Setting Up Automatic Replies (Absence Mail and Auto-reply)

Note: You can turn Absence mail (Auto-reply) on and off from either the go/myaccount site or from the mirapoint webmail client. Either will work fine, but if you turn it on in one location, use the same location to turn it off.

To activate the absence mail server (previously called vacation mail):

1. Go to: http://www.williams.edu/go/myaccount
2. Enter your username and password: Authenticate
3. You will see the various account tools that are available, click on 'Absence Notices'
4. Type your 'away' message in the box. You can also copy the message from a Word document and paste it in the web dialogue box, but it will not handle any special formatting, just plain text.
5. Click the 'Enable' button

Within one-half hour, anyone who sends email to your account will receive back an email containing your automatic reply message. If you receive any listserv messages while the absence mail server is activated, the entire listserv will get your automatic reply message. You should consider unsubscribing or suspending any listservs you are on.

To deactivate the absence mail server:

1. Go to: http://www.williams.edu/go/myaccount
2. Enter your username and password: Authenticate
3. You will see the various account tools that are available, click on 'Absence Notices'
4. Click the 'Disable' button

Your recorded message will no longer be delivered and you will receive a list of everyone who received your message while your absence mail server was activated.