Sorting keywords in Outlook 2003 rules

[PPettit]

Is there a way to re-sort the lists of keywords within Outlook rules?

When you create a rule that filters by keywords, Outlook stores them in the same order they were entered. I want these keywords to be listed alphabetically. Where are these lists stored, anyway? I haven't been able to find them, so far.

 

[smah]

Outlook 2003's rules are store in a .rwz (rules wizard) file. I doubt if they are editable (is that a word?).

 

[PPettit]

From what I can tell, rules aren't actually stored in an .rwz file. You can export and import them as an .rwz file, but Outlook is definitely not using these for my current rules.

I had 2 .rwz files on my computer. Neither one had a modified date that is current. I looked at them with a hex editor and I could see that these were old rules from my previous computer.

After using the rules export function, I did get another .rwz file that does contain my current rules and the associated keywords. I may try modifying this file with the hex editor and then re-importing the rules. I still think that there should be an easier way to accomplish this.

 

[smah]

If you're using Exchange, it looks like they are stored in Outlook Message Manager - see near the bottom of Q291680

 

[PPettit]

We don't use Exchange. This is a stand-alone setup accessing a hosted mail server. The boss doesn't want to spend money on an in-house mail server despite the fact that it would be the sensible thing to do.

 

[PPettit]

I may have found my answer:

Rules in Outlook 2003 are stored in the PST file. (Earlier versions of Outlook stored rules in .RWZ file...

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Applications/MS_Office/Outlook/Q_21778790.html

(scroll down to the first reply)

I take this to mean that it's impossible to fix for now.