XCLN: Outlook & Outlook Express Don't Notify User When Reply To Address Differs from the From Address

ID: Q234241

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Outlook Windows 95/98 client, versions 8.0, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, 8.5, 9.0
Microsoft Outlook Windows NT client, versions 8.0, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, 8.5, 9.0
Microsoft Outlook Express versions 4.0, 5 for Windows 95
Microsoft Outlook Express versions 4.0, 5 for Windows NT 4.0

SYMPTOMS

Microsoft Outlook versions 8.0, 8.01, 8.02, 8.03, 8.04, and 8.5, and Microsoft Outlook Express (OE) versions 4.0 and 5 do not notify you when the Reply To address is different than the From address. When you reply to a message, it is directed to a different address than you expect when the Reply To field is used to direct the replies elsewhere.

CAUSE

If a Display Name has been defined, Outlook and OE neatly parse the address and only show the Display Name. However, double-clicking on the Display Name reveals the unexpected SMTP address defined in the original sender's message as the Reply To address. When the message first arrives in an Inbox, the From header may look like:

GoodUser [user@microsoft.com]

When you reply to the message, the To field will be parsed to just:

GoodUser

By default, the original header information is copied into the message body which includes the original From address:

GoodUser [user@microsoft.com]

However, double-clicking on the To field may reveal that the Reply To address is different from what was expected:

BadUser@widget.microsoft.com

MORE INFORMATION

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,5,8.0,8.01,8.02,8.03,8.04,8.5,9.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb