"Out of Office" Assistant, Outlook XP 2002

[Branlon]

Task: For two weeks while I'm on vacation, tell Outlook to send a reply to all incoming messages.

Problem: It works fine for internal mail for all users on the Global Access List. But it doesn't send a reply if the message comes from outside. (not one of our Exchange Server users).

Any suggestions?

 

[Marcs41]

Talk to the admin, but I suspect he/she disabled that, and rightfully so.
Anything automatic to the internet is used by spammers as an Autoreply or Out of Office just confirms your address as existing.

Marc
_{If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC!}

 

[Branlon]

Found the answer on the MS website...here's the procedure:

You can use the Rules Wizard to automatically send reply messages to certain people even when you're not running Outlook. So, when you're on vacation and your computer is turned off, you can still send custom replies to messages from certain people. Here's how to have Exchange Server do this automatically.

Create a rule to have Exchange Server send an automatic reply

On the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard.
In the Apply changes to this folder list, click the Inbox you want to create the rule for.
Click New, Click Start from a blank rule.
Click Check messages when they arrive, and then click Next.
In the Which condition(s) do you want to check list, select the From people or distribution list check box.
In the Rule description list, click the underlined phrase, people or distribution list.
In the Type name or select from list box, type the name of each person you want to receive the custom reply, and click From after you type each name.
Click OK, and then click Next.
In the What do you want to do with the message list, select the Have server reply using a specific message check box.
In the Rule description list, click the underlined phrase, a specific message.
In the subject line and message body, type whatever information you'd like to appear in your custom reply.
Click Close, and when prompted to save changes, click Yes.
Click Next, and select the check box next to any exception that you want.
Click Next, and in the Please specify a name for this rule box, type a name for the rule.
Click Finish, and then click OK.
That's it. Now, when you receive a message from one of the people you specified in step 8, they'll automatically receive your custom response.

 

[Marcs41]

That is all fine but it presumes you have access to the servers AND are entitled to make these rules.
An enduser does not have that option.

Besides that, when you are on vacation and the Out Of Office is on, AND the server allows it, there is no need for your PC to be on anyway.

Regardless of all that, it is still a much safer option to notify your customers about your vacation (and at the saem time you can wish them Happy newyear etc.)

 

[Marcs41]

Oops, please disregard my first line about the access to the server, I misread that part!

Again, all you describe here works fine, on the condition the server allows Autoreplies to the internet, which it should NOT, regarding the spam issue.
And, as I mentioned in the previous post, since you know the people your are putting in the list for your rule, you may as weel keep it simple and send them an e-mail about your absence.

 

[Branlon]

In case anybody wants to know, where's the setting on Exchange Server 2000 for allowing AutoReplies?

 

[Marcs41]

To disable NDR and others to the internet:
System Manager - Internet Message Format - Default - properties -Advanced. Un-check all the Allow... fields.

PS: Happy New Year

 

[Branlon]

OK, thanks and have a Happy New Year.