A new Outlook 365 Exchange Online user is struggling with rules.
I'm trying to figure out the hierarchy actions of the rules. I need to have email messages with exact subject detail sent to a specific folder. I also noticed that some rules are server based and are done first before leaving the 'cloud' and that rules on OWA seem to conflict with those set in Outlook.
If Outlook is open, the rules should be processed in the order listed, but when Outlook is closed, the server rules are applied. When you create rules in OWA, only server rules are supported.
Rules that have actions that require Outlook are client side rules and only run if Outlook is running. This includes moving messages to local pst files, adding a category or a flag. If a server rule moves a message when Outlook is closed, the client side rules that might apply to the message won't fire.
Suppose, for example that there are two rules. The first moves any message with "abc" in the subject to Folder A and the second rule moves messages sent from "microsoft.com" to Folder B. What happens if I receive a message from Microsoft that has "xyz" in the subject?
In this case, it depends if you are using Stop Processing with the first rule. When the message arrives, it's processed by the rules in the order they are listed and the message is checked against all rules unless a rule includes Stop Processing. With the Stop Processing action added, when a message matches the rule, Outlook stops looking at the remaining rules and moves on to test the next message. If you don't want a copy of the message in Folder A and one in Folder B, you need to use Stop Processing in Rule 1.
Client or Server Rules?
You can divide rules into two types - server-side and client-only. Server-side rules are handled entirely by the Exchange Server, independent of the state of the Outlook client. Client-only rules do not execute until the user who created the rule logs in to the Outlook client with the same profile used to create the rule.
Whether a rule is server-based or client-based depends on the exact conditions and actions for that rule.
Certain rules are always client-only - those that involve some element from the Outlook client that does not exist on the Exchange Server. The following table classifies these according to whether they depend on Outlook features, client files or the mail profile. The last group contains something of a surprise: A rule to copy to a public folder fires only when the client is logged in with the profile that created the rule.
TIP: Try forwarding the message to the public folder instead. That rule always fires on the server.
| Rule conditions or actions | Examples |
|---|---|
| Conditions using Outlook client features | With specific words in recipient's address With specific words in sender's address Flagged for action Assigned to category With specific words in the subject or message -- if you specify multiple phrases |
| Actions using Outlook client features | Notify me using a specific message Flag message for action Clear the Message Flag Assign it to a category Play a sound |
| Actions that use client files | Move it to the specified folder (in a .pst file) Move a copy to the specified folder (in a .pst file) Reply using a specific template Perform a custom action Mark as Read |
| Actions dependent on the profile used to create the rule | Move it to the specified folder (in Public Folders or in a .pst file) Move a copy to the specified folder (in Public Folders or in a .pst file) |
When you create a rule, the Rules Wizard stores the rule settings (conditions, actions, and exceptions) in a .rwz file with the same name as the user's profile. For rules for incoming messages, it also stores that information in the Inbox folder itself, with an indicator of what profile created the rule. This means that the details of the rule are available to the server.
When a message arrives, the server compares it with the list of rules. If the server can execute the rule, it does so. If not, it places a deferred action message (DAM) in a hidden Deferred Action folder in the mailbox.
When the user runs Outlook, the client checks the Deferred Action folder and examines each DAM. If the rule was created with the current profile, Outlook carries out the actions indicated in the DAM. This helps explain why rules may fire in an order different from that listed in the Rules Wizard: If the user is not logged in, rules that run on the server execute first, while client-only rules don't fire until the next time the user runs Outlook with the appropriate profile.
Note that if a mailbox is over its size limit, it cannot execute any rules that will send replies or forward items.
I'm curious as to why rules that assign categories are client-only. Categories appear to exist on the server. When I used the Outlook 365 web-app I can see and assign categories. I can even create rules in that interface that assign categories. But when I try to create a server-side rule in the Outlook Windows client it won't let me assign categories.
The rules engine in outlook desktop is old - they improved the rules engine in exchange server which is why it works in OWA. The only thing you can't do is edit most rules you make in one, in the other.
Hi Diane,
Thank you for this explanation. It explains a lot of stuff that is not easy to find - even on MS sites.
In the words of that U2 song though, I still haven't found what I'm looking for :-)
I've created a rule in OWA to redirect to an external email address and then delete the message.
Unfortunately, it deletes the message first and then... there's no message to redirect.
No matter which order I put the rule clauses (I assume it is supposed to execute actions from first to last), the delete always shows up first in the panel on the right (the rule explanation). My tests seem to suggest the delete is actually happening before the message is redirected (I've tried forward as well just in case it was that).
The only way I can make it work is create 2 separate rules with 'stop processing' off on the first one.
Regards,
Stuart
Great article! This may be a stupid question but here it is. I created a rule on my desktop that is client-only. When I use my laptop, the rule appears with (For other computer) after it. Does that mean that rule will only run on my desktop or can I still run it on my laptop? Thanks!
It means it only runs on the desktop - because a condition or action is only available on the desktop.
You can edit it so it works on the laptop - but it may only show up as 'on other computer' on the desktop. If this happens, copy it and have one copy for each computer.
Is there anything useful a server rule CAN do? You seriously can't delete a message on the server? Those people are morons. They can't even figure out how to give you an error message explaining the problem. Just "LOL your server rule is a client rule now, hur dur".
Server side rules can do a lot - but they can't do things that use resources in outlook or local to the computer.
Hello Diane,
Hope you are good and keeping healthy in this tough time.
My whole team works on a shared mailbox on Outlook 2016. Recently, i created a rule to defer delivery of every email sent by the team to 10 mins. I made sure to check "Turn on this rule" while creating it. What i found that whenever i send an email from my PC, it stays in the Outbox for 10 mins, however, my colleagues Outbox does not show that particular email(s). I though Outbox is shared as well and the emails sitting in my Outbox will eventually appear in my colleagues outbox as well. I am not sure if the above ask is appropriate. Any advise on how this thing can be resolved? or is it just impossible?
Thanks & regards,
Ashok
The outbox does not sync to the server when you use cached mode, so they won't show in shared mailboxes.
Hello! Thanks for the article, it's really helpful. One thing I haven't been able to find out though is about shared mailboxes.
I'm in a team who uses a shared mailbox and I wanted to create some client-only rules (because I want rules that categorise incoming mail) but because I don't get in until 10am every day (after everyone else) I want those rules to run whenever ANYONE in my team opens their profile (and thus the shared mailbox will be opened within their profile too, as they have it added as an additional mailbox) rather than just whenever I open mine.
I was thinking that maybe I could create the client rules, export them, and then email them to my team so that they can install the same rules on their profiles. Would that work, or is there an easier way of doing this?
Thanks,
Sam
That would work... or if the rules will be server side, you can open the shared mailbox as an account (in its own profile) and create the rules. This only works for server side rules though. You may be able to create the rules in Outlook on the web too.
https://www.slipstick.com/exchange/create-rules-and-oof-shared-mailbox/
Hi Diane, I'm having issues with the custom rules I create in Outlook 2003. I must have reached the limit of rules I have created to send pesky and unwanted emails directly to the JUNK folder. This no longer works. If this is the case, how can I increase either the number of rules or the maximum size of the rules limit? I have read of many ways around this in Exchange Server but have not seen anything related to non Server (standalone) Outlook 2003.
Do you know how to increase my ability to create more rules as shown below?
Thank you!
Joe
You can't change the # of rules - Exchange server mailboxes store rules on the server and there is a limit to the # that can be stored. The administrator can increase, but end-users can't. POP account should have no limit that I am aware of.
If you have rules that do the same thing for different domains, you can combine them into one rule. This will reduce the size and generally make it easier to review the rules.
Hi Diane, I want to use one special contacts list that is shared/synced. The purpose is for my office staff to populate the contact list and have it synced to my users out in the field. I created a gmail IMAP account for this purpose, but is did not install it's own contact file. Can you advise how to do this, Tks, Tom
gmail is email only. You'll need to use outlook.com or an exchange mailbox.