Creating a Message Filter

You can create custom message filters using Options on the navigational bar.

About the Junk Mail Filter:

The Junk Mail Filter is automatically created and preconfigured by the system. It appears at the top of your Message Filters page; you can edit the filter but you cannot delete it. The default configuration is Off, unless your administrator has changed the default to Normal. Click the Edit icon to turn the filter on and/or edit it.

To create a message filter:

1. From the Options pages click Message Filters.
   
2. The following screen will appear.

1. In the Filter Conditions - Add New Filter area specify the following:
   • The first radio button sets an initial parameter for the conditions you must specify, choose either:
     • If all of these conditions are met: Filter action is done only if all of the specified conditions are true.
     • If any of these conditions are met: Filter action is done if at least one of the specified conditions is true.
   • The parameter drop down lists direct the filter to search the specified field or attachment, choose either:
     • From: .
     • To/CC: The recipient's (does not include BCC recipients) address lines.
     • Subject: .
     • Body: The text of the message and text attachments including Plain text, HTML text, and Rich Text.
     • Return-path:
     • X-Junkmail:
     • Attachment MIME Type:  see About MIME and Filtering Attachments.
     • Attachment file name: The attachment name. You can use the asterisk wildcard; for example, *.vbs.
   • The content condition drop down lists direct the filter to search the field or attachment content as specified, choose either:
     • contains: The specified parameter must contain the text you enter. Wildcards are not honored; for example, the filter condition: "contains" "doc" would be met with any of these words: "doc", "document", "undocumented", "doctor", and so forth.
     • does not contain: The specified parameter must not contain the text you enter. Wildcards are not honored.
     • matches: The specified parameter must match the text you enter. Wildcards may be useful; for example, the condition "matches" "Dr. Spock" would only be met by "Dr. Spock," but the condition "matches" "Dr. Sp*" would be met by "Dr. Spock", "Dr. Spark", "Dr. Sproul", and so forth.
     • Does not match: The specified parameter must not match the text you enter. Wildcards may be useful.
   • The content trigger text option boxes supply key data for the search.  You can use the following wildcard characters:
     • Asterisk (*): Matches any sequence of zero or more characters. Example: to find all attachments with filenames ending in ".vbs", use these filter conditions: Attachment file name: matches "*.vbs"
     • Question mark (?): Matches any single character. Example: to find all messages from "Maria" or "Marie", use these filter conditions: From: matches "Mari?"
   • The second radio button, Apply to all incoming messages, directs the filter action to act on all messages regardless of conditions. This option is deselected (disabled) by default. If you select this option, the top radio button action trigger is automatically deselected. This option is useful as a final filter in a series of filters to direct all other incoming mail to be acted upon.
2. In the Filter Action area specify a response, select one:
   • Move to <folder> (default): Matching messages are moved to the specified folder. If you choose this option, you may also choose to have the message flagged by selecting one of the following for Mark:
     • Deleted , Read , Draft, Flagged, Answered : Flags the messages as specified.
   • Forward to: Matching messages are forwarded as specified.
   • Forward excerpt to: The first several lines of matching messages are forwarded as specified. Use this option in conjunction with wireless devices.
      
   • Discard (message is irrevocably lost): Matching messages are deleted.

   Additionally, specify:

   • Remove attachments that meet attachment conditions: Attachments that meet the specified attachment conditions are removed and a message is appended to the body indicating that the attachment was removed. This option is deselected (disabled) by default. To enable this feature, select the checkbox.
   • Do not apply any more filters to this message if action is taken: If the message qualified for action by the filter, any filters in order below the filter are not applied. This option is selected (enabled) by default. To disable this feature, clear the checkbox.

   Once you have created your filter, click OK.

 Next tutorial Webmail Editing Filter.    Back to Webmail Tutorial Index.