How to set up out-of-office auto responder?

OOO is only available in Apple Mail if you're using an Exchange account, as far as I know.

For other mail providers, you need to set something up server-side. For an iCloud account you can do it on iCloud.com under your Mail settings.

This guide has worked for me, although I have known rules to be finicky. If it doesn't work right off the bat, unfortunately the only thing you can do is to try re-creating it and hope it writes itself correctly.

Make sure you select "Don't Apply" when Mail asks you if you want to apply the rule to existing messages. That is what is causing the message to be sent to your entire contact base upon creating the rule.

Do not set that rule on your Mac. Set it on your mail providers website (or you will have to leave your Mac on, with Mail running all the time in order for it to work)

William LLoyd gave you the correct answer, this alternative method is poor.

fingalls wrote:

This guide has worked for me, although I have known rules to be finicky. If it doesn't work right off the bat, unfortunately the only thing you can do is to try re-creating it and hope it writes itself correctly.

Make sure you select "Don't Apply" when Mail asks you if you want to apply the rule to existing messages. That is what is causing the message to be sent to your entire contact base upon creating the rule.

And what happens when the Mac goes to sleep?

Hi there

can someone tell me if this works once the computer goes to sleep or is turned off?

thanks

Sharon

Mac OS 10.7.5

Mac Mail 5.3