How to Troubleshoot the Out-of-Office Assistant in Microsoft Outlook 2003

The Out-of-Office Assistant allows you to inform email senders you are away and can't respond immediately.

The Out-of-Office Assistant feature in Microsoft Outlook 2003 is used to alert email senders that you are away and unable to respond immediately. It also can be set up to provide additional information, such as when you'll return and whom to contact in the meantime. Occasionally, the Out-of-Office Assistant may not work as you expect, and you must determine the problem and how to fix it. Microsoft provides online resources to help troubleshoot the Out-of-Office Assistant in Microsoft Outlook 2003.

Instructions

Red X Next to Rule

1. Click "Edit Rule."

2. Make the changes to the rule described in the message that appears when a rule cannot be performed.

3. Click "OK."

Restore Out-of-Office Assistant Menu Option

1. In Outlook, click the "Tools" menu option.

2. Click "Options."

3. Click "Other," then click "Advanced Options."

4. Click "Add In Manager."

5. Click "Exchange Extensions Commands" if it is in the list of add-ins.

6. Click "Install" if Exchange Extensions Commands is not in the list of add-ins.

7. Double-click "Emsuix.ecf."

8. Click "OK" three times to exit the Options windows.

9. Exit Outlook and log off the computer.

10. Log on to the computer and open Outlook.

11. Click the "Tools" menu option.

12. Click "Out of Office Assistant."

Error Message Appears when Attempting to Run Out of Office Assistant

1. Close the error message.

2. Click the "File" menu option.

3. Click "Work Offline."

Multiple Out of Office Messages Sent to the Same People

1. Turn off the rule that sends replies to every message. Click the "Tools" menu, then click "Out of Office Assistant."

2. Click in the check box next to the rule you want to turn off to deselect it.

3. Edit the rule. Click the "Tools" menu, then click "Out of Office Assistant."

4. Click "Edit Rule."

5. Make the changes to the rule. Click "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• Out-of-Office Assistant is available only if you have Microsoft Exchange Server; most personal email accounts through an Internet Service Provider do not offer this feature.

• If Out-of-Office Assistant still does not appear in the "Tools" menu after following the steps in Section 2, you must change the Registry.

• Specify your email connection behavior at startup to ensure that you are always working online.

• Do not change the Registry unless you are an expert user.

References

• Microsoft: Troubleshoot the Out of Office Assistant
• Microsoft: The "Out of Office Assistant" Command Does Not Appear on the Tools Menu in Outlook
• Microsoft: Change Behavior of Startup Connection to Exchange Server
• Microsoft: Turn an Out of Office Assistant Rule On or Off
• Microsoft: Edit the Out of Office Assistant Rules

Resources

• Microsoft: How to Use the Out of Office Assistant in Outlook