How to Create a Custom Outlook Email Column with a Value from the Email Body

Microsoft Outlook is a popular email client used by millions of people around the world. It offers a wide range of features and customization options to enhance your email experience. One such customization option is the ability to create a custom email column with a value from the email body. This can be especially useful if you want to quickly identify and sort emails based on specific criteria.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a custom Outlook email column with a value from the email body. Please note that this customization option is only available in Outlook for Windows.

Step 1: Enable the Developer tab

The first step is to enable the Developer tab in Outlook. The Developer tab provides access to advanced features and customization options. To enable it, follow these steps:

1. Open Outlook and click on the File tab in the top-left corner.
2. In the Options menu, select Customize Ribbon.
3. In the Customize the Ribbon section, check the box next to Developer.
4. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 2: Create a custom email column

Once you have enabled the Developer tab, you can proceed to create a custom email column. Here's how:

1. Open Outlook and go to the Developer tab.
2. Click on the Design This Form button in the Customize group.
3. In the Choose Form dialog box, select Message and click Open.
4. The Message form will open in the Design view.
5. Click on the Control Toolbox button in the Controls group.
6. In the Control Toolbox window, click on the Label control and drag it to the desired location on the form.
7. Right-click on the label and select Properties.
8. In the Properties window, enter a name for the custom column in the Name field.
9. Under the Value tab, click on the fx button next to the Value field.
10. In the Expression Builder window, select Fields from the Categories list.
11. Choose the appropriate field from the Fields list and click OK.
12. Click OK to close the Properties window.
13. Save the custom form by clicking on the Save button in the Design group.

Step 3: Apply the custom email column

Now that you have created the custom email column, you need to apply it to your Outlook view. Follow these steps:

1. Go back to the Outlook main window.
2. Click on the View tab in the top menu.
3. In the Current View group, click on the Change View button.
4. Select Manage Views from the drop-down menu.
5. In the Manage All Views window, click on the Modify button.
6. In the Column Format section, select the Customize button.
7. In the Customize View window, click on the Fields button.
8. In the Show Columns dialog box, select the custom column you created and click Add.
9. Use the Move Up or Move Down buttons to position the custom column in the desired location.
10. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.

That's it! You have successfully created a custom Outlook email column with a value from the email body. Now you can easily sort and organize your emails based on the criteria you specified.

Remember, this customization option is only available in Outlook for Windows. If you are using Outlook on a different platform, you may not have access to this feature.

If you encounter any issues or have any further questions, feel free to reach out to our technical support team for assistance.

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