# How do I turn on the blasted Outlook From field? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064 "2003-11-13T18:11:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/1 "2003-11-13T18:11:38Z")
I am trying to add the From field in Outlook, but can’t seem to get it to work like it is described here: [http://www.outlookpower.com/issues/issue200309/00001103001.html](http://www.outlookpower.com/issues/issue200309/00001103001.html) In my Outlook version (2000 SR-1 (9.0.0.3821)) there is no From field listed in the view pulldown. I used to have it but Outlook was updated and a lot of my settings got changed. I want it back. Can someone help me? ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/2 "2003-11-13T18:27:29Z")
The View pulldown on the main outlook toolbar doesn’t have View | From Field. You have to open a new message and from _there_ check off View | From Field (don’t forget the arrow thingy to access not-recently-used options). Close that message and it will remember that setting for later messages. Outlook 2000 SP-3 (9.0.0.6627) ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/3 "2003-11-13T18:28:33Z")
Nope, I tried that. Not there either. ---
**Author:** ![PaperTowel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@PaperTowel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperTowel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/4 "2003-11-13T18:44:08Z")
If it’s not just the case that you have to click the “little arrows thingy” to show the full contents of the View menu, then there is another option. Open a message, go to View-\>Toolbars-\>Customize Pick the Commands tab, select the View item from the list on the left, and then drag the From Field item up into the correct menu location at the top. ---
**Author:** ![prisoner6655321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/5 "2003-11-13T18:53:31Z")
Yeah I even tried that. It’s not in that list either! Where the crap is it? Ever tell you guys how much I LUV Bully Gates? ---
**Author:** ![PaperTowel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecb155/32.png) [@PaperTowel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaperTowel)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/6 "2003-11-13T18:56:31Z")
D’oh. What is in that list? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/7 "2003-11-13T19:01:34Z")
As **PaperTowel** implied, it may not be there because it is hidden in the “rarely used items” part of the menu. Click the little double downward-pointing chevron, and it “From Field” should appear. At least, that’s what it was on my system. If it is _still_ not there, then someone must have “customized” the menu at some point in the past and removed it. If that’s the case, then follow PT’s “another option” as spelled out above. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/8 "2003-11-13T19:56:49Z")
To get at it in customization in my version it’s - File | New \> Mail Message then - View | Toolbars \> Customize then - Commands tab, Categories:View, Commands:From Field (it’s 4 from the bottom, right above Bcc Field) If it’s not there…😕 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-turn-on-the-blasted-outlook-from-field/213064/9 "2003-11-13T20:37:35Z")
In my version of Outlook, you have to turn this on on the message, not as a setting in the application. When I have a message window open, there’s a toolbar with “Send” at the left and a format drop-down at the right (i.e., “HTML” or “Rich Text” or “Plain Text”). Just to the left of the format drop-down, there’s another drop-down called “Options,” and I can turn on the “From” field at the bottom of that. As far as I know, it’s the only place I can do it.