There are three types of rules you can create with the Rules Wizard.

  • Stay organized: These rules help you filter, file, and follow up with messages.
  • Stay up to date: These rules notify you when you receive a message that fits a specific set of criteria.
  • Custom rules: These are rules you create without a template.

Rules are almost infinitely customizable. There are a variety of options you can set for each type of rule you create. Use the following steps to learn how to create a rule using the Rules Wizard.


STEP 1

  1. Select File > Manage Rules & Alerts to open the Rules and Alerts dialog box.
  2. On the Email Rules tab, select New Rule.
  3. Select one of the templates from Step 1. To start from a blank rule, select Apply rule on messages I receive or Apply rule on messages I send.
  4. In Step 2: Edit the rule description box, click on any underlined options to set them. For example, if you selected Flag messages from someone for follow-up in Step 1, click people or public group to select which senders' messages you want to flag, then click follow up at this time to select a flag and a follow-up date.
  5. Click Next.

 

STEP 2

On the second page of the Rules Wizard, you can add additional conditions to your rule. For example, you can select messages sent from a specific person that also have specific words in the subject or message body.

  1. In Step 1: Select condition(s) box, any condition you set on the previous screen is checked. You can select multiple additional conditions by checking their checkboxes.
  2. In Step 2: Edit the rule description box, click on any additional underlined conditions you just added. Then click Next.


STEP 3

On the third page of the Rules Wizard, you can select additional actions to take on the message. For example, you can flag messages for follow-up and mark a message as high importance.

1. In Step 1: Select condition(s) box, any action you set on the first screen is checked. You can select multiple additional actions by checking their checkboxes.

2. In Step 2: Edit the rule description box, click on any additional underlined actions you just added. Then click Next.
 

STEP 4 

On the fourth page of the Rules Wizard, you can add any exceptions to your rule. For example, you can check except if it is marked as important to ensure that any messages marked with a specific importance level aren't flagged for follow-up.

  1. In Step 1: Select condition(s) box, select any exceptions to your rule by checking their checkboxes.
  2. In Step 2: Edit the rule description box, click on any additional underlined exceptions you just added. Then click Next.

 

STEP 5

  1. On the last page of the Rules Wizard, enter a name for your rule.
  2. If you want to run this rule on messages you've already received, check Run this rule now on messages already in "Inbox."
  3. By default, Turn on this rule is checked. You can uncheck this box if you don't want the rule to be turned on at this time.
  4. Click Finish to save and turn on your rule.