Rule won't run...?

[Kenneth]

Howdy,

I am running OL 2002.

I'm familiar with rules, and virtually all that I write are
of the same general structure:

"Apply this rule after the message arrives with XYZ in the
Subject and ABC in the body move it to the 123 folder and
stop processing more rules."

They always work just fine.

But, right now, I have only one such rule, and when I try to
Run Now, nothing happens...

I click to run it, but no progress bar appears, and, of
course, no messages that meet the criterion are moved.

I should add that I have re-written the rule a few times and
even tried cutting and pasting in the criteria, but still, I
cannot get the rule to run.

What might cause that to happen?

Sincere thanks,

 

[F. H. Muffman]

I am running OL 2002.

I'm familiar with rules, and virtually all that I write are
of the same general structure:

"Apply this rule after the message arrives with XYZ in the
Subject and ABC in the body move it to the 123 folder and
stop processing more rules."

They always work just fine.

But, right now, I have only one such rule, and when I try to
Run Now, nothing happens...

I click to run it, but no progress bar appears, and, of
course, no messages that meet the criterion are moved.

I should add that I have re-written the rule a few times and
even tried cutting and pasting in the criteria, but still, I
cannot get the rule to run.

What might cause that to happen?

Well, when troubleshooting rules, start cutting it down to the basics.

Remove out one of the conditions.
Change the action to something non-destructive.

Test the rule. If it works, change the condition to the other and try
again. If it doesn't, look close at the condition to be sure that it should
be affecting the message. Try building a different rule to affect the
message to make sure something isn't totally hinky with the message.

 

[Kenneth]

Well, when troubleshooting rules, start cutting it down to the basics.

Remove out one of the conditions.
Change the action to something non-destructive.

Test the rule. If it works, change the condition to the other and try
again. If it doesn't, look close at the condition to be sure that it should
be affecting the message. Try building a different rule to affect the
message to make sure something isn't totally hinky with the message.

Hi again,

I have continued to experiment, with your suggestions, and
beyond.

Clearly, the problem I am having is not simply with the one
rule that I am trying to create:

I've just created a bunch of simple rules, some work, some
won't. The ones that move messages from the Inbox to other
folders fail every time.

Also, after I create one of these test rules, I click to
"Run Now." Sometimes, nothing at all happens, that is, not
only does the rule fail to do its intended function, but
there is no progress bar and no indication that anything at
all is happening after I click to run the new rule.

That often happens whether or not Outlook has just been
launched.

It certainly appears that something in the Rule
functionality is currently broken.

I have run the Detect & Repair routine, but it says all is
well.

What might you suggest as a next step?

Sincere thanks,

 

[F. H. Muffman]

Clearly, the problem I am having is not simply with the one
rule that I am trying to create:

I've just created a bunch of simple rules, some work, some
won't. The ones that move messages from the Inbox to other
folders fail every time.

Also, after I create one of these test rules, I click to
"Run Now." Sometimes, nothing at all happens, that is, not
only does the rule fail to do its intended function, but
there is no progress bar and no indication that anything at
all is happening after I click to run the new rule.

That often happens whether or not Outlook has just been
launched.

It certainly appears that something in the Rule
functionality is currently broken.

I have run the Detect & Repair routine, but it says all is
well.

What might you suggest as a next step?

Start completely from scratch with a new profile and figure out where the
rules start to break.

Run Outlook in Safe mode and see what happens there, as well.

 

[Kenneth]

Start completely from scratch with a new profile and figure out where the
rules start to break.

Run Outlook in Safe mode and see what happens there, as well.

Hi F.H.,

Here's the status:

I created a new profile, and a very simple rule (to notify
me if a particular word appeared in the Subject of incoming
messages.) I ran that rule on my Inbox, and it worked
properly.

Next, I modified that rule to move messages meeting that
criterion to another folder.

I click to Run Now, and there is a momentary flash of an
hourglass, but then nothing further happens.

Next, I went into Safe Mode, deleted the rule, and rebuilt
it.

The result is exactly the same...

Any further thoughts?

Sincere thanks,

 

[F. H. Muffman]

Hi F.H.,

Here's the status:

I created a new profile, and a very simple rule (to notify
me if a particular word appeared in the Subject of incoming
messages.) I ran that rule on my Inbox, and it worked
properly.

Next, I modified that rule to move messages meeting that
criterion to another folder.

I click to Run Now, and there is a momentary flash of an
hourglass, but then nothing further happens.

Next, I went into Safe Mode, deleted the rule, and rebuilt
it.

The result is exactly the same...

Any further thoughts?

What type of mail server?
Where is the folder? Different PST? Same PST? Have you tried a different
folder?
Make sure it isn't just a 'second action' rule by trying something
different, like putting a flag or category on the message.

 

[Kenneth]

What type of mail server?
Where is the folder? Different PST? Same PST? Have you tried a different
folder?
Make sure it isn't just a 'second action' rule by trying something
different, like putting a flag or category on the message.

Hi again,

Mail server is POP...

The folder I want to move messages to is in the same PST.
Yes, I have tried different folders, but with the same
result.

I have tried "making something else" happen, and it works.
But when I try to move something, I have the problems I have
described.

Thanks for any further thoughts,

 

[F. H. Muffman]

Mail server is POP...

The folder I want to move messages to is in the same PST.
Yes, I have tried different folders, but with the same
result.

I have tried "making something else" happen, and it works.
But when I try to move something, I have the problems I have
described.

Try creating a new pst and moving to a new folder in that. Obviously the
issue is something with moving messages to a folder, so, lets get the PST
out of the picture. If that fails, I'd personally set up a new profile with
a new pst and try in that PST.