Preview pane question

[D.Moore]

Operating system::    Windows 11
Outlook version:     Oultook 365 Desktop
Email type or host:    exchange

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Hi,

May I ask if possible to set outlook desktop preview pane position based on window size?

I mean if window is full screen/larger then x width, than set preview pane to the right, but IF half screen/smaller than y width, then set preview to bottom automaticall using VBA code.

Many thanks for your time and help in advance!

 

[paltick]

Hi D.Moore,


It’s not possible to directly control the preview pane’s position based on window size using VBA in Outlook. However, you might be able to achieve something similar by setting the window size and then manually adjusting the preview pane through the View settings. VBA doesn’t have built-in functionality for resizing panes based on window dimensions. You could also look into custom add-ins or third-party solutions that might offer more flexibility.


Hope that helps!

 

[Hornblower409]

It’s not possible to directly control the preview pane’s position

@paltick is correct.

For what it's worth, you can get/set the Preview Pane visibility.
Explorer.PreviewPane property (Outlook)
OlPane enumeration (Outlook)

 

[Diane Poremsky]

As the others said you can do it manually using VBA. I have not tried detecting the window size in a startup macro - but that won't help if you are changing the size when its open. (You can use a macro to run the startup and add it to the ribbon.)

If the issue is with 2 computers, exchange account (views sync between machines), a startup macro could set it for each Outlook. I actually might try that - my desktops have Outlook on its own 24" monitor. That is plenty of room for the classic ribbon opened and a wide reading pane. My laptop (4K widescreen) is only 13" and I'm constantly turning off the to-do bar so I can see mail (moving the reading pane won't help much.)

That said - Outlook can change the layout on really narrow windows - but once there is room for the folder list, message list, and peeks, the reading pane takes what's left. It won't move the reading pane position. My laptop resolution is too high for this to help me - the collapsing starts when the window is under 1100 pixels.