Creating an Outlook Auto-Reply Rule

    (This helpsheet is for Outlook 2007, but should be the same for Outlook 2003.)


  1. First, create a Template that will be your auto-reply message.
    2. Click "New", then "Mail Message"

    Template Create 1



  2. Type in a Subject line and a Message.

    3. Template Create 2



  3. Click the round Outlook button, then "Save As", then "Save As" (Save a copy of the item to your computer in one of several formats).

    4. Template Create 3



  4. Type in a perfered file name, and select "Outlook Template" as the "Save as type". Click "Save". Exit the message creation editor.

    5. Template Create 4



  5. Next, create your rule. Click on "Tools", then "Rules and Alerts...."

    6. Open Rules and Alerts...

  6. Click on "New Rule"

    7. New Rule

  7. Under "Start from a blank rule", select "Check messages when they arrive". Click "Next"

    8. New Rule 1

  8. The condition could be anything listed. (This example auto-replies to a message when an e-mail is sent to an e-mail alias list you are on.) Check the "sent to people or distribution list" box. Click on "people or distribution list"

    9. New Rule 2

  9. Type in the alias distribution list e-mail address under "To". Click "OK".

    10. New Rule 3

  10. Back at the Rules Wizard, click "Next".

    11. New Rule 4

  11. For the action, check the "reply using a specific template" box. Click on "a specific template" to select the template you created in a prior step.

    12. New Rule 5

  12. Under "Look In:", select "User Templates in File System". Click on the template file you created in a prior step. Click "Open".

    13. New Rule 6

  13. Back at the Rules Wizard, click "Finish" to exit the wizard. Be sure to click "OK" back at "Rules and Alerts..." to save your new rule(s).

    14. New Rule 7