How to Create an Autoresponder for Outlook Express

If you are going on vacation or just want to send a friendly note acknowledging you have received an email, you can create an autoresponder with Outlook Express. You can set up several different autoresponders to use under different circumstances by following these steps.

Instructions

1. Create your message in Notepad. Write the message that you want to send as an autoresponder. Use a general salutation like "Hello" or "Thanks for the email." Then proceed to write the rest of your message. Save the .txt file you have created in Notepad onto your hard drive. Save it under an appropriate file name such as "outofoffice.txt." Remember where you have saved it.

2. Open Outlook Express and begin setting up your auto responder. On the menu, click on "Tools." Select "Message Rules," and then "Mail."

3. Create the mail rule. A pop-up window will open entitled "New Mail Rule." In the first part titled "Select Conditions for your rule," scroll down and check "For all messages." In part 2 titled "Select Action for your rule," check "Reply with message."

4. Add your .txt file. Under "3. Rule description," click on the word "message" where it says "Reply with message." Another box will open that reads "files of type box." Select "Text (*.txt)." In the pulldown menu, find the file where you have saved your message. Select your file and click "Open."

5. Proceed to the fourth box. Give a name to the rule you just created. Choose something that describes the rule, such as "Out of office" or "On vacation." Then click "OK."

6. Click "OK" in the new pop-up window titled "Message Rules." Your autoresponder is now on. If you want to turn it off, you must re-open the dialog box and uncheck the box next to your rule.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave your computer on with Outlook Express open when you leave for vacation, so that your new messages get downloaded and autoresponder transmits.