How to change font size in address fields

[dasadler]

We are using Outlook 2007 and when we create a message the font in the To:, Subject:, and CC: fields are too small. How can we increase them?

I opened the developer tab in Outlook and it seems that we can edit forms and 'message' is a form... but how to do it and where to save it when done? I cannot find any guidance on that.

[HansV]

See for example Outlook 2007: Creating a Custom Form.
To change the font of a text box, right-click the text box and select Properties from the context menu.
Click Font... to change the font characteristics.

[Rudi]

Hi Don,

By default, the font of the To, CC and Subject lines cannot be resized within Outlook, except by modifying the display settings in Windows, which will affect all applications. The link that Hans posted will show you how to create a new "custom designed" message form that you can save and reuse in Outlook. Since you design this form, you have access to the design mode where you can modify the size of the font in those text boxes.

[DaveA]

Don,
What OS and screen resolution are you running?

I have noticed on the new machines with the VERY high resolution things are just way to small. Step down the resolution and then you may be happier.

[HansV]

Reducing the screen resolution on an LCD screen is usually not a good idea. You can increase the general font size in Windows instead.

[DaveA]

Can you tell us why this is NOT a good idea?

[HansV]

An LCD screen has a fixed number of physical pixels, e.g. 1600 x 900. If you set the resolution equal to the physical resolution, one display pixel will correspond to one physical picture. But if you set a lower resolution, e.g. 1280 x 720, one display pixel will correspond to bits and pieces of several physical pixels, resulting in significantly lower image quality.

[DaveA]

Thanks, that does seem to be helpful.

On my Windows 8 machine, with a setting of 1600 x900 the text is super small.
Playing around with the Display settings, I found that the scaling of 125% is much better and it works well with my LCD projector.

[dasadler]

I don't have a problem with creating a new form PROVIDED I am able to designate it as the default form for new email messages. Is this possible? And further... would using the new form with the larger fonts in the address labels and fields have any impact for the receiver of such an email?

[HansV]

You can easily set a custom form as default for new messages: see How to Set a Custom Form as the Default for a Folder.

Recipients won't see it, however - they will see their own default form.

[dasadler]

Unfortunately, that page says "Note that you cannot change the default form used for email." I was thinking that if we knew the name and location of the default form, maybe could exit Outlook, rename that default form to xdefault then rename the newly designed form to the default name and maybe Outlook would use that form... unaware that it had been changed.

[HansV]

Sorry, I hadn't noticed that. You'll have to select the form each time...