Digi-quest

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Published: 12:00am, 1 Feb 2009

I want to set up a system that will allow me to gather all outgoing e-mail messages that I expect a reply to. How do I do this?

Fred, Wan Chai

DQ: We're running this question again due to feedback from a couple of loyal readers. Mukesh Balani of Hong Kong suggests: 'Set up a secondary e-mail account (for example, Waiting-For-Reply@gmail.com) and send a BCC (blind courtesy copy) of any e-mails that need a reply to that account. Next, set up Outlook (or preferred mail client) to collect incoming e-mails from that account and filter them into a dedicated 'Waiting for reply' folder. This way you will have also created an automatic backup of the e-mail on a separate server.'

Eric Spain from Mui Wo, writes: 'Make a 'mail act-on' rule that says any e-mail from yourself goes to a folder called 'Awaiting reply'. BCC to yourself all the messages you expect to get a reply to. The logic being there is no other reason to get mail from yourself.'

Both of these solutions work but they are not ideal. Presumably, the person wanting to know if a reply has arrived will have to look into the 'Waiting-for-reply' folder from time to time to see if something has arrived. It is certainly true that putting these messages in one place would help but a better solution would be for it all to be done automatically - that's what computers are supposed to be good at. I am still looking for a solution that does not require programming on a large scale. Anybody with other ideas, please feel free to suggest them.

I have bought a home theatre system, including a television and Blu-ray Disc player, from a single vendor. But now I must use five different remote controls, which is bewildering. Is there a solution?