Using SmartSieve to set up or change a vacation message (formerly the 'out-of-office tool')

SmartSieve can be used to send an automatic out-of-office, or vacation, message to anyone who mails you when the service is activated. These messages are intended to let correspondents know that you are away and cannot reply to their mail immediately.

• Set up a new vacation message
• Disable the vacation message when you return

To set up a new vacation message:

• log into SmartSieve from the SmartSieve logon page (https://webmail.bris.ac.uk/smartsieve/login.php), using the instructions on the Logging into SmartSieve page
• click the 'Vacation settings' link at the top of the page
• type the response you want sent to incoming emails in the box labelled 'Auto-respond text', for example:

"I will not be reading my mail until XXXX. I will reply to your message on my return.
For urgent queries, please contact XXXX."

• set the 'After first reply, ignore sender for X days' list to the number of days you want the script to wait before sending a second vacation message to the same person
  (if a someone sends you an email message and receives a vacation message, SmartSieve will not respond to any other messages received from them before this number of days has elapsed)
• Select "Save changes".  This will enable a new vacation message.
  (To change and enable an existing vacation message, select "Save changes" and then "Enable".)

Screenshot: vacation settings page

Please note: to avoid replying to mailing lists and spam:

• SmartSieve will only reply to messages sent directly (using the To: or Cc: fields) to one of the addresses specified in the Addresses box. The addresses associated with your username are automatically pulled from the University of Bristol Directory.
• SmartSieve will not send replies to any messages that are flagged as spam (junk mail).

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To disable the vacation message when you return:

• log into SmartSieve from the SmartSieve logon page (https://webmail.bris.ac.uk/smartsieve/login.php), using the instructions on the Logging into SmartSieve page
• Select the vacation rule from the list of rules on the home page
• Either disable or delete it
  (disabling means you can keep the rule and edit and enable it again later)

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