Reminders not appearing...

[DaveWolf]

When a reminder is created for a Sent email, that reminder does not appear.
This seems odd, since that would be logical to flag a sent message for follow
up after a given period of time. Any ideas on why or how to overcome?

 

[Brian Tillman]

When a reminder is created for a Sent email, that reminder does not
appear. This seems odd, since that would be logical to flag a sent
message for follow up after a given period of time. Any ideas on why
or how to overcome?

What type of account?

 

[DaveWolf]

Our users are all on Exchange Server. The same problem exists on POP3 accounts.

The odd thing is that Outlook allows users to set flags on emails (which
appear and function as expected) as well as to set Reminders to notify users
for follow up. This creates a false sense of security for those who set
reminders - especially since the reminders work on some emails but not
others, even though all APPEAR to have the reminders properly set.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Our users are all on Exchange Server. The same problem exists on POP3
accounts.

The odd thing is that Outlook allows users to set flags on emails
(which appear and function as expected) as well as to set Reminders
to notify users for follow up. This creates a false sense of security
for those who set reminders - especially since the reminders work on
some emails but not
others, even though all APPEAR to have the reminders properly set.

Are these messages in the delivery location Sent Items folder?

 

[DaveWolf]

That was where we first noticed the problem - in the Sent Items folder. We
also noted that other messages that we had sent (even to ourselves) would not
trigger reminders. Additionally, we have tried moving the messages to other
folders, however that hasn't caused the reminders to trigger either.

Thanks,

 

[Brian Tillman]

That was where we first noticed the problem - in the Sent Items
folder. ....snip...
Additionally, we have tried moving the messages to other
folders, however that hasn't caused the reminders to trigger either.

What version of Outlook? For Outlook 2007, I believe all of your delivery
location folders will fire reminders. In Outlook versions prior to that,
reminders won't fire from any folder not a default and then only the Inbox,
Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks folders, from what I read at Microsoft's web
site.

 

[DaveWolf]

Outlook 2003 is what we use.

We found a utility named "Extended Reminders" that will correct the issue -
we're testing it for a trial period - and it appears to do the job that
Microsoft neglected. It costs $15 per seat (less in volume) to fix the
reminder issue. Makes one wonder whether the utility's authors were part of
the design team for Outlook, then crafted an after-market solution in their
garage!? The "free market" is an interesting phenomenon.

Oh well.

Thanks much for the assistance!

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

No, I wrote Extended Reminders to fill a need that MS didn't.

 

[DaveWolf]

Ken, I certainly appreciate your writing the utility.

It simply seemed like too obvious an omission on MS's part - and the fact
that it ALLOWED reminders to be set that would never trigger. It sounds like
MS resolved it in 2007, but with the economy being what it is a firm-wide
upgrade to that version is probably down the road a bit. (Maybe we'll skip a
version and wait for Office 20xx)

If our users find a benefit in it, we will definitely purchase the Extended
Reminders licenses! Thanks again.