Forum Discussion

kevjackson's avatar
kevjackson
Brass Contributor
Dec 18, 2019

Outlook rules - if/and/or statements?

Hi,

isn't it about time outlook upgraded their rules so that you didn't have to create separate rules for incoming and out going messages?

Having to create 2 rules every time i want an email to and/or from a certain person to go into a specified folder is surely counter-intuitive and productive.

How hard could it be to re-script it to include 'if', 'and', 'or' statements into the code so that:
IF you receive a message from ContactA OR you send a message to ContactA move that message into ContactA's folder.

 

Is that not better than separate rules for every person?

My VBscripting back in 2004 could achieve that (can't remember a thing about it now though).

 

Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

Cheers 🙂

 

 

  • alenezi's avatar
    alenezi
    Brass Contributor
    create a rule in Outlook:

    Click the File tab in the navigation ribbon.
    Click Manage Rules & Alerts.
    Click New Rule on the E-mail Rules tab in the Rules and Alerts dialog box.
    Proceed to Step 1: Select a template.
    Choose a template from either the Stay Organized or Stay Up to Date list of rule templates.
    Proceed to Step 2: Edit a rule description.
    Click on the underlined value.
    Click Next.
    Choose the message conditions you prefer under Step 1: Select conditions.
    Click on presented underlined values from your selected conditions.
    Enter in specifics for the underlined values under Step 2: Edit the rule description.
    Click Next.
    Choose exceptions to the rule under Step 1: Select exception(s).
    Click Next.
    Choose values for underlined text under Step 2: Edit the rule description.
    Click Next.
    Enter a name under Step 1: Specify a name for this rule.
    Select additional actions under Step 2: Setup rule options.
    Click Finish.
    • kevjackson's avatar
      kevjackson
      Brass Contributor

      alenezi 

      err thanks for the copy’n’paste but that just explains how to create a rule. It’s not really what is asked.

      • daniel2311's avatar
        daniel2311
        Copper Contributor
        makes you wonder what are their roles. like do they get paid for the number of replies regardless of the quality of the replies and thus all the copy and paste
  • AlyssaL036's avatar
    AlyssaL036
    Brass Contributor
    Has this been done by now or is this still impossible? I don't see any way to do it, but maybe I'm just blind. I find it odd that not more people have liked/replied to this request. It's such a massive inconvenience.
    • oleksiikrutilko's avatar
      oleksiikrutilko
      Copper Contributor

      It is very disappointing that Outlook doesn't have this basic feature. Even mail servers from 90th have it. Right now it is only AND statement. So if you need to do something with emails like moving in a folder emails from 2 senders, you can't do email1 OR email2, you must create 2 rules.
      Also, you can't use something like "do something with emails from addresses *@some.com", only specify the particular address. (SOLVED) 

      It is possible via "Keywords -> Sender Address Includes"

      • Victor_Ivanidze's avatar
        Victor_Ivanidze
        Bronze Contributor

        Hi oleksiikrutilko,

         

        1)  why do you compare "mail servers from 90th" with email client?

         

        2)  your statement

        Also, you can't use something like "do something with emails from addresses *@some.com", only specify the particular address.

        is wrong.  Did you ever see "with specific words in the sender's address" condition? 

         

         

         

         

  • Kris1920's avatar
    Kris1920
    Copper Contributor
    Why not something this simple : If unread after 90 days then delete Would help keep your read mails, and keep your mailbox clean? how simple. why can't it be done?
    • Victor_Ivanidze's avatar
      Victor_Ivanidze
      Bronze Contributor
      It can be done but not using the rules. You can or create an add-in for Outlook or a MS Power Automate flow.
  • jj968c's avatar
    jj968c
    Copper Contributor

    I would like to know if there is a way to have a rule in outlook that automatically moves "old" emails on a thread into my "old mail" folder WHEN a new email on that thread comes in.  (that is my if...then,...)  If a new email on this thread comes in, then move the old email to the "old mail" folder.

     

    This way my inbox would ONLY have the latest email on each thread.  All other emails would automatically go into a bulk old mail folder.   I cannot seem to write the rule correctly for this to happen.  Any ideas?