Outlook does not provide a command to insert tables into HTML messages, nor
does it give you a way to edit the source of an HTML message. The View
Source command that you see on the right-click context menu in an HTML
message does not let you save any changes to the source back into the
message.
There are several ways to compose complex HTML messages, though. One
approach is to create the HTML content using your favorite HTML editor. Save
it as an .htm file, and then use one of these methods to get it into the
Outlook message:
-- Check Tools, Options, Mail Format to make sure Outlook is set to use HTML
as its default message format. In Internet Explorer, browse to the HTML page
that you saved as a file. Then, choose File, Send, Page by Email.
-- Create a new HTML-format Outlook message. In Internet Explorer, browse to
the HTML page that you saved as a file. Choose Edit, Select All, then Edit,
Copy. Switch to the Outlook message and paste the copied material into the
body of the message.
-- Create a new HTML-format Outlook message. Choose Insert, File and select
the saved HTML file. At the bottom right corner of the Insert File dialog,
click the small arrow next to the Insert button, and choose Insert as Text.
Another way to create an HTML message with really rich HTML tags is to use
Microsoft Word to create the document, then choose File, Send To, Mail
Recipient. This adds To, Cc, and Subject boxes to the top of the Word
window, where you can fill in the recipient address and subject. When you
send the message, Word uses HTML format. Unfortunately, in Word 2000, it
also bloats the message with several KB of Office-specific XML formatting
information. Word 2002, on the other hand, provides a way to strip the XML.
You'll find this "Filter HTML before sending" option in Word 2002 under
Tools, Options, General, E-mail Options, on the General tab.
