2003 Rule problem: Offline "Sent" mail is not processed when going back online

[Bob Lidgard]

Hi,

I have rules that sort sent messages to different folders based on different
message attributes (addresses, subjects, ..)

In order to not get duplicates of all mails, I have turned off the general
switch "Save copies..." of outgoing mail (/Tools/Options/E-mail options) and
instead built a hierarchy of rules for all outgoing mail (including a rule
for "what's left").

All this works great when I'm on line.

However, when I go offline, messages gets stored in the Outbox and is hence
not processed by the rules.
When I go on-line again, the message is immediatley sent from the Outbox,
but without getting processed by the rules.

This is a big problem, since I thereby lose my copy of the outgoing message!
Vanished!

Please help,

Bob

 

[CMM]

There are all sorts of bugs concerning Cached Exchange Mode and Rules (among
other things... like weird POP3 account problems). Outlook 2003 was not QA'd
very well. I don't know what MS is spending their billions on nowadays.

See if this helps (I discovered this after MUCH trail an error concerning
similar problems):

Summary: You need to make sure that Outlook 2003 starts up in classic "Work
Offline" mode... regardless of whether the connection to Exchange is
available or not.

Details:

1) Make sure Outlook always *starts* in 'Work Offline' mode (yes, this is
distinct from Cached Exchange Mode). This seems to force it to "recognize"
and "remember" your cached rules... something that does not happen when you
start in regular mode. This option is set in "Tools | E-mail Accounts...
Exchange Server... More Settings"... select the "Manually control connection
state" and the "Work offline and use..." options.

2) Everythings pretty much works the same way in "Work Offline" mode except
your e-mail doesn't get sent out immediately unless you manually hit Send &
Receive. You can always turn off "Work Offline" in the File menu... but only
after you know the connection to Exchange is available! Cached Exchange Mode
was supposed to render the classic "Work Offline" mode obsolete. But, this
seems to fix the problem.

 

[Bob Lidgard]

Thanks,

I'll give it a try!
With the Holidays coming up, it may be some time before I can give you
feedback.

Merry Christmas!

Bob