You cannot apply a filtered view while you are in a search folder in Outlook 2003

If the following conditions are true when you apply a filtered view in Outlook 2003

• You try to apply a filtered view while you are in an Outlook search folder.
  
  -and-
• You are using Microsoft Exchange 5.5.

the search returns a series of empty items in the Outlook search folder.

This behavior occurs because Exchange 5.5 does not support filtered views on Outlook search folders.

To work around this behavior, create a custom search folder and specify what you want to be filtered in the criteria for the custom search folder. For example, you can create a custom search folder for all the unread e-mail messages that you received today, instead of trying to apply a filtered view on the Unread Mail search folder.

To create a custom search folder, follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, point to New, and then click Search Folder.
2. In the New Search Folder dialog box, click Create a custom Search Folder in the Select a Search Folder box.
3. Under Customize Search Folder, click Choose.
4. In the Custom Search Folder dialog box, type a name for your custom search folder in the Name box, and then click Criteria.
5. In the Search Folder Criteria dialog box, select the options that you want for your custom search folder, and then click OK. For example, type Unread mail received today.
6. On the More Choices tab, click to select the Only items that are check box. The Unread option must be selected in the box that is next to this selected option.
7. On the Advanced tab, click Field, point to Date/Time fields, and then click Received.
8. Click today in the Condition box, and then click Add to list.
9. Click OK to close the Search Folder Criteria dialog box.
10. In the Custom Search Folder dialog box, click Browse.
11. In the Select Folder(s) dialog box, select the folders that you want to search, and then click OK.
12. In the Custom Search Folder dialog box, click OK.
13. In the New Search Folder dialog box, click OK.

This behavior is by design.

Both Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 support filtered views on Outlook search folders. If your system administrator upgrades to either of these products, you can apply a filtered view while in an Outlook search folder.