The Rules Wizard for Microsoft Outlook automatically processes both incoming and outgoing messages. You set conditions similar to those used for Microsoft Outlook filters, then indicate what action(s) you want to be performed on messages that meet those conditions.
Rules in the Rules Wizard apply to only to mail at the time its downloaded. They can be applied to mail after its downloaded using the Run Rules Now command.
For Microsoft Exchange Server users, Rules Wizard automatically converts rules created with the Inbox Assistant feature (which Rules Wizard replaces). Exchange Server users also have an Out of Office Assistant for handling such things as vacation notices and Folder Assistant rules that run on public folders. See Server-based vs. client-based rules.
Filters are used with Search folders, Custom Views, and Advanced Find. Filters are used with Outlook items in the data file and show or hide but do not move items. You can apply filters to any Outlook item type, not just email. Filters can show, hide, or highlight items in different colors based on a variety of conditions and criteria.
Although Outlook does not support locking views against changes, you can lock view in Outlook 2010 using VBA. See How to prevent changes to Outlook views for a code sample.
Using Rules Wizard
The Rules Wizard for Microsoft Outlook automatically processes both incoming and outgoing messages. You set conditions similar to those used for Microsoft Outlook filters, then indicate what action(s) you want to be performed on messages that meet those conditions. Rules in the Rules Wizard apply to only to mail at the time its downloaded. They
Run all Outlook Rules on Startup
Use an Application Startup macro to run Outlook's client side rules automatically.
Mark Sent Items as Read After Copying with a Rule
When you use rules to move sent messages, the sent items are not marked read when they are copied to other folders. You need to VBA to mark the messages read.
Outlook's Rules and Alerts: Run a Script
How to use Outlook's Rules Wizard Run a Script action to process messages using VBA. Using Run a Script rules will allow you to use actions not available in the Rules Wizard.
To Make Automatic Reply Rules
Using Microsoft Outlook, you can create rules to reply automatically to incoming messages with the Rules Wizard and Out of Office Assistant.
Run a Script Rule: Send a New Message when a Message Arrives
How to use a Run a Script rule to have Microsoft Outlook automatically send a new email message using a template to new email addresses when a message meeting specific conditions arrives.
Rules in Error and Reply with Template
This bug was fixed in Outlook 2010 in the July 2011 hotfix. Beginning with Outlook 2007 SP2 (and continuing in Outlook 2010), there is a bug in the rules engine which causes reply with template rules to fail. I was hoping for a hotfix when I saw a newly released KB article referring to "Rules
How to Change the Font used for Outlook's RSS Feeds
If you don't care for Calibri font as the default for RSS feeds, you need to use a macro to change the font (on font size) as the font cannot be changed by the user. We have code samples for both Outlook 2010 and 2007.
Run-a-Script Rules Missing in Outlook
Office 2016 and Outlook 2013 users who use a run-a-script rules to be aware that the scripts are currently disabled.
Run Rules Now using a Macro
How to use a macro to run Outlook's rules on demand or triggered by a reminder.
How to prevent changes to Outlook views
It's not hard to image this scenario: you create a custom view, everything is just the way you like it. Then you accidentally sort by a different column. Outlook saves the changes and your perfect view is ruined. In the early versions of Outlook, users were presented with a "Do you want to save changes?"
Create a List of Rules
Valk Beekman wanted to share this VBA code sample that creates a text file containing a list of the rules used by the default email account. When the rule contains an email address, the address (or display name) is added to the output.
Custom Field Formulas: Phone Numbers
The basics of creating a custom field using a formula For best results, begin with a custom view: In Outlook 2010 and up, look on the View ribbon for Change View. Expand it and choose Manage Views. In Outlook 2007 and older, go to the View menu, find the menu for Define views. Click New.
Exchange Server's Rules Limitation
Microsoft Exchange server, including Office 365 Exchange Online and Outlook.com, as well as on-prem Exchange servers, limit the number of rules a user can have in an Exchange mailbox. The limit is based on total size, not number of rules, so one user might have 20 rules while another has 30. Exchange 2003 and older
Run a Script Rule: Change Subject then Forward Message
An Outlook user asked how to automatically change the subject of a message and forward it to another address. Using a "run a script" rule is one option and we show you how to do it.