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INFO: How to create a "Rule" for emails
Back to Microsoft Outlook 2007
Posted on 03.01.10


Do not be intimidated by experimenting with the following steps. 

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
  2. Click the Tools button from the taskbar located at the top of the screen. This will open a Ways to Organize Inbox.
  3. Click on the Rules and Alerts. This will execute a “wizard” to help guide you through the rule creation.
  4. Click on New Rule to create a new rule.
  5. A window box will that allows you to select from 3 categories:  Stay Organized, Stay Up to Date, or Start from a blank rule
    In this example we will be setting up a rule to "move" an email that has sent from an individual into a folder.
  6. Select Move messages from someone to a folder and click Next.
  7. A window box will appear that will ask you Which condition(s) do you want to check?  Notice there is a Step 1 and Step 2 area.
  8. In Step 1, check from people or distribution list.
  9. In Step 2 we have to specifiy either the person or Distribution List.  Click on people or distribution list
  10. The Active Directory is displayed where you can select an individual or navigate to the All Groups area, and select from one of the list.  You can also select from your Contact list.  After selecting the appropriate option, you will be brought back to Step 2.
  11. Click specified folder.
  12. All of your folders are displayed, even you Personal Folders.  Navigate to the folder you want the message to move to and click OK.
  13. Click Next.
  14. The next step allows you to set exceptions to the rule.  Select any option you choose to or click Next.
  15. Now the Finish rule stepup window is displayed.  Enter a name for the Specify a name for this rule 
  16. Click Run this rule now on messages already in "Inbox" and Turn on this rule.
  17. Click Finish.
  18. Click on Run Rules Now  option located toward the top of the window if you want to run the rule immediately.  If you do another window box will be displayed and you can click Run Now.
  19. Click Close.
  20. Click OK to exit the Rules Wizard.