You can search for Outlook 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.) by using Find, which searches for items based on a word or phrase they contain. By default, Outlook searches only the current folder (excluding subfolders). However, you can specify which folders you want to search on your computer or on a network. Outlook displays the results of a simple text search in the same 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.) as the current folder. This means you can sort, group, and otherwise change how the results look, just as you do for any folder view. You can open an item or file in the search results list, and you can preview e-mail messages, meeting requests, task requests (task request: A request sent in an e-mail message asking the recipient to complete a task. If the recipient accepts the task, it is added to the recipient's task list, and the recipient becomes the new owner of the task.), notes, and document comments.

You can search for 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.) or files saved in Outlook folders using criteria other than a word or phrase, and you can target your search to specific fields. For example, you can search for all the messages from your manager that were sent only to you. Or, you can search for all messages that are over a certain size or that contain attachments. To do these types of searches, use Advanced Find. Outlook displays the results in the Advanced Find dialog box, where you can open an item or file that's listed. You can also save the search criteria to reuse.