Outlook for Mac error message: Rules could not be saved because there is an error in the rules.

Anonymous
2016-01-28T11:45:40+00:00

(Modifying the title to provide clarity)

I have edited multiple rules in Outlook for Mac and when trying to save the changes I get this error message:

"Rules could not be saved because there is an error in the rules. Edit the rules, and then try to save the rules again."

What? I mean WHAT???

Firstly, I have edited the rules in your UI and clicked OK after each edit, how can there be an error?? Why did you not check for errors when I pressed the OK button? How is it even possible that your UI lets me create a rule with an error, it is not a programming language, it is a user interface!

Secondly, what an ignorant unhelpful error message is this? What is the error? In which rule it is? How do I fix it? The message could have equally read "F... YOU!", it would be equally unhelpful and rude!

Not only did I have to abandon all the changes I made, you have also ruined my day!

I HATE YOU TOO MICROSOFT!!!

Outlook | MacOS | Legacy Outlook for Mac | For business

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Anonymous
2017-01-06T18:14:19+00:00

A common cause of these rule errors is a bad email address in one of the rules (possibly a typo) or an invalid folder name (possibly deleted or renamed?).  Please check the most recent rule(s) you created and edited to see if all parameters are currently valid.  You can also narrow down the specific rule by selectively removing/re-adding individual rules.  Unfortunately, all rules are sent to the server in one transaction, and Outlook currently does not have code to identify and display the specific rule that failed. We've logged that as a future improvement.

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Anonymous
2017-09-11T06:38:22+00:00

This is really a problem solver!

With outlook log trace opened, I found there are multiple RuleOperationError when synchronizing with exchange server.

For example:

<OperationIndex>24</OperationIndex><ValidationErrors><Error><FieldURI>Condition:SentToAddresses</FieldURI><ErrorCode>InvalidAddress</ErrorCode><ErrorMessage>invalid email address</ErrorMessage><FieldValue>SMTP:</FieldValue></Error></ValidationErrors>

the OperationIndex tag should be started from 0, so 24 means the 25th rule in the rule box.

For me, there is a outdated mail-group in SendToAddress condition.

After removed these invalid rules, the whole rule set worked again!

Hope that microsoft(outlook) fix this issue with the accurate invalid rule tips, cause not everyone can understand these debug stuff!

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-05T23:29:07+00:00

    Daniel,

    I have created many rules like that (including just now) and have never seen that error message.  We looked for that error message in the code, and apparently it means the server returned an error when Outlook tried to save the rule to server.  Are your rules being created on an Exchange account?  When you set one of these rules up, is the destination folder one that has been around for a while (not newly created and not deleted or renamed)?   To diagnose your issue we need more info from you.

    First, turn on your troubleshooting logs. To do this click on "Window" in the title bar, then select Sync Errors. 

    In the Sync Errors window, click on the gear icon in the top right hand corner. 

    Check the "Turn on logging for troubleshooting" check box and click “OK".

    Now create a rule and try to save it.  After you get the error message, look for the log file in the following location:

    ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.outlook/Data/Library/Logs/ folder with the filenames Microsoft outlook-<date>-<time>.log (a new one will be created every time you launch Outlook and leave logging on.

    (From Finder, hold down Option while clicking on the “Go” menu, then select “Library”)

    Zip the log file (right click and select “Compress”) and attach it to an email.

    Turn off logging.

    [Updated] If you are running an Insider Fast or Insider Slow build, please go to "Help" -> "Contact Support" to get 1:1 support for your particular situation.  

    Thanks.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-05T17:07:27+00:00

    Hi John

    All of them simple "put message from this sender to this folder" rules. One sender, one condition, one folder.

    Thanks

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-02-04T20:34:50+00:00

    Hi Daniel,

    Thanks for your feedback.  Can you please provide some details of what rule you were creating and/or editing? Thanks.

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