smart tag icon for contacts has changed to ball from messenger ico

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ctc - 04 Mar 2006 09:08 GMT

I am using Windows XP Pro, SP2, with Outlook 2003 SP2. I recently noticed
that when I hover over an email address in a message a small gray ball pops
up (smarttag) with various options. Unless I am mistaken, this icon used to
always appear before the email address in the form of a mini-messenger icon,
and I didn't have to hover. for a visual, look at this site:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011507601033.aspx

I recently had to uninstall and reinstall Outlook, and then updated to SP2,
so I can't remember how it looked before I did the reinstall / update. Under
tools / options / other I have the box checked for "enable the person names
smart tag."

Can you someone please tell me how the smart tag is supposed to appear (in
Outlook 2003, SP2). Should it be a grey ball that only appear when the mouse
hovers over the email address, or should it be a messenger icon? This is
driving me crazy.

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Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 04 Mar 2006 12:54 GMT

The Smart Tag only appears as a Messenger icon if you have Messenger
running. Otherwise it is a ball.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

>I am using Windows XP Pro, SP2, with Outlook 2003 SP2. I recently noticed
> that when I hover over an email address in a message a small gray ball
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> hovers over the email address, or should it be a messenger icon? This is
> driving me crazy.

Reply to this Message

ctc - 04 Mar 2006 13:17 GMT

Thank you for your reply, however, I do have Messenger running (Under
tools / options / other I have the box checked for "enable the person
names smart tag which automatically enables Messenger when Outlook starts).

My smart tag still only shows the grey ball, not the messenger icon.

To clarify my earlier post, I have Office SP2 installed (in addition to XP).
Did Office SP2 change the icon / look of the smart tag? Or when I reinstalled
Office did that change the look?

So, my question remains: with Office SP2, Outlook 2003, what should the
smart tag look like when the cursor hovers over an email addres? And if it
should be the messenger icon, any ideas how to fix my problem?

> The Smart Tag only appears as a Messenger icon if you have Messenger
> running. Otherwise it is a ball.
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> > hovers over the email address, or should it be a messenger icon? This is
> > driving me crazy.

Reply to this Message

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 04 Mar 2006 13:57 GMT

And my answer remains: you must have Messenger running. All you did was set
the option to integrate with Messenger. That option does not "automatically
start Messenger," despite your claim. Logon to Messenger before you start
Outlook and see what happens.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

> Thank you for your reply, however, I do have Messenger running (Under
> tools / options / other I have the box checked for "enable the person
[quoted text clipped - 42 lines]
>> > is
>> > driving me crazy.

Reply to this Message

ctc - 04 Mar 2006 14:10 GMT

Thank you for your reply, however, I do have messenger running. I am logged
into messenger and the icon in the system tray shows my status as "signed in"
with current status of online.

I have restarted outlook and still the ball appears as the smart tag, not
the messenger icon. However, for my contacts the color of the ball changes. I
just found this website, bottom of the page:
http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/icons_mail.htm
In fact, this site mentions an icon change post sp2 from the messenger icon
to the balls (but its a little unclear if that is SP2 for XP or Office). So,
based on this website perhaps I do have the correct icon?

Russ - what does your icon look like when you are logged into Messenger, and
are you running Office 2003 sp2?

ctc

> And my answer remains: you must have Messenger running. All you did was set
> the option to integrate with Messenger. That option does not "automatically
[quoted text clipped - 46 lines]
> >> > is
> >> > driving me crazy.

Reply to this Message

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 04 Mar 2006 14:59 GMT

See my later reply.
I also noted that in recent versions, launching Outlook no longer launches
Windows Messenger. That is also a welcome change.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

> Thank you for your reply, however, I do have messenger running. I am
> logged
[quoted text clipped - 80 lines]
>> >> > is
>> >> > driving me crazy.

Reply to this Message

Russ Valentine [MVP-Outlook] - 04 Mar 2006 14:10 GMT

If you're asking how to change the icon to the same one Messenger uses,
AFAIK current Outlook versions don't do that. The globe just changes color
to display the status of the person is if the person is an Online
Contact--and only then when Messenger is running. With my configuration,
launching Outlook does not launch Messenger. You may have yours configured
differently.

Signature

Russ Valentine
[MVP-Outlook]

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