Understanding the scope of filters
Hello Smarter People:
I am running TB 115.9.0 on macOS 12.7.1 (Monterey). This is the last OS release that my hardware will support.
I have spent a lifetime in software, so I will do my best to present the problem cogently. Perhaps it will save you some time.
I am having real problems understanding and deploying filters. I have four email accounts, which makes it a bit more complex.
I cannot detect whether filters are to be applied to EACH INBOX of my four email accounts, or if filters are GLOBAL to any given profile.
I THINK from my observations that both are true. You may define filters for individual email accounts, but if you to to Tools/Message Filters, all defined filters are shown.
No matter what I try, my filters don't achieve the desired result of automatically filtering mails into separate sub-folders. I have to drag each email manually, which can be a big job sometimes. Filters used to work, and I USED to think I understood them.
So what is the execution flow? Does mail first flow to the inbox of each individual email account and is filtered THERE, or is it all automatically sent to the Inbox on Local Folders and is filtered THERE?
I highlighted an individual email account, and went to Tools/Message Filters, and the filters there can be different from other filters that I have defined.
For example, in each of four email accounts, I may define two or more filters, BUT the last one in the order is called "Match All" which is defined to move ALL mail in that account to the Inbox on Local Folders. All incoming mail does indeed end up in the Inbox, but no filtering appears to be done.
Then I figured that filters must be global to a Profile, and defined my filters to Local Folders. Again, no joy.
I have read all the web pages having to do with filters and I THINK I'm defining them properly (I could hardly get them wrong - as clear as the instructions are). But there is no discussion of the SCOPE of filters.
I'm both confused and stuck, folks. I would appreciate some help from smarter people.
Sincerely, Bob Shimizu Somewhat Competent User
All Replies (7)
This link has the basics: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/organize-your-messages-using-filters For specific feedback, posting a screenshot of the first filter in an account and the final filter in the account will let us see the details. Thank you.
Hello again David:
Thanks for directing me back to the web page that DOES offer an explanation of filtering, but does me no good. I still can't deduct the flow of TB's logic so as to create filters that actually filter for me.
Thanks again, but I have read and absorbed the article.
Sincerely, Bob
David:
Here are the filters for the bshimizu@colesoft.com account.
Next you will see an edit of the first filter in the string.
Lastly you will see the final filter in the string.
Is the SUBJECT the listserv, or is the SENDER the listserv?
David:
Thanks. I just caught that error myself. Now I'm going to wait for more mail to show up.
THANKS, B
David (and colleagues):
I have cracked the code on filters. It was confused by my having multiple email accounts and filters for each. The nexus of the problem was my lack of understanding of how and when they are applied, and the results that TB displays.
If you create filters, they must be specific to the inbox of each separate account, a fact that really belongs in the web page you sent me to. TB WILL let you create what appear to be global filters, but they won't work, and if you are in your main inbox and issue Tools/Message Filters you will see them all, but no linkage is described as to which account owns which filters. That is also why if you try to "Run Now" nothing will happen, because naturally the filter "expects" to see mail in the inbox of that particular email account.
This was my lack of understanding. Once I figured out that filters are relevant only to a specific inbox of a specific email account and I defined those filters correctly (as David pointed out), THEN THEY WORK.
David, THANK YOU!
you are welcome. I was glad to assist. :)