Difference between revisions of "Vacman"

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== Initial Setup ==
 
== Initial Setup ==
  
First you have to run an initial setup: [[mailfilter-setup]]. In this setup you can also configure our spam filter.
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If you are using the vacation system the first time you have to run an initial setup: [[mailfilter-setup]]. In this setup you can also configure our spam filter.
  
If not existing a folder 'Templates' will be created. Possibly the folder is not subscribed. Then open a context menu from any folder and check your subscriptions after you choose 'Subscribe'.
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If not existing a mail folder 'Templates' will be created. Possibly the folder is not subscribed. Thunderbird users open a context menu from any folder and check their subscriptions after they choose 'Subscribe'.
  
 
[[File:tb-subscribe.png|frame|Folder Context Menu in Thunderbird]]
 
[[File:tb-subscribe.png|frame|Folder Context Menu in Thunderbird]]
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* Inside the body, you may refer to the last day of vacation by inserting $LAST (which will be replaced by the corresponding date).
 
* Inside the body, you may refer to the last day of vacation by inserting $LAST (which will be replaced by the corresponding date).
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=== Defining the vacation period ===
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To define vacation periods, add one or more of the following
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pseudo-addresses in the To: field of the vacation message:
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  YYYY-MM-DD@vacation        (to define a single day of vacation)
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  first.YYYY-MM-DD@vacation  (to define the first day of a period)
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  last.YYYY-MM-DD@vacation  (to define the last day of a period)
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  permanent@vacation        (to turn on vacation mode forever)
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=== Forwarding messages ===
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If you want to forward incoming messages to one or more colleagues
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during a vacation period, edit the To: (recipient) field of the
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vacation message to hold a mail address of each person.
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=== Configure Aliases ===
  
 
If you have more than one mail address, you should first define all
 
If you have more than one mail address, you should first define all
 
equivalent addresses (on a single line) in '.vacman/aliases' inside
 
equivalent addresses (on a single line) in '.vacman/aliases' inside
 
your home directory.
 
your home directory.
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=== Save as template ===
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'''Important:''' To save the vacation message do not press the 'Send'-Button. Instead you must save the message in the Template folder (File->Save as->Template).
  
 
If you do not want to send automatic replies to people that try to
 
If you do not want to send automatic replies to people that try to
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and body empty (also omitting attachments and signatures).
 
and body empty (also omitting attachments and signatures).
  
If you want to forward incoming messages to one or more colleagues
+
Messages in 'Templates' are never considered for vacation handling if they only have invalid or inactive (past or future) vacation periods. So you may enable vacation messages on demand, pre-define periods, and let the vacation system take care of (de-)activating them.
during a vacation period, edit the To: (recipient) field of the
 
vacation message to hold a mail address of each person.
 
  
To define vacation periods, add one or more of the following
+
As final example the image shows a complete Vacman template:  
pseudo-addresses in the To: field of the vacation message:
 
  
  YYYY-MM-DD@vacation        (to define a single day of vacation)
+
[[File:Vacman.png|center|A complete Vacman template]]
  first.YYYY-MM-DD@vacation  (to define the first day of a period)
 
  last.YYYY-MM-DD@vacation  (to define the last day of a period)
 
  permanent@vacation        (to turn on vacation mode forever)
 
 
 
Messages in 'Templates' are never considered for vacation handling if they only have invalid or inactive (past or future) vacation periods. So you may enable vacation messages on demand, pre-define periods, and let the vacation system take care of (de-)activating them.
 

Latest revision as of 16:23, 7 September 2018

We have programmed an easy to use procedure for out of office replies. It is completely managed within your mail client.

Initial Setup

If you are using the vacation system the first time you have to run an initial setup: mailfilter-setup. In this setup you can also configure our spam filter.

If not existing a mail folder 'Templates' will be created. Possibly the folder is not subscribed. Thunderbird users open a context menu from any folder and check their subscriptions after they choose 'Subscribe'.

Folder Context Menu in Thunderbird

Preparing the out of office reply

In the template folder you will find some instruction (same as below) and an example mail.

If you want to send automatic replies to people that try to reach you during a vacation period, make sure you define a subject and/or a body text:

  • Inside the subject, you may refer to the original subject by inserting $SUBJECT (which will be replaced accordingly).
  • If you only define a body text and no subject, the subject will automatically be created as 'Auto: ' followed by the original subject used by the sender.
  • Inside the body, you may refer to the last day of vacation by inserting $LAST (which will be replaced by the corresponding date).

Defining the vacation period

To define vacation periods, add one or more of the following pseudo-addresses in the To: field of the vacation message:

  YYYY-MM-DD@vacation        (to define a single day of vacation)
  first.YYYY-MM-DD@vacation  (to define the first day of a period)
  last.YYYY-MM-DD@vacation   (to define the last day of a period)
  permanent@vacation         (to turn on vacation mode forever)


Forwarding messages

If you want to forward incoming messages to one or more colleagues during a vacation period, edit the To: (recipient) field of the vacation message to hold a mail address of each person.

Configure Aliases

If you have more than one mail address, you should first define all equivalent addresses (on a single line) in '.vacman/aliases' inside your home directory.

Save as template

Important: To save the vacation message do not press the 'Send'-Button. Instead you must save the message in the Template folder (File->Save as->Template).

If you do not want to send automatic replies to people that try to reach you during a vacation period, be sure to leave both subject and body empty (also omitting attachments and signatures).

Messages in 'Templates' are never considered for vacation handling if they only have invalid or inactive (past or future) vacation periods. So you may enable vacation messages on demand, pre-define periods, and let the vacation system take care of (de-)activating them.

As final example the image shows a complete Vacman template:

A complete Vacman template