep things in sync.

I'm not technical enough to answer your query re exchange, but it works for me!

Re toolbars, I now seldom use the gtd toolbar.

I'm using the free personal use download. I've been impressed with it's functionality and intuitiveness.

Let me know what you think after you've had a chance to use it.

Derek (also a MindManager convert)