A category is a keyword or phrase that helps you keep track of items so you can easily find, sort, filter, or group them.

To assign a category when creating an item

To assign a category to an existing item

Note  If the category you want isn't in the list, you can quickly add a new category to the Master Category List (Master Category List: The list of categories that you can use to group items or to find items. This list contains general categories such as Business, Personal, and Phone Calls. You can add categories to and delete categories from this list.). Type the category name in the Item(s) belong to these categories box, and then click Add to List.

1. On the Tools menu, point to Find, and then click Advanced Find.
2. In the Look for box, click Any type of Outlook item.
3. If the folder you want to search does not appear in the In box, or you want to search more than one folder, click Browse to select from a list. In the Folders box, select the check boxes next to the folders you want to search, and clear the check boxes next to the folders you don't want to search. Click OK.
4. Click the More Choices tab.
5. Click Categories, and then select the check box next to the category you want.

   If the category you want isn't available in the Available categories box, click Master Category List, type a name for the category, click Add, and then click OK.

6. Click OK, and then click Find Now.

• To select adjacent items (item: An item is the basic element that holds information in Outlook (similar to a file in other programs). Items include e-mail messages, appointments, contacts, tasks, journal entries, notes, posted items, and documents.), click the first item, and then hold down SHIFT and click the last item.
• To select nonadjacent items, click the first item, and then hold down CTRL and click additional items.
• To select all items, click the Edit menu, and then click Select All.

Note  Changing the view (view: Views give you different ways to look at the same information in a folder by putting it in different arrangements and formats. There are standard views for each folder. You can also create custom views.) for items can make selecting specific items easier. For instance, if you want to select all messages that have the same subject, in the folder containing the messages, on the View menu, point to Arrange By, and then click Conversation. Select the messages you want from the view.