Outlook should track replies to my emails

[dsstao]

I'm using Outlook 2003. As an IT manager, I often email associates with
requests but have no way of easily following up.

The "flag for followup" is the most misleading feature in Outlook as the
"Sent Items" folder isn't parsed for flags, and reminder times pass without
notification. Fixing this would be acceptable, but not ideal for my
situation. This is especially true since I don't want the receipient to know
I'm going to follow up on them.

Sending a "task request" isn't appropriate for peer communications. For
subordinates, it works fine, but isn't very diplomatic for peers.

What would be ideal is this: having a report or filter available that lists
the sent emails (for all receipients) that I have not received a reply to.

----------------
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http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...6b3abeaed&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.general

 

[Christopher Wells]

I agree.

The way I'd like this feature implemented is as follows.

* Have a "Need a reply" flag, which can optionally be enabled for any
message that I send. When the mail is sent to several people, it would apply
to each person in the "To..." field, but not to people in the "Cc..." field.

* When such an email is put in my "Sent Items" box, it should have a status
flag ("I'm expecting a reply to this email but I haven't received a reply
yet"), which I can search or sort to find these emails which need a follow-up.

* When I receive a reply (or all replies if the email was sent to several
people) then the status flag of the original email changes (to "I was
expecting a reply to this email, and I have received the reply").

* When the recipient receives and views the original email, they see a
message "A reply to this email is expected".

I have wanted this feature. I noticed someone asking about this topic on an
internet discussion board, at
http://discuss.joelonsoftware.com/default.asp?joel.3.311719.14

I too am using Outlook 2003, with an Exchange server.

 

[lisa-l]

dsstao wrote on 06/20/2005 11:33 ET

I'm using Outlook 2003. As an IT manager, I often email associates wit
requests but have no way of easily following up

The "flag for followup" is the most misleading feature in Outlook a
th
"Sent Items" folder isn't parsed for flags, and reminder times pas
withou
notification. Fixing this would be acceptable, but not ideal for m
situation. This is especially true since I don't want the receipient to kno
I'm going to follow up on them

Sending a "task request" isn't appropriate for peer communications
Fo
subordinates, it works fine, but isn't very diplomatic for peers

What would be ideal is this: having a report or filter available that list
the sent emails (for all receipients) that I have not received a reply to


This post is a suggestion for Microsoft, and Microsoft responds to th
suggestions with the most votes. To vote for this suggestion, click the "
Agree" button in the message pane. If you do not see the button, follo
thi
link to open the suggestion in the Microsoft Web-based Newsreader and the
click "I Agree" in the message pane

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...66b3abeaed&dg=microsoft.public.outlook.genera

I am very interested in helping to get this feature, but I can't find you
pos
at the Microsoft link. Can you help me find it?