Lotus Notes: Quicker Access to Incoming Messages

Did you know that you can change the Lotus Notes default opening window from the “Welcome Basics” screen to your Mail Inbox view? Did you know that you can specify that messages from certain people always appear in your Inbox view in colors you choose? Read on for instructions on how to change the settings so you can more quickly identify and open incoming messages from selected people.

Set your Mail Inbox view as the default opening window

All of the links within the Welcome screen are also available on the Bookmarks toolbar on the left side of the screen (see sample screen at right). After changing the default opening window to your Mail Inbox, you will still have one-click access to your Calendar and other features.

1. On the Welcome screen, right-click on the Mail bookmark (envelope icon) and select “Set Bookmark as Home Page” from the pop-up menu (see sample at right).

2. Click on the Yes button in the “Set Home Page” dialog box.

3. The Welcome screen changes to the Mail Inbox view.

Now when you open Lotus Notes you will immediately see your Mail Inbox.

The Welcome window is accessible in the Favorites Bookmarks folder (folder with star icon).

Color-code certain incoming messages

You can select up to three color combinations to differentiate mail memos you receive based on the sender’s name or partial name. This way you can immediately spot messages from family, your supervisor, colleagues working on that rush project with you, etc.

1. On the menu bar, click on Actions > Tools > Preferences to open the Preferences dialog box.

2. With the Mail tab selected, click on the Colors tab.

3. To select names from your personal address book or a university address book, click the down-arrow at the bottom right of the “Senders name” box. In the “Select Names” dialog box, only select individual names as group names will not work.
  Or, you can type a person’s first or last name into the “Senders name” box. Entering a common name, such as Peters, will add the selected color combination to messages from all people with that name. This is not case sensitive. Separate multiple entries by pressing the Enter key.
  For more information, please click on the Help (question mark) button in each dialog box.

4. Under the View colors section, select the new Background and/or Text colors from the drop-down palettes.

5. Click on the OK button when finished.

You should see the affected messages in the Inbox and other folders highlighted with the selected colors (see sample below, message title with yellow background).

Return to Tips, Tricks, and Techniques index

Communications & Information Technology |  CIT Computing

Questions or Comments: contact CIT Computing Staff
CIT Computing does not provide personal support to parties outside of UNL.

 Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR)
 University of Nebraska-Lincoln
 Last updated May 11, 2007