Out of Office Reply Template

[fruitspangle]

I have set up 'reply with a template' in my Outlook 2003 SP2. The .oft I
have designed includes images and text boxes. It works well internally with
my colleagues who share an exchange server, but if I email from an internet
account the .oft is not sent out.
unfortunately this template will be used for exernal emails only and needs
to work. I can't implement the rules and alerts as this will be client only
and will need the account open all the time to work.
Does anyone know the answer, I can't find anything on the net?
Many thanks

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

The only way to have responses go out to mail received from a non-Exchange account is to leave Outlook running with either a rule or some code to handle the responses. But your post implies that you don't want something that requires Outlook to be running ("the account open all the time"). Can you clarify for us what you're trying to do?

 

[fruitspangle]

Hi Sue

This is an HR mailbox which receives external applications, what they
require is a branded response to all emails received thanking them for their
application.

The error of my way was trying to create the OOR template in design form
mode using elements from the control toolbox, but it is more straight forward
than that. I have been able to change my template to HTML and (not in design
mode) have the choice of inserting the message and graphics as a picture or
as a signature. Both methods work well with both hotmail and yahoo accounts
as an OOR auto response which works when the Outlook account is closed.

If you foresee any problems that I might have with this or any further
suggestions please let me know.

Many thanks