Outlook 2003 Archive ignores date

When attempting to perform a manual archive on specific folders, a limiting date, i.e. “Archive Items Older Than…”, is ignored and messages are not moved to the designated file. The “Include … “Do Not Archive” checked” box is selected. This procedure has been tried on many “overstuffed” folders with the same “non-results”. The only way I’ve been able to clear these folders is to open the prepared Archive file and manually move the unwanted messages across to it and then closing the archive file.
Any insight to this particular problem will be appreciated.