Re: [Evolution] Help - New to Evolution - Filters

[Robin Laing <Robin Laing drdc-rddc gc ca>]

On Mon, 2006-11-27 at 21:53 +0100, Andre Klapper wrote:
> hejhej robin,
>
> Am Montag, den 27.11.2006, 12:04 -0700 schrieb Robin Laing:
> > Fedora Core 4
> > Evolution 2.2.3-4 (latest available via YUM)
> > Evolution Connector 2.2.2-5
>
> /me advertises evolution 2.8, provided in FC6.

I am stuck on FC4 until I find time to install FC6.  Hopefully over
Xmas.  I only installed Evolution last Tuesday and this was the most
current version.  If I can find an newer RPM that will work on FC4, I
will install it.  I tried to find a more current download but it is not
available by yum.

> > I am new to Evolution after using Thunderbird for ages.  We are forced 
> > to Exchange server and won't have pop access by the end of the year.
> >
> > In the move, I have moved my email from the Thunderbird mail boxes which 
> > was a pain but it is done.  I tried to recreate my Thunderbird filters 
> > to do the same actions as I did with Thunderbird.  This isn't working.
> >
> > Now I have the filters created but they just don't work.  No messages 
> > are moved or colors changed.
>
> okay...
> generally, be aware of the fact that the order of your filters is
> important. if your very first filter has a "stop processing" rule, all
> the other filters will be ignored by the emails that match to this first
> filter rule.

This is also important in Thunderbird.

> if you want your filters to apply automatically and you are using an
> IMAP account, make sure you have enabled "apply filters to new messages
> in INBOX on this server" under "edit -> preferences -> email accounts ->
> edit receiving options -> options". also, filters depend on the "new"
> flag which will be set only when a particular mail is fetched from
> server for the first time. if any other mail client is used to check
> mail before evolution, evolution's filters may not work.

Not on Imap account but a full exchange account via connector.  If I had
the option of using Imap, I would still be using Thunderbird and this
would be no issue.  :)

The issue of the filters not working is the problem that I am running
into.  The mail would have been accessed by Evolution before, but in
Thunderbird this wouldn't be an issue.  I am having a problem with
coming from Thunderbird here.  In Thunderbird, I could refilter mail at
anytime.  Even years down the road.

> >   I cannot find any way to run the filters 
> > as in Thunderbird where there is a "Run Now" button.
>
> in 2.2, you can manually run the filters defined in "edit -> message
> filters" by marking all the emails that should be filtered and running
> "actions -> apply filters".

I tried this and after highlighting, it did help.  Some of the filters
worked and some of the mail was moved.  Most of the filters didn't work.
I tried the ctrl+y earlier but I had not highlited the messages.

Now I cannot run an individual filter but at this point it isn't an
issue.

> > I have configured Connector to run filters on the server inbox.
> >
> > I am at a loss and I have not been able to get my mail sorted for over a 
> > week.  I have close to 3000 messages in my inbox that I want to sort.
> >
> > Now going through the bug list, I see that there was an issue with not 
> > filtering mail that is "recent" which I don't understand.  I just want 
> > to filter all the mail in my inbox to the individual boxes setup.
> >
> > How do I run the mail filter manually?  "Run Now"?
>
> "actions -> apply filters" or control+y.
>
> > In Thunderbird, I could select a folder and then run the chosen filter. 
> >    How do I select what folder I run the filter on?
>
> the filter will be applied on the message that have been marked, e.g. if
> you have selected all messages in a folder (control+a), you can filter
> (control+y) the entire folder.
>
> > While writing this I have to ask, does the filter feature require extra 
> > wild cards or does the filter work as it does in Thunderbird.
>
> i don't know thunderbird's filters. :-)
>
> > If I want  to filter out messages that have Fedora in the subject, I
> > only have to put Fedora in the description for "Subject contains".
>
> correct. if you want to, also add a "stop processing" rule if you do not
> want any other filter to be applied after that one.
>
> > How do I test filters?
>
> apply them and see if they work? ;-)
> well, i have enabled filter logging in evolution, means: run
> "gconf-editor" and set the boolean "/apps/evolution/mail/filters/log" to
> true and set the string "/apps/evolution/mail/filters/log" to the name
> of the logfile, for example "/home/robin/.evolution/filter.log". now you
> can see which filters have been applied.
>
> cheers,
> andre

Thanks for the information.  I guess this just isn't as easy as in
Thunderbird.  :(  Oh, give me my pop access back.

I finally have some messages filtered.  Many of the messages didn't get
moved, even through they are off of the same list.  Now to start
playing.  It looks like the filter configuration is much different than
in Thunderbird.  It requires more defined statements and the help files
or the tutorial that is on the Novell site just doesn't have enough
information.

In the bug list I found a link to a wiki page and I will have to play
and learn.  The problem is that during this change, I am not getting any
real work done.

Only 2615 more messages to filter/sort after running my filters. :o

And all the mail I move is marked as unread and I have lost all my
lables.  :(  

Sorry for ranting as it is our head quarters IT staff that is causing
this headache.