How to create a rule that automatically replies to incoming e-mail messages that you receive when you are unavailable in Entourage for Mac

In Microsoft Outlook, you can use the Out of Office feature to automatically reply to incoming e-mail messages that you receive when you are unavailable. However, Microsoft Entourage 2004 for Mac and Microsoft Entourage 2008 for Mac do not offer this feature.

This article describes how to create a rule in Entourage for Mac that automatically replies to incoming e-mail messages that you receive when you are unavailable.

To create a rule that automatically replies to incoming e-mail messages that you receive when you are unavailable, follow these steps.

• Entourage for Mac is running.
• Entourage for Mac is configured to send and to receive e-mail messages on a schedule.

1. Start Entourage for Mac.
2. On the Tools menu, click Rules.
3. Click the type of e-mail account that you want, and then click New.
4. In the Rule name box, type a name for the rule.
5. In the Execute box, click if all criteria are met.
6. Under Add Criterion, click All messages.
7. Under Add Action, click Reply.
8. Click Reply Text, type your message, and then click OK.
9. In the Edit Rule box, click to select the Enabled check box, and then click OK.
10. Close the Rules box.

To verify that the new rule works, send an e-mail message to yourself.

You should receive a reply e-mail message that contains the text that you typed in step 8. After you receive this e-mail message, it goes to the Outbox folder in Entourage for Mac. This e-mail message is sent the next time that the Send & Receive feature runs in Entourage for Mac.

If you want to disable this new rule, follow these steps:

1. On the Tools menu, click Rules.
2. Click the e-mail account type that you want, and then click to clear the Enabled check box.

To change the schedule that Entourage for Mac uses to send and to receive e-mail messages, click Tools, point to Run Schedule, and then click Edit Schedules.