Solved Outlook steals focus when I delete an open item

[Ultrasoft]

This is just an annoyance, not a real problem, but...

Since I've switched from XP to Windows 7, when I delete an open email in Outlook, the next item opens -- which is what I want to happen -- but focus passes to the main Outlook window.

Is there any way to keep the focus on the open emails?

 

[event3horizon]

which outlook version

 

[Ultrasoft]

Oh, yes, sorry! It's 2007.

 

[event3horizon]

I have Otlk 7 and it's not doing that if i have the option "open the next item" set in my email options. I click delete and it goes to the next message. No focus change that I can see. What do you have set here?

 

[Ultrasoft]

I've got the same. And it does open the next item, but focus infallibly passes back to the main window.

 

[event3horizon]

could be

-security software (do you have any?)
-third party add ins for outlook
-other third party software running in background

What I would do:

-Run office repair. Go to programs and features, find office 07, click "change" , then proceed with repair option.

if no go:

-profile cleanup: go to run (windows key + r), type in outlook.exe /cleanprofile
-safe mode: same as above except run outlook.exe /safe

 

[Ultrasoft]

Thanks - I tried all that, but the same thing still happens.

It's actually worse than I thought... I tried just going to the next item (not deleting), but after every third item, focus jumps back to the main window.

I took a look at the add-ins, thinking I didn't have any, but it turns out that our IT guys install a butt-load of them, so it's probably something in there.

Thanks for your help, event horison. I think for my next step I ought to talk with the guys in my company's desktop support to see if I can dump all those add-ins and see if it changes.

 

[event3horizon]

ok.. /safemode switch in outlook would (should) disable the add on's temporarily.

 

[Ultrasoft]

Ah! You're right!

I skipped that step. In safemode, it works exactly as it should.

Now I guess I can talk to the IT guys about which add-ons I really need (I'm thinking none at all).

 

[Ultrasoft]

Sorry I skipped the safemode step. That turned out to be key.

I tried disabling some of the add-ins, the ones that do nothing for me, and now it works as it should!

Thank you so much!

 

[event3horizon]

hey your welcome, i'm glad we got it! Thanks for marking solved.