Mail Rules can help you process large volumes of mail or, in some cases, unwanted mail, more efficiently. You can use Mail Rules to automatically sort incoming messages into different folders, highlight certain messages in color, automatically reply to or forward certain messages, and much more.
WebMail Rules
To create a rule for mail messages in WebMail:
Log on to your WebMail account
In the top menu, click on the Rules button.
To add a new rule, click on the Add button.
Select the field that you want to search.
Select "contains" or "doesn't contain" to specify whether the selected field should or should not contain the text specified in the "Text" field.
For a case sensitive search, select Match Case.
Enter a search string in the text box labeled "Text". The maximum limit for a search string is 255 characters. Search strings with more than 255 characters will be truncated at 255.
Click the Add Condition button.
Slide to the bottom of the window. Click on the down arrow at the right side of the text box to choose what you want to do with the message.
In the Destination text field, type in the appropriate text. Note: if you choose Delete or Bounce, the Destination text field will be disabled.
Click the Finish button
Please note that you may create as many Rules as you wish.
Example WebMail Rule
Log on to your WebMail box.
In the top menu bar, click on the Rules button.
Click the Add button.
In Field, select Subject.
Place a dot in the white circle beside the word Contains.
Type SPAM-KILL in the Phrase text box.
Click the Add Condition button.
Slide to the bottom of the window. In the Destination section, click the down arrow in the selection box and select Delete.
Click the Finish button.
All new incoming mail that has the words "SPAM-KILL" in the Subject field will now be deleted.
Outlook Express Mail Rules
To create a rule for mail messages in Outlook Express:
Open Outlook Express.
Click on the Tools menu, click on Message Rules, and then click Mail.
On the Mail Rules tab, click New.
Select the conditions for your rule by selecting the desired check boxes in the Conditions section. (You must select at least one condition.) Note: You can specify multiple conditions for a single rule by clicking more than one check box. Click the and hyperlink in the Rule Description section to specify whether all of the rule conditions must be met before the specified action occurs (and) or whether at least one must be met (or).
Select the actions for your rule by selecting the desired check boxes in the Actions section. (You must select at least one condition.)
Click the underlined hyperlinks in the Rule Description section to specify the conditions or actions for your rule. You can click contains people or contains specific words in the Rule Description section to specify the people or words you'd like Outlook Express to look for in messages. If you enter multiple people or multiple words per condition, use the Options button in the Select People or Type Specific Words dialog boxes to further customize the condition.
In the Name of the rule box, select the default name, type a new name for your rule, and then click OK.
Please note that you may create as many Rules as you wish.
Example Outlook Express Rule
Open Outlook Express and click on Inbox.
To create a folder called SPAM-HOLD, click on File, click on Folder, click on New. In the Folder Name text field, type SPAM-HOLD. Click on Inbox. Click OK.
Click on the Tools menu, click on Message Rules, and then click Mail.
On the Mail Rules tab, click New.
Under 1. Select the Conditions for your rule: place a checkmark in the box next to Where the Subject line contains specific words.
Under 2. Select the Actions for your rule: place a checkmark in the box next to Move it to the specified folder
Under 3. Rule Description (click on an underlined value to edit it): click the underlined hyperlink contains specific words. In the text field Type specific words or phrase.., type SPAM-HOLD and click the Add button.
Under 3. Rule Description (click on an underlined value to edit it): click the underlined hyperlink specified. select the SPAM-HOLD folder and click the OK button.
Under 4. Name of the Rule: type Spam-Hold Rule
Click the OK button.
All new incoming mail that has the words "SPAM-HOLD" in the Subject field will now be placed directly in your SPAM-HOLD folder.
Netscape Mail Rules
To create a rule for mail messages in Netscape Mail:
Open Netscape Mail.
Click on the Tools menu, click on Message Filters.
Select the correct mail account you want to set up the rules for.
Click the New button.
In the Filter name: field, type in a name for the rule.
Select the conditions for your rule by selecting the desired check boxes in the For incoming messages that: section. (You must select at least one condition.)
Note: You can specify multiple conditions for a single rule by clicking the More button and customizing the conditions. Select the correct button, Match all of the following or Match any of the following, above the box to specify which conditions must be met for this rule.
In the Perform this action: section, Select the actions for your rule by selecting the desired check boxes in the Actions section.
Click OK.
Please note that you may create as many Rules as you wish.
Example Netscape Mail Rule
Open Netscape Mail and click on Inbox.
To create a folder called SPAM-HOLD, click on File, click on Folder, click on New. In the Name text field, type SPAM-HOLD. In the Create as a subfolder of: field, select the appropriate box. Click OK.
Click on the Tools menu, click on Message Filters.
If necessary, select the e-mail account you are creating the rule for.
Click the New button.
In the Filter name: field, type SPAM-HOLD.
In the For incoming messages that: field, select Subject in the first field, select Contains in the second field, and type SPAM-HOLD in the empty text field.
In the Perform this action: field, select Move to folder, and then select the SPAM-HOLD folder you created under Inbox.
Click the OK button.
All new incoming mail that has the words "SPAM-HOLD" in the Subject field will now be placed directly in your SPAM-HOLD folder.
