OL2000: (IMO) You Cannot Use E-mail Tracking Options with the Merge Mail Feature in Word 2000 (288168)

NOTE: These procedures only apply if you have installed Outlook with the Internet Mail Only option. To determine your installation type, click About Microsoft Outlook on the Help menu. If you have the Internet Mail Only option installed, you see "Internet Mail Only".

For information about the differences between Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail clients, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

257824 OL2000: Differences Between Outlook and Outlook Express

SYMPTOMS

When you use Outlook as your e-mail client, you may not be able to use e-mail tracking options when you use the Mail Merge feature of Microsoft Word 2000 for Merge to Electronic Mail.

The e-mail tracking options that are specified in Outlook, such as the Request Read Receipt option, are not sent with the message.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because the Merge to Electronic Mail feature of Word 2000 uses the Simple Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI) to communicate with your e-mail program. Simple MAPI cannot read or process Outlook user options, and e-mail tracking options are not set automatically.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior and use e-mail tracking options, create your messages in Outlook.

This problem is a limitation of Simple MAPI.