Filters, filing without thinking about it

A rule that works while you sleep

A filter is a condition and an action: "if the message comes from the bank, then file it in the Bank folder". It applies itself on arrival. Farida has five, and her inbox now holds only what calls for a decision.

In the settings, mail section, the filters heading offers to create one for incoming mail. Give it a telling name, set the condition or conditions, choose the action, save.

What can be tested

The sender, the recipient, the copy, a word in the subject or the body, the size, the date, the presence of an attachment. You state whether all the conditions must be met, or at least one.

What can be done

File into a folder, stick a tag on, mark as read, forward to another address, or discard outright. A filter can also stop the ones after it, if you want a message handled by that filter alone.

Order matters

Filters run in the order of the list, and the arrows let you move them up. The most precise first, the most general afterwards: otherwise the broad rule catches everything before the fine one has had its chance.

A button also applies a filter to mail already received, to tidy in one go what had been lying about.