Using the Windows Explorer "Send to" menu

Modern versions of Windows have a feature called "Send to" which allows you to right click on a file in Windows Explorer and send it to one of several locations or applications, including "Mail Recipient".  This feature does not require Outlook; it will work with any email client that is set as the default client in Internet Options.

When you use Send to... Mail Recipient, the message subject will be filled in with "Emailing: attachment_filename" and the message body will include a warning:

"Your message is ready to be sent with the following file or link attachments:

attachment_filename

Note: To protect against computer viruses, e-mail programs may prevent sending or receiving certain types of file attachments. Check your e-mail security settings to determine how attachments are handled."

This text is added by the sendmail.dll file included in Windows and cannot be disabled. Select All (Ctrl+A) and begin typing to quickly remove the text in the message body.

Because of the method used to access Outlook, the Send to command will always use the Outlook editor, not Word (Outlook 2003 and older, if Word is set as your email editor) and a signature will not be added to the message body. If you use a default stationery, it will not be used.

However, you can make your own send to shortcut and it will honor your new message settings, including adding your default signature, using your stationery, and using the editor of your choice.

Shortcut Method

To create your own shortcut, find the SendTo folder.

In Windows XP, it's at C:\Documents and Settings\username\SendTo.
In Vista its at C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo )

1. Right click and choose New > Shortcut.
2. Browse to find Outlook.exe, and add /c IPM.note to it.

Using Outlook 2003, the command line looks like:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note

Using Outlook 2007, you need to add the /a (attachment) switch:
 "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note /a

Older versions of Outlook use the same command line as Outlook 2003 but with the correct path to Outlook.exe.

If you often send messages to the same people, you can use preaddressed custom forms or use the /m switch (/m test@slipstick.com or /m alias) in a shortcut's command line. Or you can create a custom form to use instead of the default form, just replace IPM.note with the name of your custom form.

The command line to address the message is as follows but works only with Outlook 2003 (and earlier) versions.
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note /m dianep

You'll need to use preaddressed published forms with Outlook 2007.

Registry Method

Instead of creating a shortcut in the Send to folder, you can edit the registry to add a command to the right-click context menu, just under the Open, Print, and Edit commands.

To use this method, create the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\Send to Boss\Command

The default value will be the path to your Outlook.exe and the switches. As with the shortcut method, the address switch (/m) will not work with Outlook 2007.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office11\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note / m you@example.com "%1"

Download a .reg file here. Edit the path or commands as necessary then change the extension from txt to reg and double click to run.

More Information

Links

Quick Send to (EMO)
Create Send to Shortcuts (EMO)
Sending Files From Windows Explorer (Outlook-tips.net)
Send to... Using Your Stationery (Outlook-tips.net)
Send To Revisited (specific to Outlook 2007 and Vista; Outlook-tips.net)
XCLN: Send To Mail Recipient Opens an Outlook Plain Text Message (MSKB 234487)