How to Assign Nicknames to E-mail Addresses

Instead of remembering a complicated e-mail address, many e-mail programs enable you to use nicknames instead. You typically enter a nickname by adding the address to your program's address book. These instructions are for Windows versions of Eudora Lite and Outlook Express, two common e-mail programs. The process for other e-mail software may vary.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Computers
• Microsoft Outlook

Outlook Express

1. Open Outlook Express.

2. Open the Tools menu and select Address Book.

3. Scroll down the list and see if the e-mail address you want to create a nickname for is already there.

4. If it is, double-click the address. In the window that appears, click the Name tab.

5. If the address isn't on the address list, open the Address Book's File menu and select New Contact.

6. Enter the nickname you want to use in the Nickname field.

7. If an e-mail address isn't already in the box at the bottom of the window, enter one in the E-Mail Address box, and then click Add.

8. Click OK.

Eudora Lite

1. Open Eudora Lite.

2. From the Tools menu, click Nicknames. A window opens.

3. Click the New button that is situated underneath the Nickname window on the left side of the screen. A small input window opens.

4. Enter the nickname in the "What do you want to call it?" box. For instance, you might enter "Mary" or "Dad" or "My Boss."

5. Place a checkmark beside Put It On Recipient List.

6. Click OK. The nickname appears in the box to the left. In the empty box on the right side of the screen, enter the e-mail address of the person whose nickname you have just entered.

7. If desired, add notes or reminders to the Note window.

8. From the File menu, click Save. Then click Close. You will be returned to the Inbox.

9. To test the nickname, click Message, and then scroll down to New Message To.

10. Your list of nicknames appears in the window. Click the one you want. A new e-mail message opens with the nickname appearing in the To field.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to use the nickname but do not want it to appear on the New Message To list, do not place a check beside the Put on New Message To check box when you are creating the nickname.

• Embarrassing mistakes can occur if you become confused about your nicknames. For instance, if you have two friends with the same name, you can easily forget which nickname will send your e-mail to which friend. To avoid problems, use nicknames that fully identify the recipient to you. The recipient will not see the nickname that you have used.