Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Template for Response
Step1
Start Outlook 2002 and log in to your email account. You must leave the computer and Outlook 2002 running and you must not use Word as your default email editor.
Step2
Create a template that your senders are going to see. Click “Tools” from the menu and then select “Options." A new window will appear.
Step3
Select “Mail Format” tab on the new window. The box for “Use Microsoft Office Word to Edit Email Messages” is not checked.
Step4
Click “File," “New and Mail Messages” on the top menu.
Step5
Format the mail message as plain text by selecting “Format” and “Plain Text”. This may prevent recipients from blocking your emails.
Step6
Fill in your message. Leave the “To” field empty.
Step7
Save the file as a template by selecting “Save As” from the File drop down menu. A “Save As” window will appear. In the bottom “File Type” box, select “Template." Fill in the file name of your choice, and then click “Save”.
Automating the Response
Step1
Click “Tools” on the menu, and select “Rules Wizard” from the drop down menu.
Step2
Select “New” in the “Rules Wizard” window. This rule will require you to start a “Blank Rule” and select “Check Messages When They Arrive” option. Go to the next step
Step3
Decide if this messages needs to be sent to people emailing just you or even those who are sending messages to groups. Select the appropriate box. Go to the next step.
Step4
Choose to “Reply Using a Specific Template” option so that the template you created can be sent to your senders.
Step5
Check the box “Select a Reply Template” and select the name of your template. Click “Open.” The Rules Wizard will then prompt you to finish the rule.
