Only first 5 rules work

[bdbull]

I'm having the most annoying problem with Outlook 2007. Only the
first 5 rules that I have work. I have several rules set up to filter
incoming email into folders. When a message arrives, if it meets any
of the first 5 rules, it is filtered correctly. If it doesn't meet
any of the first 5 rules, it is not filtered at all. If I manually
run the rules, the message is the filtered correctly. It just doesn't
work automatically. Also, it doesn't matter what order the rules are
in. If I reorder them in any way, still the first 5 only work. This
is driving me crazy.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I'm having the most annoying problem with Outlook 2007. Only the
first 5 rules that I have work. I have several rules set up to filter
incoming email into folders. When a message arrives, if it meets any
of the first 5 rules, it is filtered correctly. If it doesn't meet
any of the first 5 rules, it is not filtered at all. If I manually
run the rules, the message is the filtered correctly. It just doesn't
work automatically. Also, it doesn't matter what order the rules are
in. If I reorder them in any way, still the first 5 only work. This
is driving me crazy.

If you'd like a solution, you'll have to be more explicit on the definitions
of each rule and the order in which they appear in the Rules and Alerts
dialogue, as well as an example of a message that you think should trigger a
particular rule but doesn't.

 

[bdbull]

If you'd like a solution, you'll have to be more explicit on the definitions

of each rule and the order in which they appear in theRulesand Alerts
dialogue, as well as an example of a message that you think should trigger a
particular rule but doesn't.

Certainly.

My rules are:
1. Clear message categories
2. Meetings - filters all meeting requests to a Meetings folder
3. Cc - filters all messages where I'm in the cc field into a CC
folder
4. Builds - filters all messages from our build system into a Builds
folder
5. Personal - filters all messages received from people in my personal
address book into a Personal folder
6. Direct - filters all messages where I'm in the To field into a
Direct folder
7. Voicemail - filters all messages from my Vonage voicemail into a
Voicemail folder

All rules except 1 and 4 have the 'stop processing more rules'
condition set.

Rules 1-5 fire correctly. Rules 6 and 7 never process a rule
automatically. They work correctly if I manually run the rules on the
messages in my Inbox, but they never work automatically when a message
is received.

The weird thing is only the first 5 fire when I change the order. If
I change the order to
1. Clear
2. Meetings
3. Cc
4. Builds
5. Direct
6. Personal
7. Voicemail

then Direct begins to work and Personal stops working. No matter what
order I put them in, 6 and 7 never work automatically.

Is there a limit on rules that can be enforced at the server?

 

[Brian Tillman]

My rules are:

Those are only paraphrased approximations of your rules. We need to see the
rule definitions. The only thing you shouldn't post are real mail
addresses. Everything else should be exact.

 

[bdbull]

Those are only paraphrased approximations of your rules.  We need to see the
rule definitions.  The only thing you shouldn't post are real mail
addresses.  Everything else should be exact.

OK, I typed out each rule description below.


1. Clear message categories
Apply this rule after the message arrives
clear message's categories

2. Meetings
Apply this rule after the message arrives
which is a meeting invitation or update
move it to the Meetings folder
and stop processing more rules

3. Cc
Apply this rule after the message arrives
where my name is in the Cc box
move it to the Cc folder
and stop processing more rules

4. Builds
Apply this rule after the message arrives
from (e-mail address removed)
move it to the Builds folder
and mark it read

5. Personal
Apply this rule after the message arrives
sender is in Contacts Address Book
and on this machine only
move it to the Inbox folder
and display a Desktop Alert
and stop processing more rules

6. Direct
Apply this rule after the message arrives
where my name is in the To box
and on this machine only
move it to the Direct folder
and display a Desktop Alert
except if sender is in Contacts Address Book
stop processing more rules

7. Voicemail
Apply this rule after the message arrives
with vm.vonage.com in the sender's address
move it to the Voicemail folder
and stop processing more rules

 

[Brian Tillman]

OK, I typed out each rule description below.

Thanks. And an example of a mesasge that you think should be caught but
isn't?

 

[Brian Tillman]

So, let me try to reiterate. You say that

1. Clear message categories
Apply this rule after the message arrives
clear message's categories

2. Meetings
Apply this rule after the message arrives
which is a meeting invitation or update
move it to the Meetings folder
and stop processing more rules

3. Cc
Apply this rule after the message arrives
where my name is in the Cc box
move it to the Cc folder
and stop processing more rules

4. Builds
Apply this rule after the message arrives
from (e-mail address removed)
move it to the Builds folder
and mark it read

5. Personal
Apply this rule after the message arrives
sender is in Contacts Address Book
and on this machine only
move it to the Inbox folder
and display a Desktop Alert
and stop processing more rules

all work but that these:

6. Direct
Apply this rule after the message arrives
where my name is in the To box
and on this machine only
move it to the Direct folder
and display a Desktop Alert
except if sender is in Contacts Address Book
stop processing more rules

7. Voicemail
Apply this rule after the message arrives
with vm.vonage.com in the sender's address
move it to the Voicemail folder
and stop processing more rules

fail. Let's say someone (not (e-mail address removed)) sends a message directly to you
and that this person is in your Contacts folder. Rule 1 will clear the
categories. Rule 2 will be ignored if it's not a meeting invite. Rule 3
will be ignored because it's direct to you. Rule 4 will be ignored because
it's not (e-mail address removed). Rule 5 will apply, the message will stay in your
inbox, a Desktop Alert will be displayed and that's it. The "stop
processing more rules" action will tell Outlook that rules 6 and 7 are to be
skipped. So, Outlook is doing what you asked it to do.

 

[bdbull]

So, let me try to reiterate.  You say that








all work but that these:



fail.  Let's say someone (not (e-mail address removed)) sends a message directly toyou
and that this person is in your Contacts folder.  Rule 1 will clear the
categories.  Rule 2 will be ignored if it's not a meeting invite.  Rule 3
will be ignored because it's direct to you.  Rule 4 will be ignored because
it's not (e-mail address removed).  Rule 5 will apply, the message will stay in your
inbox, a Desktop Alert will be displayed and that's it.  The "stop
processing more rules" action will tell Outlook that rules 6 and 7 are tobe
skipped.  So, Outlook is doing what you asked it to do.

You are correct. But the problem arises when someone who is NOT in my
Contacts folder sends a message directly to me. It should get
filtered to the Direct folder, but it doesn't. It remains in the
default Inbox.

btw, the Inbox folder referenced in rule 5 is not the default Inbox
folder. It is a different folder in a PST.

 

[Brian Tillman]

You are correct. But the problem arises when someone who is NOT in my
Contacts folder sends a message directly to me. It should get
filtered to the Direct folder, but it doesn't. It remains in the
default Inbox.

That's why I wanted an example of a message that fails. I want to look at
real data.

 

[bdbull]

That's why I wanted an example of a message that fails.  I want to lookat
real data.

How can I post a real message? What data do you want?

 

[Brian Tillman]

How can I post a real message? What data do you want?

Copy and paste, perhaps? If a rule isn't acting on a message, it's likely
that despite what you believe, the rule doesn't match the criteria of the
rules you think should match. Sometimes another set of eyes helps and I
presume that's why you posted here in the first place.

Have you tried reordering the rules to see oif the behavior changes? Have
you tried moving rule six above rule five, for example?

 

[bdbull]

Copy and paste, perhaps?  If a rule isn't acting on a message, it's likely
that despite what you believe, the rule doesn't match the criteria of the
rules you think should match.  Sometimes another set of eyes helps and I
presume that's why you posted here in the first place.

Have you tried reordering the rules to see oif the behavior changes?  Have
you tried moving rule six above rule five, for example?

The rules work correctly if I run them manually from the Rules and
Alerts dialog.

Here's a test I just ran. I sent myself an email (I'm obviously not
in my Contacts) with a subject of 'test' and no message body. It did
not get filtered into the Direct folder (Direct is #6 and Personal is
#5). Then I reordered the rules so that Direct is before Personal and
re-ran the test (Direct moved to #5 and Personal moved to #6). The
rule was filtered into the Direct folder correctly.

 

[Brian Tillman]

The rules work correctly if I run them manually from the Rules and
Alerts dialog.

That doesn't etll you enough.

Here's a test I just ran. I sent myself an email (I'm obviously not
in my Contacts) with a subject of 'test' and no message body. It did
not get filtered into the Direct folder (Direct is #6 and Personal is
#5). Then I reordered the rules so that Direct is before Personal and
re-ran the test (Direct moved to #5 and Personal moved to #6). The
rule was filtered into the Direct folder correctly.

Then it seems clear that the original Rule 5 is acting upon the message for
some reason and Rule 6 doesn't fire because the "stop processing more rules"
prevents it. What type of account? It seems connected to the "in the
Contacts Address Book" condition to me.

 

[bdbull]

That doesn't etll you enough.


Then it seems clear that the original Rule 5 is acting upon the message for
some reason and Rule 6 doesn't fire because the "stop processing more rules"
prevents it.  What type of account?  It seems connected to the "in the
Contacts Address Book" condition to me.

Well, I removed the 'stop processing' from the Personal rule and it
appears to be working for Direct so far. I haven't gotten any emails
for the Voicemail rule yet, though.

I don't understand why the 'stop processing' was causing this issue.
The Personal rule should not have been firing because the conditions
didn't match. Further, the email was not being moved to the Personal
folder which indicated to me that the Personal rule was not firing.
But somehow, the 'stop processing' was running. That's weird.