Changing a Graphic Image or Icon Field to a Text Field

A field categorizes information and is labeled by the type of information it contains, such as Subject, From, Importance, and Attachment. The Inbox and Tasks folders organize these fields into columns. A field can display default data or can be a box in which you enter or change information. Some fields, such as the Importance field in the Inbox folder, are displayed by default as a graphic image. Some images are icons, others are bitmaps (graphic images) with popup lists.

You can format the column to change an image or icon field to a text field so that a screen reader is able to read the information in the field. For example, if you change the Importance field to text instead of an icon, your screen reader will read the importance status (such as Normal, Low, or High).

You can change the graphic image fields to text fields in table views. Depending on the folder you are using and the view you have selected, the column fields that you can change include:

Importance field (select Text with popup list)
Flag Status field (select Text with popup list)
Attachment field (select one of three text options: Yes/No, On/Off, or True/False)
Complete field (select between 3 text options: Yes/No, On/Off, or True/False)

Screen shot of the Outlook Format Columns dialog box

The Format Columns dialog box

Step

Mouse actions

Keyboard actions

In the view you wish to change, on the View menu:

Point to Current View.
Select Format Columns.

In the view you wish to change, display the View menu by pressing ALT+V.

Move to Current View by pressing V.
Select Format Columns by pressing M.

In the Format Columns dialog box, in the Available fields list:

Select the name of the field you want to change to text.

In the Format Columns dialog box:

Move to the Available fields list by pressing ALT+V.
To select a field, use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys.

In the Format box of the Format Columns dialog box:

Select the format or text that you want from the list.

In the Format Columns dialog box:

Move to the Format box by pressing ALT+F.
To select the format or text you want, use the UP ARROW and DOWN ARROW keys.

To close the Format Columns dialog box:

Select OK.

To close the Format Columns dialog box:

Press ENTER.