Learning roadmap for Outlook for Mac 2011

Follow this roadmap of training and Help topics to learn how to use Microsoft Outlook for Mac 2011 in a systematic, step-by-step approach.

1. Become familiar with Outlook

Title Description
Video: What’s new in Outlook for Mac 2011 Download this series of videos that provide a short introduction to some of the new and important features in Outlook for Mac 2011.
Video: Outlook for Mac 2011 Basics Download this series of videos for an overview of essential Outlook for Mac 2011 tasks and concepts to help you become productive quickly.
Tutorial: Outlook for Mac 2011 basics Download this .pdf file that provides a step-by-step tutorial covering the same concepts as in the Outlook basics video, only using text and images.
Video: Up to speed with the Office for Mac ribbon Get familiar with the Outlook for Mac 2011 ribbon, which gives you quick and convenient access to the features and tools that you use the most.

2. Set up your accounts

Title Description
Add an e-mail account Learn how to configure POP and IMAP e-mail accounts from e-mail service providers such as AOL, Gmail, MobileMe, and Windows Live Hotmail.
Add an Exchange account Connect to the Microsoft Exchange account provided by your company or organization.
Video: Import Windows items into Outlook for Mac 2011 Watch this short overview on how to import an Outlook for Windows Data File (.pst).

3. Work with mail, calendar, and address book

Title Description
Add a picture or background to a message Make your e-mail messages more interesting by including a picture as part of the message.
Insert a signature into a message Add a signature manually or automatically to each message that you send.
Create a meeting or appointment Learn the difference between a meeting and an appointment and how to create each on your calendar.
Video: Stay focused with My Day Watch this short video overview on how to manage your tasks and events on the desktop, even when Outlook is closed.
Add the sender of a message to your Outlook contacts Add an e-mail address to your contacts directly from the message, without typing any information.
Create a contact group (also called a distribution list) Learn how to create a distribution list so that you can send a message to everyone in a group without typing each recipient's address.

4. Organize and search for items

Title Description
Video: Organize messages by conversation Watch this short overview on how to view messages that have the same subject together.
Video: Use one inbox Watch this short overview on how to view messages from all e-mail accounts in a single inbox folder.
Create additional folders in the navigation pane Create additional folders to organize your messages, contacts, tasks, and notes.
Categorize an item Assign color-coded categories to messages, events, contacts, and other items to make them easier to organize and find.
Find items in Outlook by doing a basic search Quickly search the current folder, and expand the search to include additional folders or item types.
Create a rule Create a rule to automatically sort incoming messages into folders.

5. Synchronize and share

Title Description
Sync Outlook with iCal and Apple Mail on your Mac Learn how to synchronize your Outlook contacts with the Apple Address Book, MobileMe, and iSync-compatible devices.
Open a shared calendar, address book, or e-mail folder Open a Microsoft Exchange calendar, address book, or e-mail folder that you have permission to open.
Add and manage your delegates Give a delegate access to and set permissions on your Microsoft Exchange calendar, inbox, and address book.

6. Manage junk e-mail, security, and privacy

Title Description
Customize junk e-mail protection Adjust the junk e-mail filter to classify more or fewer messages as "junk."
Import, export, or remove a certificate for a contact Learn about the various security-related features in Outlook.
Send a digitally signed or encrypted message Make your messages more secure by using digital signatures and encryption.
Create a message with restricted permission Use Information Rights Management (IRM) to restrict permission to a message, for example, prevent recipients from forwarding the message.

7. Explore other useful Outlook resources

Title Description
Make Outlook your default application for e-mail, calendar, and contacts Set up Outlook to open automatically when you click a link in a document or on a Web page to send e-mail (also known as a "mailto" link).
Outlook keyboard shortcuts See the full list of keyboard shortcuts, organized into logical categories.
Customize the Outlook window Learn the main elements of the Outlook window and how to customize each one.
Known issues in Outlook 2011 See a list of known issues as well as potential workarounds.

See Also

What’s new in Outlook for Mac 2011

Outlook for Mac 2011 Training

Technical support options

 
 
Applies to:
Outlook for Mac 2011