A reader asks:
Is there a method to implement a pop up a confirmation dialogue box prior to sending a reply to all?
Outlook doesn't have this feature built in, but you can use a macro or purchase an add-in if you aren't into programming.
Eric Legualt explained how to do this using VBA in "Getting a Handle on Your E-mails with VBA". While Eric's code sample is free for anyone who wants to work with VBA, it only detects the Reply to all function of an opened message, but not if you read messages in the reading pane. If you're interested in detecting other message actions, including opening or closing messages, Eric includes simple code samples to get you started.
The commercial add-ins that will detect reply to all actions include the following tools. Additional tools can be found at Compose Tools for Outlook
Tools
Reply To All Monitor is an Outlook add-in that prompts when you click reply to all, preventing you from making potentially embarrassing mistakes. It also (optionally) removes your own name from a reply to all and can also warn you if you are going to perform a reply to all on a message that you were BCC'ed on, preventing you from "spilling the beans". It has been updated to work with Outlook 2010, and works in both 32-bit and 64-bit. | |
ReplyAll is a free tool that alerts you when you hit the 'Reply To All' button in Outlook and asks if you really want to send to all. Works with all versions of Outlook: 2000 - 2013. Free. | |
SafeSend Outlook detects external recipients in outgoing emails and meeting invitations, requests users to confirm external emails recipients, expands Outlook distribution lists. Supports multiple domains within corporate structure and multiple email accounts per user. Allows custom safe-domains. Puts minimum load on your Exchange server. | |
TuneReplyAll shows a warning message when a user is going to reply to everyone. The user has to confirm his choice to reply to all. This will help to prevent sending out confidential information. If Outlook includes the user's own address in Reply all, TuneReplyAll will remove it from the message. |
Fantastic tools to use. Thanks for sharing.