Right-click options with the Outlook 2013 system tray icon

Several menu options are available when the right-clicking the system tray icon when Outlook 2013 is open:

But two additional options are available if the Control Key is held when right-clicking the system tray icon.

How to configure Outlook 2013 to read all messages as plain text

To configure Outlook 2013 to read all messages as plain text, access File –> Options –> Trust Center –> Trust Center Settings button.

Access E-Mail Security, and enable the option to read all messages as plain text.

How to disable certain file types from previewing in the Outlook Preview Pane

To disable a certain file type from being previewed within the Outlook 2013 Preview Pane, access Options –> Trust Center –> Trust Center Settings button.

Access Attachment Handling –> Attachment and Document Previewers button.

Find the file type in question (RTF in this example) and remove the checkmark.  Click on the OK button.

Blocking international domains within the Junk Mail options within an Outlook client

Outlook clients include an option within the Junk Mail filters to block certain international domains and/or encoding.  Once in the Junk Mail options dialog box, click on the International tab.

A default list of domains and encodings will be under the appropriate buttons.  The United States is listed individually under both, so be careful when using the “Select All” option.

How to disable animations within Office 2013

By default, Office 2013 includes animations which includes what appears to be a typing delay in Word.  To disable the animations globally, use the following Registry modification.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Graphics]
"DisableAnimations"=dword:00000001

Disable application start screen with Office 2013

Applications within the Office 2013 suite by default have a start screen.  To disable this with Word, launch a new blank document.  Click on File – Options.

Within the Startup options area, disable the Start screen item.  The same procedure can be used with other applications within the suite such as Excel.

Office 2013 and Touch Mode

Office 2013 includes a new Touch Mode, which hopefully helps when using the interface using a touch device.

First verify the Touch Mode icon is available via the Quick Access Toolbar.

Click on the new icon to enable Touch Mode.

 

Below is a before and after of the Word interface using the Touch Mode.

Touch Mode is a global parameter.  So enabling it within one application such as Word should enable it within other members of the suite such as Excel.