Custom Actions for Outlook's Rules

Last reviewed on August 8, 2012

Custom actions add functionality to the Rules Wizard in Microsoft Outlook by performing additional actions on messages.

There are very few custom actions available (in part because they were written in C++). For this reason, we are including other useful "rules tools" here.

See Run a Script rules for an alternative to Custom Actions.

Available Custom Actions | Notes | More Information

Tools in the Spotlight

EZDetach for Outlook

Save attachments as system files either as part of a Rules Wizard rule or manually, from either a folder view or the Advanced Find window. Can create subfolders to organize attachments by sender or date, pass an attachment to a script or other program, add a link in messages to point to the detached file, filter on attachment names, and automatically zip or unzip attachments. Version 5.5.1.327.

Tools

AdContact

Rules Wizard custom action to add the sender of an item to the Contacts folder. C++ source code included. Free sample from Microsoft.

AutoRead for Outlook

Custom action for Rules Wizard to mark messages that meet certain criteria as read and suppress the new mail indicator in the system tray. Improved integration with client-based spam filters. You can now simply designate any folder as AutoRead-enabled, providing an ability to mark new messages in that folder as read and/or remove Outlook's "New Mail" icon when new messages arrive into that folder. Version 2.0.0.47.

MarkRead

MarkRead is a custom action that you can use with Inbox Assistant or the Outlook Rules Wizard to mark messages as read. This is especially handy if you move junk mail to its own folder for review. Beta 1, 16kb, 19 Nov 97. Does not affect the envelope icon on the system tray, which will still show new messages having arrived. May not work in all versions of Outlook 2000. (Custom actions do not work at all in Outlook 2002.) Make sure you have a C:\Exchange folder before running setup; create it if necessary. Not needed with Outlook 2003 and up, a mark as read action exists in Rules Wizard.

Notes

Adding a custom action to a rule automatically makes it a client-side rule that can execute only when Outlook is running.

More Information

Written by

Diane Poremsky
A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999 and involved in IT support since 1985, Diane is the author of several books and video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.