OL97: "Reply Using a Specific Template" Rule Sends Only Once

ID: Q184467

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Outlook 97, when you define a Rules Wizard rule to "reply using a specific template" the rule fires only once for any given sender.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design. The Rules Wizard rule to "reply using a specific template" is designed to send the reply only once to each sender, during a session. This prevents Outlook from sending repetitive replies to a sender from whom you receive multiple messages. This behavior is the same as that of the "Out of Office Assistant."

RESOLUTION

Restarting Outlook resets the rule to fire again for each sender.

MORE INFORMATION

To Define an Automatic Reply Template

1. Open a new Outlook message.

2. Type whatever information you would like to appear in your reply 

   message.
3. On the File menu, click Save As.

4. In the Save As dialog box, click to select Outlook Template in the Save 

   As Type list.
5. Type a name for your reply template in the File Name box and click Save.

To Define a Rule to Send an Automatic Reply

1. On the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard.

2. In the Rules Wizard dialog box, click New.

3. Under "Which type of rule do you want to create?" click Build As 

   I Go and click Next.
4. Under "Which condition(s) do you want to check?" click to select the 
   Sent Directly To Me check box, or any other criteria you want, and
   click Next.
5. Under "What do you want to do to the message?" click to select the 
   "reply using a specific template" check box.
6. Under Rule Description, click the underlined phrase "a specific 
   template."
7. In the Select a Reply Template dialog box, click to select the 
   template you saved in step 5 of the previous set of instructions,
   and then click Open.
8. Complete the Rule Wizard instructions and then click Finish and OK.

Additional query words: 

Keywords          : kbdta GnlAddin MsgInbxA Gnltmpl 
Version           : WINDOWS:97
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 12, 1999