Outlook 2003 'Out of Office' Message

[Michael]

Hello all,

I've been asked to setup an Outlook 2003 Out of Office Message but it's proving more difficult than expected (unbelievably).

There is an Out of Office Assistant but this requires Microsoft Exchange, which the school do not use. Just your standard Outlook 2003 SP3 client I setup ages ago.

The only options I have found are: Tools > Rules and Alerts. New Rule > Start from a blank rule

- Check when messages arrive
- which is an Out of Office message

Now I can't seem to specify the custom message itself or specify what day(s) I want the rule to run. Any ideas as the option doesn't appear to be there!

[Edu-IT]

How to emulate the Out of Office Assistant in Microsoft Outlook any help? Explains all about it.

NOTE: Outlook must be running for the Rules Wizard to automatically reply.

[Michael]

Thanks I did find the same article eventually. I have to say the options available are pants which is why I ditched Outlook long ago.

[ajbritton]

Would I be right in saying that you are using Outlook to send via SMTP and manage mail via POP/IMAP? If so, you can't really blame outlook for having no out-of-office support. AFAIK, there's no provision for out-of-office type functionality in SMTP/POP/IMAP protocols.

[Michael]

If so, you can't really blame outlook for having no out-of-office support.

Considering the majority of users will use Outlook as standalone I do think it's poor personally.

[ajbritton]

Considering the majority of users will use Outlook as standalone I do think it's poor personally.

Michael, perhaps I'm mis-understanding the requirements. Will your users leave their computers switched on and logged in with Outlook running so that it can send out-of-office messages when they are not there?

[Michael]

Michael, perhaps I'm mis-understanding the requirements. Will your users leave their computers switched on and logged in with Outlook running so that it can send out-of-office messages when they are not there?

Yes, that's right.

[ajbritton]

Yes, that's right.

I'm surprised to find that anyone would leave their computer switched on just to send out-of-office messages. I wonder how much electricity that uses.

It's often the case that you can set an out-of-office messages using the web interface provided by the email account provider. The trick would be remembering to turn it off again.

[Edu-IT]

Who is providing the mail service?

[Michael]

I'm surprised to find that anyone would leave their computer switched on just to send out-of-office messages. I wonder how much electricity that uses.

I agree, however they also VPN into it periodically so of course it must be left switched on.

Who is providing the mail service?

Birmingham or Link2ICT themselves.