Options

CodeTwo Exchange Rules Family offers two additional features associated with the way the rules are processed (Fig. 1.): 

• Processing subsequent rules
• Scheduler

Fig. 1. The Options tab.

Processing subsequent rules

The Subsequent Rules (Processing the rules that follow) feature allows to force the application to process or stop processing other rules if the current one is applied or not. This option lets you add various combinations of actions (e.g. signature + disclaimer) to your messages. It can be set while creating a new rule or editing an existing one in the Options tab (Fig. 2.). By default, each rule is configured to Stop processing more rules if the current rule has been applied and to Go to next rule if the current one hasn't been applied.

Fig. 2. Processing subsequent rules options.

The Processing the rules that follow field is used to configure the program to stop proceeding to next rules or continue processing them. If the Go to the next rule if the rule is / is not applied radio button is checked, once the rule has been applied or not, the program will move on to the next rule and check if it also matches the defined conditions. If the conditions of the next rule are met, the program will execute another action. Depending on the configured settings, the program can be configured to add multiple actions to one message. An example of a practical application of various actions is a situation when you want to add company disclaimers and a personalized signature in one message. If, however, Stop processing more rules if the rule is / is not applied is checked, once the first rule has been applied the program will not process any more rules yet apply the actions.

The rules are applied in the order they are placed on the list in the left column (see Fig. 2.) from top to bottom. The order of rules can be changed using the arrow buttons in the menu on the left. This also means that if several signatures are to be added by different rules, they will be added top to bottom in the order the rules are applied.

The fact that the rule has been applied does not mean that a footer has been added. The rule is considered applied if the message senders and recipients match its criteria. Therefore, even if your message includes a phrase suppressing actions, and hence the action is not executed, this rule has been applied. 

Scheduler

This feature enables to set the specified time during which the rule works. There are two options to choose from. The first default option will schedule the rule to work continuously without any time limits (Fig. 3.).

Fig. 3. Default Scheduler options.

The second one allows to set a rule to work within the chosen time ranges. After marking it and choosing the Schedule button (Fig. 4.), the Scheduler configuration window will open (Fig. 5.).

Fig. 4. Opening Scheduler configuration window.

Once the configuration window displays, you will be able to set different recurrence patterns with time ranges of your rule: Custom, Daily, Weekly or Monthly (Fig. 5.).

Fig. 5. Scheduler configuration window.

In the Custom recurrence pattern, you can define any recurrence as you want using the Rule date range editor (Fig. 6.).

Fig. 6. Rule date range editor opened within the Custom recurrence pattern.

The following types of recurrence pattern are time specific so if you want to set either Daily, Weekly or Monthly patterns choose accordingly.

Fig. 7. Daily recurrence pattern.

Fig. 8. Weekly recurrence pattern.

Fig. 9. Monthly recurrence pattern.

Each of these patterns has additional time range to configure:

• Rule activity time - exact hours/minutes frames within which the rule will be triggered.
• Range of recurrence - Start and End dates frames for the recurrence pattern.

Note that, by default, there is No end date checkbox marked so unless it is unmarked, the pattern will continue forever. Furthermore, all types of the recurrence pattern have the All day checkbox marked by default. If you want to set the time range shorter than a whole day, uncheck it and define the specific hours for you rule to be triggered.

See also

Advanced features and options - this article along its sub-sections describes advanced features and options that boost the program's functionalities and significantly improve its operation.