Outlook Auto Reply Function?

Roy Ng · 05-07-2006, 10:00 PM

Dear all,

I would like to check out whether outlook provide auto reply function?

And no, does any other mail clients provide?

Thanks

Chevy · 05-07-2006, 10:29 PM

Outlook has the "Out of Office Assistant" that will send preformatted replies to incoming messages.

sweetloop · 05-08-2006, 06:25 AM

Yes, outlook does have that option. However, it's worth noting that your computer needs to be turned on and connected to the internet with Outlook running for it to work. So if you're planning to use it while away on vacation or something like that it may not be the best idea. Usually your ISP (through webmail?) or whoever administers your mail can set up an auto-reply on the server. That way you don't need to leave your computer running.

Anne Troy · 05-08-2006, 09:22 AM

Out of Office is only good on a machine that is connected to an Exchange Server. If you are not, then you must have your PC on. If you want an autoreply anyway (after all, not all autoreplies are "I'm not here"), then do this:

1. Create a new message for your autoreply. File-->Save as and save it as an OFT (message template) file. Close it.
2. Create a rule that replies using that message.

If you want it to work while you're out, you'll have to turn the rule off and on as you come and go. If you always want it to run, no issue. It will only run, however, when your PC is on and your Outlook is open. I leave my PC on 24/7and have Outlook open probably 99.9% of that time.

Roy Ng · 05-09-2006, 10:09 PM

Thank you all for some hints !!

I have one more thing to ask about OFT. Where can I create it?

I have tried in Outlook -> New email -> Save as. But no .OFT extension to save. How to enable it.

Thank very very much!

**nickster_uk** · 05-10-2006, 03:24 AM

Have a look here for step-by-step directions. If you have any problems, please let us know :-)

05-07-2006, 10:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
Roy Ng Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 50 OS: Windows Family	Outlook Auto Reply Function? Dear all, I would like to check out whether outlook provide auto reply function? And no, does any other mail clients provide? Thanks

05-08-2006, 06:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
sweetloop Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 106 OS: XP Pro SP2 My System	Yes, outlook does have that option. However, it's worth noting that your computer needs to be turned on and connected to the internet with Outlook running for it to work. So if you're planning to use it while away on vacation or something like that it may not be the best idea. Usually your ISP (through webmail?) or whoever administers your mail can set up an auto-reply on the server. That way you don't need to leave your computer running. __________________ ASUS A8R-MVP, AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+ 2x1GB OCZ Platinum PC3200 OCZ 520W Modstream Sapphire Radeon X800 GTO2

05-09-2006, 10:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
Roy Ng Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 50 OS: Windows Family	Oft Thank you all for some hints !! I have one more thing to ask about OFT. Where can I create it? I have tried in Outlook -> New email -> Save as. But no .OFT extension to save. How to enable it. Thank very very much!

05-10-2006, 03:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
nickster_uk Moderator, Microsoft Support, Happy to support TSF! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,043 OS: XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Ultimate, Ubuntu v8.04 My System	Have a look here for step-by-step directions. If you have any problems, please let us know :-) __________________ My system: ASUS P5K-E WiFi \| Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz (OC 3.60GHz) \| 4GB Corsair DDR2 XMS2-6400C4 RAM (4-4-4-12) \| PowerColor ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro Xtreme 512MB GDDR3 GPU \| Maxtor DiamondMax 22 500GB, Maxtor DiamondMax 23 500GB & 2xMaxtor DiamondMax 21 250GB SATA HDDs \| Thermaltake CL-P0114 Heatsink + 6 LED Case Fans \| Corsair HX620W Modular PSU \| Enermax Black Knight (CS-527) Case \| Pioneer DVR-216 SATA 20x20 DVD±RW In a world without walls or fences - who needs Windows and Gates?

05-07-2006, 10:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chevy Retired Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,452 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	Outlook has the "Out of Office Assistant" that will send preformatted replies to incoming messages.

05-08-2006, 09:22 AM	#4 (permalink)
Anne Troy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Columbia, MD Posts: 81 OS: XP	Out of Office is only good on a machine that is connected to an Exchange Server. If you are not, then you must have your PC on. If you want an autoreply anyway (after all, not all autoreplies are "I'm not here"), then do this: 1. Create a new message for your autoreply. File-->Save as and save it as an OFT (message template) file. Close it. 2. Create a rule that replies using that message. If you want it to work while you're out, you'll have to turn the rule off and on as you come and go. If you always want it to run, no issue. It will only run, however, when your PC is on and your Outlook is open. I leave my PC on 24/7and have Outlook open probably 99.9% of that time.