Some rules don't work

[Bob Griendling]

Outlook 2007, XP

Many of my rules have stopped working. Not all, but many, if not most. I
even tried to delete some of the non-working rules and re-write them. But
when I run them with messages already in my inbox, they don't work.

I frequently copy my outlook.pst file for use on a laptop when travelling.
It seems that some--but not all--stopped working at the time of such a
transition. Of course, that does not explain why some won't work right
after I make them.

Many of the rules are what to do with emails I send and receive from certain
people.

Any suggestions on how to troubleshoot?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

Many of my rules have stopped working. Not all, but many, if not most. I
even tried to delete some of the non-working rules and re-write them. But
when I run them with messages already in my inbox, they don't work.

I frequently copy my outlook.pst file for use on a laptop when travelling.
It seems that some--but not all--stopped working at the time of such a
transition. Of course, that does not explain why some won't work right
after I make them.

Moving a PST between machines is probably the reason they stop working. Rules
are tied to the mail profile/PC that created them. My transferring your PST
between PCs, you break that relationship. The better way, in my opinion, to
transfer rules is to export them with the Rules Wizard on the source machine,
transferring the RWZ file along with the PST, then on the destination machine,
after reconnecting the PST to the mail profile (which must be done correctly
or it will damage the mail profile), start Outlook with the /cleanrules
command switch and import the transferred RWZ file.

 

[Bob Griendling]

Thanks, Brian. I'm unclear about the "after reconnecting the PST to the
mail profile (which must be done correctly or it will damage the mail
profile), start Outlook with the /cleanrules command switch and import the
transferred RWZ file" part of your message.

Re the PST file, I just copy the Outlook.pst file on to a stick drive and
then copy it into the c:\documentsand setting\bob\local settings\application
data\microsoft\outlook folder on my laptop and then vice versa.

I've never used the /clean rules command but there seems to be plenty of
Google results from "clean rules in Outlook."

Re my immediate problem, I used to have one rule that I thought accomplished
two simply tasks: Moved emails to AND from an individual to an Outlook
folder. However, the only way I can accomplish that now is to have two
separate rules: one for sending and one for receiving. Otherwise, it will
activate a rule ONLY when I receive AND send a specific email to/from the
person. So I just created those additional rules.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP-Outlook]]

Re the PST file, I just copy the Outlook.pst file on to a stick drive and
then copy it into the c:\documentsand setting\bob\local settings\application
data\microsoft\outlook folder on my laptop and then vice versa.

If you overwrite an existing PST of the same name, it's no wonder you have
problems and you're lucky rules are all that suffers. When you move a PST to
another PC, add it to that mail profile by putting it in a folder that does
not conatin another PST of the same name. Then add it to Outlook using the
Mail applet in Control Panel or by opening it in Outlook.

Re my immediate problem, I used to have one rule that I thought accomplished
two simply tasks: Moved emails to AND from an individual to an Outlook
folder. However, the only way I can accomplish that now is to have two
separate rules: one for sending and one for receiving. Otherwise, it will
activate a rule ONLY when I receive AND send a specific email to/from the
person. So I just created those additional rules.

Rules for sending and rules for receiving are separate and fire either when a
message arrives or you click Send, but a rule that you will run manually will
handle existing messages in a folder whether they were received or sent.