When Rules don't apply

[Jeremy Fieldsend]

I have a rule set up which does not work and I can't work out why.

It has one criteria: that the subject contains a word. There are three
actions which should then take place (listed in order):
- Set project <project name>
- Print message
- Move message <folder>

(Entourage 2004)

Any ideas?
Thanks

 

[Paul Berkowitz]

I have a rule set up which does not work and I can't work out why.

It has one criteria: that the subject contains a word. There are three
actions which should then take place (listed in order):
- Set project <project name>
- Print message
- Move message <folder>

Try adjusting the rule to do only one of those actions. Then just a
different one. Then just a third one. Run the rule manually (Message
menu/Apply Rule/That rule) on a message on which you think it should work,
each time. Does it work in any of the special versions? If it does two of
those actions (separately) but not the third one, report back.

If it never works, for any action, perhaps you've set the criterion wrongly.
What's the word? Did you add or prefix any spaces? (Remove them and resave
the rule.)

If that's not it, tell us what sort of account these messages are coming in
on - POP, IMAP or Exchange. Does the rule work when you apply it manually
but not automatically to an incoming message?

--
Paul Berkowitz
MVP MacOffice
Entourage FAQ Page: <http://www.entourage.mvps.org/faq/index.html>
AppleScripts for Entourage: <http://macscripter.net/scriptbuilders/>

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PLEASE always state which version of Microsoft Office you are using -
**2004**, X or 2001. It's often impossible to answer your questions
otherwise.

 

[Jeremy Fieldsend]

Try adjusting the rule to do only one of those actions. Then just a
different one. Then just a third one. Run the rule manually (Message
menu/Apply Rule/That rule) on a message on which you think it should work,
each time. Does it work in any of the special versions? If it does two of
those actions (separately) but not the third one, report back.

It will not do any of them.

[...]

If that's not it, tell us what sort of account these messages are coming in
on - POP, IMAP or Exchange.
POP

Does the rule work when you apply it manually
but not automatically to an incoming message?

Precisely. Operating the Rule manually works for all three rules
everytime.

 

[Barry Wainwright]

Try adjusting the rule to do only one of those actions. Then just a
different one. Then just a third one. Run the rule manually (Message
menu/Apply Rule/That rule) on a message on which you think it should work,
each time. Does it work in any of the special versions? If it does two of
those actions (separately) but not the third one, report back.

It will not do any of them.

[...]

If that's not it, tell us what sort of account these messages are coming in
on - POP, IMAP or Exchange.
POP

Does the rule work when you apply it manually
but not automatically to an incoming message?

Precisely. Operating the Rule manually works for all three rules
everytime.

The most likely explanation in that case is that there is an earlier rule
catching these messages which does not have the option to allow other rules
to operate set.

To quickly check this, move this rule to the top of the list of rules and
see if it operates then.

 

[Jeremy Fieldsend]

Try adjusting the rule to do only one of those actions. Then just a
different one. Then just a third one. Run the rule manually (Message
menu/Apply Rule/That rule) on a message on which you think it should work,
each time. Does it work in any of the special versions? If it does two of
those actions (separately) but not the third one, report back.

It will not do any of them.

[...]

If that's not it, tell us what sort of account these messages are coming in
on - POP, IMAP or Exchange.
POP

Does the rule work when you apply it manually
but not automatically to an incoming message?

Precisely. Operating the Rule manually works for all three rules
everytime.

The most likely explanation in that case is that there is an earlier rule
catching these messages which does not have the option to allow other rules
to operate set.

To quickly check this, move this rule to the top of the list of rules and
see if it operates then.

Sadly, that makes no difference.

It seems that if there is a "move" action then the 'Do not apply other
rules...' is unavailable. It's an oddly worded option. None of the other
rules will have that criteria since the criterion is the name of the
project.

Incidentally, if I remove the 'move' action then the other two work
okay. Seems 'move' is the problem?

 

[Mickey Stevens]

It seems that if there is a "move" action then the 'Do not apply other
rules...' is unavailable. It's an oddly worded option. None of the other
rules will have that criteria since the criterion is the name of the
project.

Incidentally, if I remove the 'move' action then the other two work
okay. Seems 'move' is the problem?

That's interesting. Try re-adding the "Move" action, and using the "Choose
folder" dialog to manually select the folder you want to message to be filed
in.

The "Do not apply other rules" option is automatically checked because
Entourage can't run any more rules on a message once it's been moved.

 

[Jeremy Fieldsend]

That's interesting. Try re-adding the "Move" action, and using the "Choose
folder" dialog to manually select the folder you want to message to be filed
in.

Still no joy I'm afraid. To complicate matters further, rules for some
projects work fine, others to not. (Each has the same three rules in the
same order. The only difference is the destination folder.)