Re: [Evolution] rfc, different filter interface

[Bram Mertens <bram-mertens linux be>]

On Fri, 2004-05-07 at 04:36, Not Zed wrote:
> I use evolution filters to manage my mail, rather than vfolders, and
> although they work find, they seem clumsy to work with.

Agreed, once a set of rules is set up they're an invaluable tool.  But
if something changes in the user's situation (for lack of a better word)
editing the rules can be a real PITA.

> I only have two types of filters
> - a whitelist/blacklist of individuals which get moved to a given
> folder
> - list related filters which get moved to a given folder

I have some rules set up to test for forged (SPAM) messages as well.

[...]

> But if i need to change the rule later, or modify it, i have to go to
> the filter editor, search through the almost randomly named filters
> there and open it up to edit it.

Not sure what you mean with randomly named filters?  You can edit the
name of a rule when you edit it, I use this to name all my rules so I
can group them by these names.

> If I setup a new whitelist entry, the problem becomes even worse, I
> have to cut and paste the address across or type it in.  There's no
> way to just add an address to it.  I thought a solution would be to
> have a wizard instead to drive the "create filter/vfolder from rule"
> menu items so you could be asked questions like this, e.g. "add to
> existing rule/create new rule".  This is probably still a reasonable
> idea (especially since the 'create filter/vfolder from x' menu is too
> big).

Perhaps there's a more easy way to do this:
In the 'if' part of the rule add a button after "sender" "is" that opens
the "Select contact from Addressbook" window where the user can select
contacts to add to the rule.

I see two poosibilities when the user selects multiple contacts:
- multiple "sender is ..." rules are created
- a single "sender is in ..." rule is created containing some sort of
regex containing all the contacts

> But wouldn't it be nice if:
> - you could define rules 'on the folder'.  So you define your rules on
> the folder, its trivial to then find the filter rules for that folder
> later, and it has implicit actions of 'move to this folder/stop
> processing'.  Just use a context menu on the folder to get to the
> rules for this folder.

This would be nice!

> - you could drag and drop addresses onto a mail folder, it then adds
> that address to your whitelist rules.  The same for dropping addresses
> onto a vfolder.

How do you drag and drop addresses?  Do you mean dragging contacts from
the contacts window?  Or do you mean dragging messages from that
contact?

[...]

> You would still need the ordering interface, and you would still need
> other actions, so this would just be a layering ontop of the existing
> stuff, but it would make management easier.

And while we're rethinking the rules-engine, perhaps conditional rules
can be considered again? :)
IF criteria 1
AND criteria 2 OR criteria 3
THEN action

TIA

Bram
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