Searching for or excluding empty fields

When using Instant Search, it is easy enough to find something when it contains that specific word or category. I can also do a search for items that should not include that word or category by using NOT in my query. However, I cannot seem to find a way to locate all the items that do not have any value assigned at all to that field.

For instance; find all items that do not have any category assigned or find all contacts for which I haven’t specified their birthday or company.

How can I use the search feature to return all items that have empty fields?

Office Help Assistant in Windows 7

When trying to launch the Office Assistant via the Help menu, I get the following error;

“The Office Assistant requires Microsoft Agent 2.0 or later. This product is available on the Office System Pack.”

I’ve done a full install of Office 2003 and looked on the CD but I cannot find anything there.
How can I enable the Office Assistant again?

Outlook could not create the work file

When starting Outlook, I get the following error message;

“Outlook could not create the work file. Check the temp environment variable.”

Where can I find this variable and what exactly should I check?

Filter applied (and missing items)

In the left bottom corner in Outlook I see “Filter Applied”. It also tells me that there are 64 items in that folder but I don’t see any.
What does Filter Applied mean and how can I make those 64 items visible again?

Quoting copied text

Another responds on the original blue line post and its follow up led to the following question;

We’re copying parts of original emails and other sources to construct a new email in which we comment on these quotes. We tend to use this to summarize earlier communications and/or to relay it to somebody else.

Upon copying these parts, the blue line goes away which makes the quoted parts hard to recognize.

Is there some way to maintain this blue line formatting?

Breaking the blue line in replies and forwards

A follow up on the previous tip about removing the blue line in forward and replies;

We actually use the blue line to quote the original message and then reply to the message in-line. In Outlook 2003 we were able to break this blue line so that our reply would not have the blue marking in front of it and the recipient could easily see what has been newly added.


In Outlook 2007 we seem no longer able to break this blue line.
Is there actually a way to still do this?

Blue line in replies and forwards

When replying and forwarding to a message, I get a long blue line next to the original message.
I tried selecting and deleting this line but it still remains there.
How can I remove this line?

New mail envelope and Windows 7

I’m using Windows 7 and I don’t seem to get any new mail envelope when receiving a new message.
How can I get this alert back?

Clear recent searches

I’ve used the Instant Search feature and it seems to remember my search queries.
Is there any way I can delete this cache or remove items from it?

Follow Up Flags and reminders

When flagging messages for Follow Up, I do not get any reminder pop-up for it.
Is my reminder service broken?