Can an admin create out-of-office messages from ESM or AD?

Digg This!     StumbleUpon     Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT Microsoft Exchange Server User Settings Email issues after configuring hosted Exchange server on laptop Control Outlook 2007 in cached mode settings with group policies Group policy settings for Outlook 2007 in cached mode Restrict access to Outlook Web Access via Exchange System Manager How to custom-configure a Microsoft Outlook 2007 install using OCT Expand Microsoft Outlook email rules with the Auto-Mate add-on tool Exchange 2007 out-of-office (OOF) feature adds usability and security Managing Microsoft Outlook search folder functionality Back up and restore Microsoft Outlook settings Managing Microsoft Outlook's AutoComplete option Microsoft Exchange Server Scripts and Programming Removing old disclaimers from Exchange Server 2003 How to run Exchange Management Shell cmdlets in Exchange Server 2007 Automate complex Exchange 2007 Management Shell tasks via scripting Exchange event sink scripting error when configuring email disclaimer EMS add-on tool generates graphical Exchange Server 2007 reports A primer on the Exchange Server 2007 Exchange Management Shell How to generate HTML reports with the Exchange Management Shell (EMS) Use the Exchange Management Shell Set command to block senders How to test Exchange Management Shell commands Grant or deny permissions to access a user's Exchange 2007 mailbox Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 How to install Forefront Security for Exchange Server Displaying Exchange 2007 public folders in SharePoint Don'ts for optimal Exchange 2007 mailbox server efficiency Is your Exchange 2007 hub transport server healthy? Top 5 Exchange ActiveSync tips Two useful tools for documenting an Exchange Server installation Controlling spam in Exchange 2007 at the edge transport server level Restore Exchange storage groups with DPM 2007 How a hosted Exchange service can help you Email issues after configuring hosted Exchange server on laptop Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Research

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary application program interface  (SearchExchange.com) event sink  (SearchExchange.com) synchronous groupware  (SearchExchange.com)

RELATED RESOURCES 2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

VIEW MEMBER FEEDACK

No, this is not possible. Exchange Server 2007 adds the capability for an administrator to control out-of-office (OOF) settings at a domain-wide or per-user level via the Set-Mailbox cmdlet –externalOOFOptions switch. However, administrators can't centrally manage the actual text in those OOF settings.

Your answer is correct for the ESM or Active Directory. However, as an administrator, you can start Microsoft Outlook with another user's profile or log into their account through Outlook Web Access (OWA) using the system administrator password. From there, you can create an out-of-office message for their account.
—Stephen R.

******************************************

The following VBScript will allow you to modify out-of-office messages through a MAPI session from any computer in the domain that has ESM installed on it:

On Error Resume Next

Set FileSystem = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set oFile = FileSystem.CreateTextFile("c:\GroupMemebrs.csv", True)

CRLF=CHR(13)+CHR(10)
strDC = "cwccorpdc.carlwarren.com" 'Substitute your AD domain server name
strRoot = "carlwarren.Com" 'Substitute your company/domain name
strDomain = "DC=carlwarren,DC=COM"

Set DomainObj = GetObject("LDAP://" & strDC&"/CN=Users," & strDomain)

if Err.Number <0 Then
WScript.echo "Failed to connect to " & strADName
wscript.quit
end If
DomainObj.Filter = Array("group")

For Each GroupObj In DomainObj

If GroupObj.Class = "group" Then

oFile.WriteLine ("Group Membership for: " & MID(GroupObj.Name & "," & _
"Description - " & GroupObj.Description,4))
WScript.echo ("Group Membership for: " & MID(GroupObj.Name & vbTab & "| SamAccName:" & GroupObj.SAMAccountName & vbTab &_
CRLF & CRLF & "Description - " & GroupObj.Description,4))
WScript.Echo "Email:"& GroupObj.mail
Wscript.echo " "
WScript.Echo "Members:"

Set memberlist=GroupObj.Members

For Each member In memberlist
oFile.Write MID(member.Name & "," & member.SAMAccountName & "," & member.Class,4)
wscript.echo MID(Vbtab & member.Name & " (" & member.Class & ")",5)
'WScript.Echo member.mail
Next
WScript.Echo "-------------------"
WScript.Echo " "
End If

Next

set DomainObj = Nothing
set GroupObj = Nothing

if err.number<>0 Then

wscript.echo CRLF
wscript.echo ("ERROR: "&err.number&" "&err.description & " from "&err.source)
WScript.echo CRLF

End If

Wscript.Echo "Done!!"
wscript.quit

Here's the link to this VBScript to modify out-of-office messages.
—Frank L.

******************************************

Due to website width constraints, the spacing of the code string submitted by member Frank L. may not appear accurate. Click here for the accurate VBScript code to modify out-of-office messages.
—Steve Cimino, Assistant Editor, SearchExchange.com

Do you have comments on this Ask the Expert Q&A? Let us know.

Related information from SearchExchange.com: