How to Creating a Rule Microsoft Outlook 2007
- In Outlook 2007, select Rules and Alerts from the Tools menu.
- In the Rules and Alerts window, click on the New Rule button.
The Rules Wizard is displayed.
- In the top box (labeled "Step 1") of the Rules Wizard, select the rule that you want to create. You can also build your own rule by selecting one of the generic rules under the section Start from a blank rule. (In the example below, the rule Move messages with specific words in the subject to a folder has been selected.) A description of the rule you select will be displayed in the bottom box, which is labeled "Step 2."
- Click on the Next button. A list of conditions will be displayed. (A condition is criteria for which you either select or enter a value.)
- Select the condition(s) for your rule. To select a condition, click on the box next to that condition so that a check mark appears. Any conditions you select will be added automatically to the "Step 2" area at the bottom of the window. (Note: Your rule will be applied when the conditions you select are met.)
Notice that the full description of your rule, in the rule description area at the bottom of the Rules Wizard, changes as you add (or remove) conditions. Text links will appear for some conditions.
- In the rule description area, click on people or distribution list.
Your Outlook 2007 address book is displayed.
- In your address book, select the person whom you want Outlook to look out for by clicking on the person 's name, then clicking on the From button, and then clicking OK when you're done.
The name(s) you selected (in this example, "Judy Smith") will be displayed in the rule description, as shown below.
- In rule description area, click on specified words.
In the above example, you can click on "specific words" to add a specific word or phrase for which you want Outlook to search in order for Outlook to perform the rule. In this case, Outlook will search for any words or phrases you add, and will perform the rule (in this example, move messages to a specific folder) once this condition is met (if it finds any of those words or phrases).
- In the Search Text window, enter the desired word or phrase and then click on the Add button. (In the example, "registration deadline" will be added.)
- Continue adding words or phrases by repeating step 9 until you're done. Click OK when you're done.
Notice that Outlook has updated the rule description with your changes----the words or phrases you added now appear as part of the rule description. (In this example, "specified words" has been replaced with " 'registration deadline' or 'spring 2010 registration' ", as highlighted in the example below.)
- Click on the underlined word specified that appears in move it to a specified folder.
- Select the folder (or create a new folder) in which you want Outlook to move the mail messages, and then click OK.
The folder will be displayed in your rule description.
- After you're done setting values for all the conditions you've selected, click on the Next button.
- In the next window, you'll be asked if you want to select any exceptions to your rule. In the example, except if the subject contains specific words has been selected. The exception you selected also appears in the rule description.
- In the rule description, click on the underlined words specific words.
- In the Search Text window, enter the desired words, and then click on the Add button. Continue doing this until you've added all the desired words, and then click OK.
The words you added (in this example, "2009") will be displayed in the rule description.
- In the next window:
- Enter a descriptive name for your rule. (In this example, the name of the rule that was entered is "Judy Smith Registration 2010 Mail Rule".)
- Make sure the option Turn on this rule is selected. (Note: If you do not select this option, you will have to run the rule manually.)
- Click Finish.
Your rule will be listed in the Rules and Alerts window.
- Click OK to close the Rules and Alerts window.
You have now successfully created a rule in Outlook 2007. You can now run your rule.