The following are tips for viewing the message source in the more popular email programs. If you use a different program and can provide the step-by-step procedures for viewing the source, please send it along so it can be added.

Outlook Express 5 and 6

To view the source (headers and any html code) of an email in Outlook Express 5 and 6, do the following:

One-time setup, to avoid virus-infections being launched when the "Preview" window is opened:

1. Click 'View'
2. Click 'Layout'
3. Deselect 'Show preview pane'
4. Click 'Apply'
5. Click 'OK'

After doing the above once, the 'Inbox' menu is displayed when Outlook Express is opened.

To look at the source (headers and any html code) of a message:

1. right-mouse click on any message
2. click on 'Properties'
3. click on 'Details'
4. click on 'Message Source'

A scrollable window will open. The headers will be displayed in bold text and the remainder of the in non-bold text. To copy the message source, do Control-A, Control-Insert. Then you can paste the message source into any program you wish, such as a word processing program.

Outlook

Someone sent this method along. If you have another method, let me know at brucem@wa-state-resident.com.

1. Drag a copy of the e-mail to a folder (or desktop).
2. Open notepad (or like editor)
3. Open the dragged copy of the e-mail (or drag it onto your open notepad). You will see loads of guff and then the message header will become visible a page or so further on.