[ClaraT]

I'm going on vacation today and have set up the "out of office" auto reply message like I have several times before, but something's weird. It only works if my computer is on and Mail is open!?

From Apple Mail help:
"Mail must be running to automatically reply to messages, because rules aren’t processed while your computer is shut down or you’re logged out. To set up automatic replies while you’re on vacation, ask your Mail server’s administrator how to set up an out-of-office reply."

I swear it wasn't this way before I got this MacBook. This is nuts. Besides not having the time to get on the phone with tech support "to ask the server's administrator how to set up an out of office reply" , I know for a fact this used to work by simply setting up the rules, turning off the
computer and grabbing my suitcase.

What is up? I never had to call anyone to make sure this feature worked before and doesn't this defeat the whole purpose of sending "out of office" messages. Seems strange you have to have your computer on.

Please send help.

Thanks.

[Cold Warrior]

This is completely normal if you don't have an Exchange server with client that supports it or a webmail interface for POP or IMAP that lets you set it server-side.

With this account, do you have an Exchange server with webmail access or some other webmail (Gmail, Earthlink, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.)? Login and see if it has an out of office autoreply there.

[ClaraT]

Thanks.

Are you saying to use the feature on, in my case, Earthlink, and just forget
about using Apple Mail while I'm gone?

[Cold Warrior]

Earthlink's webmail has a Vacation Message option under webmail Preferences > Sending & Replying.

[ClaraT]

Cold Warrior, thanks for your help. I will use my high speed cable provider, RCN web mail, to set up the out of office reply but I am irked that Apple has changed this feature and I can't use it from the Mail program.

I clearly remember setting this up in rules and it working fine. But then again
maybe I'm losing my mind.

Appreciate your time with me on this.

[SoBayJake]

There is no way for this to have worked as you described it.

It sounds like Mail is connecting to a POP/IMAP server from your internet provider. There is no way to have done this before from Mail. As the Help documentation stated, rules can only be processed while Mail is running, and can connect to your email provider.

Things that connect to Exchange servers, webmail, etc. where the "heavy lifting" can be handled on the server-side can have auto-replies without any interaction with the desktop client.