Tracking issues & questions

[Bill]

Hi all,
Running Outlook 2002. Using Exchange 2000 for internal messaging & ISP for
external mail.
I've been having alot of issues with tracking messages and I need some
clarification on just what the tracking options will & won't do.

The original message has to be in the Sent folder when the receipt arrives
Tracking doesn't work if the receipt is in plain text
If a receipt gets made part of a conversation called "Return Receipt" it
can't be dragged into another conversation

I store my messages in sub-folders based on the subject matter. I want to be
able to group them by conversation, but I've ended up with conversations
called "Return Receipt", "Delivery Receipt", "Delivered: Re:" whatever,
"Delivered: Fw: Re:" whatever, Etc.

Any suggestions about how I can keep my messages, replies & receipts
together short of having to create a folder for each conversation?

Bill

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

The original message has to be in the Sent folder when the receipt arrives

Tracking doesn't work if the receipt is in plain text

Correct. It needs the TNEF information to process and track, which plain
text doesn't have. Only Outlook can respond with the TNEF information so if
the recipient uses something else, you are out of luck.

If a receipt gets made part of a conversation called "Return Receipt" it
can't be dragged into another conversation

Not sure I understand the problem - no message can be dragged into another
conversation because you can't change the conversation (which is based on
the subject) fields.

I store my messages in sub-folders based on the subject matter.

Generally a bad idea.

able to group them by conversation, but I've ended up with conversations
called "Return Receipt", "Delivery Receipt", "Delivered: Re:" whatever,
"Delivered: Fw: Re:" whatever, Etc.

Try a custom view that hides the messages with those words in the subject
field.

Any suggestions about how I can keep my messages, replies & receipts
together short of having to create a folder for each conversation?

Folders are poor message management. You could use categories, but that
would get cumbersome fast too. I would probably make note of the tracking
results in a journal form - you can attach the forms and original message to
a form to keep them together and delete the receipts from the mail folder.



--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

 

[Bill]

Diane,
Thanks for the response.
What I meant by dragging to a conversation was if I received a receipt which
started a new conversation it would be nice to be able to drag that receipt
into the correct group of messages.

What is the problem with storing messages in sub-folders? I have separate
folders for messages relating to our RMS, building security system, OSHA, 6
different grants, training and about 5 other general categories. This is how
I avoid having to look through over 1,500 saved messages for, say, a message
sent sometime last year regarding the status of exterior flagpole lights. Do
have a better suggestion on how to group and store messages?

Bill

The original message has to be in the Sent folder when the receipt
arrives
Tracking doesn't work if the receipt is in plain text

Correct. It needs the TNEF information to process and track, which plain
text doesn't have. Only Outlook can respond with the TNEF information so
if the recipient uses something else, you are out of luck.

If a receipt gets made part of a conversation called "Return Receipt" it
can't be dragged into another conversation

Not sure I understand the problem - no message can be dragged into another
conversation because you can't change the conversation (which is based on
the subject) fields.

I store my messages in sub-folders based on the subject matter.

Generally a bad idea.

able to group them by conversation, but I've ended up with conversations
called "Return Receipt", "Delivery Receipt", "Delivered: Re:" whatever,
"Delivered: Fw: Re:" whatever, Etc.

Try a custom view that hides the messages with those words in the subject
field.

Any suggestions about how I can keep my messages, replies & receipts
together short of having to create a folder for each conversation?

Folders are poor message management. You could use categories, but that
would get cumbersome fast too. I would probably make note of the tracking
results in a journal form - you can attach the forms and original message
to a form to keep them together and delete the receipts from the mail
folder.



--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Author, Google and Other Search Engines (Visual QuickStart Guide)



Join OneNote Tips mailing list: http://www.onenote-tips.net/

Hi all,
Running Outlook 2002. Using Exchange 2000 for internal messaging & ISP
for external mail.
I've been having alot of issues with tracking messages and I need some
clarification on just what the tracking options will & won't do.

The original message has to be in the Sent folder when the receipt
arrives
Tracking doesn't work if the receipt is in plain text
If a receipt gets made part of a conversation called "Return Receipt" it
can't be dragged into another conversation

I store my messages in sub-folders based on the subject matter. I want to
be able to group them by conversation, but I've ended up with
conversations called "Return Receipt", "Delivery Receipt", "Delivered:
Re:" whatever, "Delivered: Fw: Re:" whatever, Etc.

Any suggestions about how I can keep my messages, replies & receipts
together short of having to create a folder for each conversation?

Bill