Small Business Consultants
	in Houston Texas USA	Add our blog to your My Yahoo page to receive updated information as it is posted.

• small business resource • internet marketing, web site promotion • computer services • home office computer support •

Visit our Internet Marketing blog for current observations!

 

small business resource

[ Up ] [ automate your e-mail ] [ navigate with shortcuts ] [ more navigate with shortcuts ]

---

Automating your e-mail

 

Want to notify your correspondents that you are out of the office?  You can create an automatic response to send them a message for you so they won’t think that you are ignoring their messages.  This specific procedure applies to Outlook Express, but most email software has the same functionality.

(Outlook 2000 and above provides even more flexibility in the creation of processing rules. We have provided an example of using Outlook to create a rule to identify incoming mail from a web page form and file it in a specified folder for future reference.)

---

Start by creating the e-mail that you want your system to send out for you.  Simply “Create Mail” in the normal way, but, instead of “Sending” it, save it to a file (in a location you will remember) for use by your e-mail software.  Remember to include your signature, and give it a title that will remind you what the content of the message is, and will be meaningful to the recipient.  You can set up multiple messages for multiple purposes.  

 

---

1.  Open Outlook Express and select “Tools”, “Message Rules”, Mail” from the menu bar.

2. Under the “Mail Rules” tab (the default position), select “New”.

3. Under the “Conditions” option, scroll down to the item “”For all messages”.  (This is a basic “vacation notice” rule.  Use other parameters to customize response rules for specific purposes.)  Place a check in the selection box.

4. Under the “Select the Actions for your rule” option, mark the “Reply with message” item.

5. Under the “Rule description” option, select the “message” link (will be highlighted), and use the browser box to locate the e-mail message that you saved to begin with.

6. Under the “Name of the rule” option, give your rule a name to remind you what it will do.

7. Make sure that your new rule is checked in the “Message rules” window so it will be activated.

8. Close the window and you are ready for your vacation!

   ---

Note that you can create special messages for different people, or for different types of messages, or for messages about specific topics.  This is limited only by your imagination.  You can also re-use the rule at different times by simply reactivating it.  Change the content of the e-mail you have saved to reflect the new intent of the response.

---

Remember to remove or deactivate this rule after you return from vacation, because it won’t know when to stop working.  You have to tell it!

---

These and other computer tips like them can become part of your integrated computer training and education program in your own offices. We offer customized training and education programs designed to fit the needs of your particular situation. Computer tutoring that addresses the operating environment in your office is the most cost effective way to improve office productivity. 

---

[ Up ] [ automate your e-mail ] [ navigate with shortcuts ] [ more navigate with shortcuts ]

---

Call or write us now to arrange for a free initial consultation (by phone or e-mail) to identify the ways that we can help you become a more modern, efficient and competitive business.

---

• small business resource • internet marketing, web site promotion • computer services • home office computer support •     Small Business Consultants 5602 Dumfries Drive, Houston, Texas  77096-3920 713.721.2109  Fax: 832.553.2902   Search our Site! www.small-business-consultants.net   FreeFind powered by FreeFind