Using Meeting Requests in Outlook 2000

1. Open Outlook and switch to Calendar View by either clicking on the Calendar icon in the Outlook bar or clicking on the Calendar folder in the folder list.

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2. Click on the File menu, choose New, and select Meeting Request.
   
   
    
3. The "Untitled Meeting Request" window will open.  Many of the features in this window are the same as a new e-mail message.
   
   
    
4. You can type names or e-mail addresses in the "To:" field, or you can click on the To: button to open  the "Select Attendees and Resources" window where you can browse the address book and see more options.  In the "Select Attendees and Resources" window, select the name of the person you want to invite and click either Required or Optional.  (In most cases, you can make all attendees "Required".)  Once you have selected all of the invitees for the meeting, click OK.
   
   
    
5. The names you selected should appear in the "To" list now.  Click on the Attendee Availability tab to check the invitees availability.
   
   
    
6. The Attendee Availability tab shows each of the invitees and a grid that allows you to compare schedules and look for a suitable meeting time  (this only works if everyone is using the Outlook calendar).  There is a key at the bottom of the screen to explain what the different colors in the grid represent.  The white column with red and green edges represents the currently selected meeting time.  You can click anywhere in the grid to move the meeting to that time.
   
   
    
7. To have Outlook search for a suitable meeting time, click on AutoPick and choose a group.  Outlook will find the first available time when all of the selected individuals are free.  NOTE: Use the arrows on either side of the AutoPick button to search for the previous or next suitable meeting time.
   
   
    
8. Once you've found an acceptable date and time for the meeting, switch back to the Appointment tab.  Check or uncheck the Reminder to set a default reminder for meeting participants.  Type a message in the textbox to let your invitees know the topic of the meeting and any other details.
   
   
    
9. Click Send to send the request.  An entry will be added to your calendar.
   
   
    
10. Each of your invitees will receive an e-mail message inviting them to the meeting.  When you receive a meeting request, you have three options for responding.  If you click Accept, the meeting will be added to your calendar and the person who requested the meeting will receive an e-mail saying you've accepted.  If you click Tentative, the meeting will be added to your calendar with "tentative" status and the person requesting the meeting will be notified.  If you click Decline, the meeting will not be added to your calendar, but the person requesting the meeting will be notified that you've declined.
    
    
     
11. When you choose a response, the meeting will be added to your calendar (if you choose Accept or Tentative) and you will be prompted to either send the response, type a message to go along with the response, or not send a response.
    
    
     
12. If you accept or tentatively accept a meeting and decide later to change your response, double click on the meeting in your calendar.  The response buttons will be available in the window that opens.  Click a button to change your response.
    
    
     
13. You will be prompted to enter a message to go along with the response, send the response without a message, or not send a response.
    
     
     
14. To cancel a meeting you have organized, double click on the entry in your calendar.  Click on the delete key:
    
    
     
15. You will be prompted to notify the other meeting participants of the cancellation.  You can choose to send them a brief message or not notify them.
    
    

This page has been accessed  times since 05/20/2005.