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outlook_oof_spec.rst

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Observations on Outlook's Out Of Office Handling

version 2020-03-31

written up by Jan Engelhardt

OOF dialog

When setting up an OOF timespan in Outlook, it will consider OOF to be "on" and show the OOF config button with yellow background only if the current time is within the timespan. As time progresses forward and the OOF period has begun, Outlook will not update itself; some event (e.g. incoming mail) needs to happen before it turns yellow.

This OOF state is written to the PR_OOF_STATE property on the store object when the OOF dialog config is applied, and it will not be updated even after the OOF yellow background shows.

Exchange Server evaluates almost nothing of this at all. It ignores PR_OOF_STATE, and ignores the PR_BODY texts stored in the FAI message. Editing the FAI messages' PR_BODY will not change the automatic reply body. Changing e.g. the PR_MESSAGE_CLASS however will make Exchange stop sending the reply, even if it is changed back afterwards.

Internet search suggests that OOF is set using the EWS API instead.

MAPI only gets gratitious copies, and only of certain information, making it practically useless.

OOF levels

OL offers four stiff levels:

  • OOF_DISABLED
  • OOF_INTERNAL: internal members (this organization) only
  • OOF_CONTACTS: internal, and user's contacts
  • OOF_EXTERNAL: internal, and externals

There is no way to, for example, enable OOF for just externals.

Rule 1

When the OOF level is >= OOF_INTERNAL, this rule will be created (in PR_RULES_TABLE, but not PR_RW_RULES_STREAM):

PR_RULE_NAME="Microsoft.Exchange.OOF.InternalSenders.Global"
PR_RULE_PROVIDER="Microsoft Exchange OOF Assistant"
PR_RULE_ACTIONS={
        lpActions->ulVersion = 0x00000001 = EDK_RULES_VERSION
        lpActions->cActions = 0x00000001
        lpActions->lpAction[0x00000000]:
        lpAction->acttype = 0x00000004 = OP_OOF_REPLY
        lpAction->lpRes:
        lpRes was NULL
        lpAction->ulFlags = 0x00000000 =
        lpAction->actReply.lpEntryId:
        cb: 70 lpb: 00000000EA01816B84555A47AB5BE61FE0BBB21E070066E7E68ED3C93F4DA3C31C8011FD60FC000000A8B1550000325AA2D15223B0449E3A8B4C7F5959B00001664AB6140000
                => references PR_ENTRYID of FAI message
        actReply.guidReplyTemplate = {BD9B44ED-D910-4E11-99DA-D2B0FCA0CA30} = Unknown GUID
                => references PR_REPLY_TEMPLATE_ID of FAI message
        lpAction->ulActionFlavor = 0x00000000 = OP_OOF_REPLY
        lpAction->lpPropTagArray = NULL
}
PR_RULE_CONDITION=NULL
PR_RULE_STATE=ST_KEEP_OOF_HIST | ST_CLEAR_OOF_HIST | 0x100

FAI message:

PR_MESSAGE_CLASS="IPM.Note.Rules.OofTemplate.Microsoft"
PR_ENTRYID=<as specified in actReply.lpEntryId>
PR_REPLY_TEMPLATE_ID=<as specified in guidReplyTemplate>

This rule has no conditions stored whatsoever.

Rule 2

When the OOF level is >= OOF_CONTACTS, this rule will be created:

PR_RULE_NAME="Microsoft.Exchange.OOF.AllExternalSenders.Global"
PR_RULE_PROVIDER="Microsoft Exchange OOF Assistant"
PR_RULE_ACTIONS={
{
        lpActions->ulVersion = 0x00000001 = EDK_RULES_VERSION
        lpActions->cActions = 0x00000001
        lpActions->lpAction[0x00000000]:
        lpAction->acttype = 0x00000004 = OP_OOF_REPLY
        lpAction->lpRes: NULL
        lpAction->ulFlags = 0x00000000 =
        lpAction->actReply.lpEntryId:
        cb: 70 lpb: 00000000EA01816B84555A47AB5BE61FE0BBB21E070066E7E68ED3C93F4DA3C31C8011FD60FC000000A8B1550000325AA2D15223B0449E3A8B4C7F5959B000016B2EF60B0000
        <entryid of a FAI message>
        actReply.guidReplyTemplate = {DF9FE98E-A4E7-4EDF-990C-DF172ECFBC4D} = Unknown GUID
        <PR_REPLY_TEMPLATE of said FAI message>
        lpAction->ulActionFlavor = 0x00000000 = OP_OOF_REPLY
        lpAction->lpPropTagArray = NULL
}
PR_RULE_CONDITION=NULL
PR_RULE_STATE=ST_KEEP_OOF_HIST | 0x100

FAI message:

PR_MESSAGE_CLASS="IPM.Note.Rules.ExternalOofTemplate.Microsoft"
PR_ENTRYID=<as specified in actReply.lpEntryId>
PR_REPLY_TEMPLATE_ID=<as specified in guidReplyTemplate>