Automatic Mail Filing Option

The Automatic Filing ... option is similar to the Alerts Option in that it is triggered when certain incoming mail arrives, and it is similar to the Save Patterns Option option in that it influences which folder is used when a message is saved.

With this option you can cause incoming mail to be moved automatically from your In-Box to a specific folder.

You specify a string pattern and an associated folder name. When mail arrives the headers are scanned for a match with the patterns. When a match is detected the mail message is moved to the associated folder.

To add or insert new automatic filing rules, and to modify or delete existing automatic filing rules, click the Automatic Filing ... option. The Automatic Mail Filing Rules window appears.

TIP:
Automatic Filing can be combined with an Alert Command. For example, you could specify a pattern to cause certain incoming mail to be automatically filed, and use the same pattern to cause an Alert Command to generate an automatic reply.

Figure: Automatic Mail Filing Window

Specifying Automatic Mail Filing Rules

The Automatic Mail Filing Rules window shows the list of current string patterns and associated folder names in a box containing two text fields - the Pattern name field and the associated Folder name field. (If no automatic filing rules have been defined, both fields are empty.)

The pattern is evaluated as a regular expression, as defined by the UNIX ed command.

You use the four buttons to the left of the text fields to:

When you click the New ..., Insert ..., or Edit ... buttons, the Edit Automatic Mail Filing Rule window appears. It contains text fields in which you can create or modify an automatic filing rule.

Figure: Edit Automatic Mail Filing Rule Window

Creating a New Automatic Mail Filing Rule

To create a new automatic mail filing rule:

  1. Click the New ... button. The Edit Automatic Mail Filing Rule window appears.

  2. Place the pointer in the Pattern: text field and enter a string pattern that would appear in the header field of an incoming message.

  3. Place the pointer in the Folder name: text field and enter the name of the folder that should be used when the string pattern is encountered in a message header.

    NOTE:
    Folder names can be fully qualified path names or relative path names. Relative path names are resolved starting from your $HOME directory. Relative path names starting with a + or an = are resolved starting from your Folder Directory (see     Application-related Preferences), which is typically $HOME/Mail.

  4. Click Ok or Apply in the Edit Automatic Mail Filing Rule dialog window.

Inserting an Automatic Mail Filing Rule

Highlight an existing pattern and click Insert ... to begin inserting an automatic mail filing rule:

  1. In the Pattern: field, enter a string pattern that should appear in the header field of an incoming message.

  2. Place the pointer in the Folder name: text field and enter the name of the folder that should be used when the string pattern is encountered in a message header.

  3. Click Ok or Apply in the Edit Automatic Mail Filing Rule dialog window.

Editing an Automatic Mail Filing Rule

Highlight an existing pattern and click Edit ... to begin editing an automatic mail filing rule. Then:

  1. Make your changes in the Pattern: and Folder name: fields.

  2. Click Ok or Apply in the Edit Automatic Mail Filing Rule dialog window.

Deleting an Automatic Mail Filing Rule

To delete one or more automatic mail filing rules:

  1. Select the pattern(s) you want to remove.

  2. Click the Delete ... button.

    A pop-up confirmation box prompts you for confirmation before completing the operation.

Applying Your Changes

Apply or cancel your changes using the row of buttons across the bottom of the window. See Applying Your Changes.

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Parent Section: Main Window Options Menu
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