OL97: Unable to Open Forwarded Message with Security

• Microsoft Outlook 97

SYMPTOMS

If you use Microsoft Outlook 97 with an Microsoft Exchange Server mail system, you may inadvertently forward a message that other Outlook users cannot open. This symptom occurs when the sender has the Microsoft Exchange message security options enabled and the recipient does not.

CAUSE

With Outlook, when you reply or forward an e-mail message, your reply or forwarded message retains the same security as the original message. If the original message was accidentally sealed (encoded), by default your reply or forward remains sealed. Outlook sets the security to match the original message. This behavior helps prevent someone from inadvertently decreasing the security of an ongoing e-mail thread.

RESOLUTION

If you want the reply message to have a different security than the original, on the message toolbar click to turn off the Seal Message or Digitally Sign Message option (whichever is depressed) before clicking Send. This will turn off the current security setting.

NOTE: If you do not have the Digitally Sign Message or Seal Message buttons on the message toolbar, then the message you have open is not signed or sealed. If you do not have these buttons when you compose a new mail message, you are not set up to use these features and cannot open a sealed message.

REFERENCES

For more information about how to setup Outlook message security, search the Help Index for "Add security to messages," or ask the Microsoft Access 97 Office Assistant.