KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q281379: Cannot Define New Inbox Assistant Rules w. Outlook for Macintosh

Article: Q281379
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 8.0,8.1,8.2,8.2.1,8.2.2
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 16-DEC-2000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Outlook for Macintosh, Exchange Server Edition, versions 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 8.2.1, 8.2.2 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you attempt to manage rules by using the Inbox Assistant with Outlook for
Macintosh, you may no longer be able to create, edit, or delete rules.

CAUSE
=====

This issue can occur if an installation of Outlook 2000 that has been updated
with Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP 2) has gained access to the
mailbox that you use on the Microsoft Exchange Server computer.

WORKAROUND
==========

IMPORTANT: If you need to use Outlook for Macintosh and Outlook 2000 SP 2 on the
same mailbox, Microsoft recommends that you use Microsoft Outlook 2000 Service
Release 1a (SR 1a) instead of Outlook 2000 SP 2.

After you run Outlook 2000 SP 2 on an Exchange Server mailbox, the Inbox
Assistant rules cannot be retrieved. To work around this issue, you must delete
the upgraded rules from the Outlook 2000 SP 2 Rules Wizard, and then recreate
your Inbox Assistant rules in Outlook for Macintosh. If you subsequently use
Outlook 2000 SP 2 again to gain access to this Exchange Server mailbox, the
rules are deleted and you need to perform the workaround steps again.

NOTE: Before you delete your rules, you may want to write them down so that you
can recreate them later.

Deleting Rules from Outlook 2000 SP 2
-------------------------------------

To delete rules from the Outlook 2000 SP 2 Rules Wizard:

1. On the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard.

2. Select the rules that you want to delete, and then click Delete.

3. Click OK to close the Rules Wizard.

Recreating Rules with Outlook for Macintosh
-------------------------------------------

To recreate your rules with the Outlook for Macintosh Inbox Assistant:

1. On the Tools menu, click Inbox Assistant.

2. Click Add Rule to create your rules.

3. Click OK to close the Inbox Assistant.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Every time that a user uses Outlook 2000 SP 2 to gain access to an Exchange
Server mailbox, Outlook silently upgrades the rules from the Inbox Assistant
format that Outlook for Macintosh uses to the Rules Wizard format that Outlook
2000 uses. As a part of this upgrade process, the Inbox Assistant rules are
deleted from the server. Although the rules continue to function as Rules Wizard
rules, you can no longer add, remove, or change rules in Outlook for Macintosh
after you use Microsoft Outlook 2000 SP 2.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbExchangeSearch kbOutlookMacSearch kbOutlook800Mac kbOutlook810Mac kbOutlook820Mac kbOutlook821Mac kbOutlook822Mac
Version           : :8.0,8.1,8.2,8.2.1,8.2.2
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.