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Exchange Messaging Outlook

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Automatic Message Processing Tools

One of the most sought features of an e-mail program is the ability to automatically route, print and otherwise process incoming messages -- and outgoing messages as well.

In Microsoft Outlook, this function is provided by the Rules Wizard. Under Outlook 97 and Outlook 98, Exchange Server users can elect to use Inbox Assistant instead. Rules Wizard is installed by default in Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000, but must be added to Outlook 97. 

In the Microsoft Exchange client, connected to Exchange Server, Inbox Assistant handles processing of incoming messages. Exchange/Windows Messaging without an Exchange Server connection includes no automatic processing function. You can, however, use the tools listed under Other General Tools.

Outlook 2000 provides application-level events, allowing you to write VBA routines to respond to new messages in a folder and to perform operations on outgoing items.

Beginning with Exchange Server 5.5, the Exchange Server Event Service can run scripts on a schedule or when messages arrive, change or are deleted.

 

Rules Wizard | Inbox Assistant | Other General Tools | Special Function Tools | More Information

   

Rules Wizard

Rules Wizard processes both incoming and outgoing messages. Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000 come with the Rules Wizard. There's nothing extra to download. For Outlook 97, you can download the Rules Wizard from Microsoft.

See also:

  • Custom Actions -- Add-ins to provide new capabilities to Rules Wizard or Inbox Assistant
  • Rules Wizard and Assistants
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    Inbox Assistant

    Inbox Assistant processes only incoming messages. In Outlook 97 or 98, you can revert from Rules Wizard to Inbox Assistant by removing the reference to Rules Wizard in the Add-in Manager (Tools | Options | Other | Advanced Options | Add-in Manager in Outlook 98). Only Inbox Assistant can send responses as a server-based rule or  forward messages with headers intact.

    The Rules Wizard in Outlook 2000, on the other hand, provides parity with all Inbox Assistant rules and conditions. Therefore, Inbox Assistant is no longer needed and is not available in Outlook 2000.

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    Tools

    Auto-Mate   An add-in for Outlook that allows you use define rules to move mail from your Inbox (or other folders) based on several criteria, including the age of the message. While Outlook already provides a powerful set of rules, they can only be applied immediately when the message arrives, and not a couple days or weeks later. Auto-Mate fills this gap an enables you to apply rules to messages that have been in your Inbox for a given number of hours, days or weeks. In addition, the program offers a default set of rules and folders that work in conjunction with Outlook features to organize your mail into folders based on date and To-Do status. Available in Standard or Pro Version 3.0.
    ClearContext Information Management System   Now available in two versions, a free personal edition and a more powerful professional version, ClearContext IMS is an add-in for Microsoft Outlook that automatically prioritizes, organizes, and color-codes the e-mail in your inbox, placing the most important e-mails from the most important senders are at the top of the inbox, ready to be dealt with immediately. Less important e-mails, such as newsletters and correspondence from low priority senders, are placed further down in the inbox and junk/spam e-mails are moved to the bottom. Additionally, ClearContext IMS automates the e-mail filing process to help you keep your entire mailbox organized. All of this is done automatically by analyzing existing e-mail -no configuration or software "training" is required. Version 3. Supports Outlook 2007. Version 3.0
    E-mail Follow-Up   E-mail Follow-up reminds you to send a follow-up e-mail message if the reply has not been received in specified time. E-mail Follow-Up will watch for the messages and show you alert when the reply has not been received. Moreover, E-mail Follow-Up allows you to send follow up message using a predefined template to remind the recipient that the reply hasn't been received. Version 1.
    Email Templates   Exchange/Outlook add-on to create custom replies, forwards, signatures -- inserting any type of boilerplate text into your message. Templates are stored in Outlook or Exchange folders and can contain scripting elements (in VBScript or ET's own script language) to build replies that use information from the incoming message. Various extensions can handle such tasks as mailing list subscriptions. For a rotating quote, download the Rotating Text template. Has some issues with Outlook 2002 -- make sure you get the latest update, disable RTF templates, and don't try to use ET as a custom action in Rules Wizard.
    eMailBoss   Alternative to Outlook Rules Wizard to eliminate junk mail, sort messages by categories, and alert you to priority messages. Also forwards messages from certain category folders automatically to another address or a mobile device.
    EmailUnlimited   Extracts information from incoming messages into databases, sends automatic replies, manages newsletter subscriptions, sends and collates questionnaires. Supports XML and scheduled tasks.
    Exchange Resource Manager (ERM)   A server-based resource management extension allowing IT departments to better manage corporate conference rooms and resources in an Exchange environment. It is compatible with Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003.
    ExLife   Provides Inbox, Outbox and other folder rules with Boolean language for moving messages to different folders, adding addresses to your Address Book, sending replies, printing messages and attachments, saving attachments or messages, running programs. Plus there are profile-specific signatures for your Exchange messages, > quoting and attachments in replies, resend and many more useful features. Works with Microsoft Exchange, Windows Messaging and Microsoft Outlook (though the virtual folders feature can interfere with autoarchiving). To my knowledge, only ExLife is capable of moving messages to a Microsoft Mail shared folder.
    GFI MailEssentials for Exchange   Anti-spam, disclaimers (with variables), archiving Internet mail, Internet mail usage reports. Includes a POP downloader and personalized server-based autoreplies that can include attachments and tracking numbers. Can archive to an ODBC database.
    InboxRULES   Automatic mail processing tool available in an Exchange 5.x edition and an Outlook Rules Wizard client edition. Software development kit available to create custom restrictions and actions. From the developer of ExLife.
    Incoming Mail Organizer   This add-in for Outlook organizes the email in your inbox by automatically moving it to folders you designate. Similar to our Sent Items Organizer, you can have the add-in automatically move the email to folders that you create based on who it's from, keywords in the subject or body, or you can have it prompt you for the folder each time it doesn’t know how to handle the email. It also comes with a facility to back propagate through all your old emails and file them accordingly. This add-in is a great way to reduce the number of Outlook rules you use. Discount code: Discount Code, enter during checkout: WD9BHK53
    MailMachine   Processes Inbox messages based on a schedule and sends replies, forwards messages or deletes them. Combine with an automatic retrieval utility to have messages processed when you're not there, without loading Exchange or Outlook.
    MailPilot*IN   MailPilot*IN monitors your mail as it comes in, route its and automatically initiates the appropriate action, including extract header, message and attachments to process the data externally; generate a read receipt; move, copy or delete a message; remove attachments; print the message and attachments; start an external program; or mark message as 'read'. All tasks are recorded in a log file.
    MailRules   Integrates with Outlook to apply rules for inbound and outbound e-mail. Rules can be scheduled and can update data, route mail, run applications, and perform other functions. Can also schedule report deliveries.
    Nemx Power Tools   Nemx Power Tools Version 5.1 now includes the ability to selectively archive messages by user, group, domain, recipients, or content to a MSSQL or ODBC compliant database to ensure government, industry or corporate compliance. The release also includes enhancements to its Friendly Domains auto white listing capabilities.
    Outlook Assistant   Rules-based messaging processing tool that also supports voice recognition with Microsoft Agent. Latest version improves international support and adds the ability to base a rule on an existing message.
    OutlookHelper   Free tool to manage incoming mail, create animated and voice messages, automatically save specific types incoming file attachments, notify the user of incoming attachments in the system tray, and provides some virus scanning based on subject, body, and attachment rules. Allows you to store data at the company's web site and search for specific attachments in your folders. The "mail chat" feature triggers Outlook security prompts. Outlook 2000 or later.
    Praetor   Message filtering tool for Exchange Server to block spam, proprietary information leaks and unacceptable language. Also can create automatic replies and perform rule-based archiving.
    Simple Mail Handler   Part of the BackOffice Resource Kit from Microsoft, archives and filters incoming messages. With help from Ben Goetter, I've worked out some installation and usage instructions. Works with both Microsoft Exchange and Microsoft Outlook.
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    Special Function Tools

    These tools provide automatic messaging functions for specific situations:

    This Tools listing was moved to
    Special Function Automatic Messaging Processing Tools
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    More Information

  • Contact Management Tools -- Many of these utilities include autoresponders as one method of managing communications with contacts.
  • Content Control Tools -- Includes tools to filter incoming and outgoing messages for content and attachments
  • Message Extraction Tools -- To pull information automatically from incoming messages for use in databases, replies, etc.
  • Pager Tools -- To automatically forward messages to a pager
  • Fax Tools -- To automatically print or forward incoming faxes
  • Notification Tools -- For enhanced alerts when new messages arrive
  • Microsoft Exchange Server Scripting and Routing -- Building server-based automatic processing applications
  • A Visual Basic-based Active Messaging Inbox Agent
  • OL Overview of Programming with Rules
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    Updated Jul 15 2008

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