How to setup an automatic reply in Outlook 2003/Outlook 2007

The following is done from Microsoft Outlook:
1. On the Tools menu, click Rules and Alerts.
2. In the Rules and Alerts dialog box, click the New Rule button on the E-mail Rules tab.
3. In the Rules Wizard, click the Start from a blank rule button, click Check messages when they arrive, and then click Next.
4. Under Which condition(s) do you want to check?, click to select the Sent Only To Me check box or any other check box that you want, and then click Next.
5. Under What do you want to do with the message?, click to select the Have server reply using a specific template check box.
6. On the Step 2: Edit the Rule Description page of the wizard; click the underlined phrase a specific message.
7. Compose a reply message in the Outlook Editor window. Fill in the subject field, click save and close.
8. Complete the Rules Wizard instructions, click Finish, and then click OK.

Since this is a server based rule, we don’t have to keep the outlook open in order for the rule to be applied.
Note: By default exchange doesn’t allow automatic reply message to be send to external user. You must allow it through Exchange System Manager.