Re: [Evolution] vfolder with both and and or criteria

[Patrick O'Callaghan <poc usb ve>]

On Fri, 2009-01-23 at 23:21 -0800, Scott wrote:
> On Fri, 2009-01-23 at 11:53 -0430, Patrick O'Callaghan wrote:
> > You might be able to play tricks with labels, i.e. a first-level
> > filter
> > to assign labels to some messages (qual1 or qual2 or qual3), and a
> > second filter to select only labelled messages which satisfy further
> > criteria (not qual4).
> >
> > Just thinking aloud here, I've never done it.
> >
> > poc
> --  I'll try posting to the list this time... Sorry, Patrick..
>
> Yes, that does work, as does filtering to a "regular" folder and
> creating the fourth level (Search folder) from that.
>
> So.. What's better / special about vfolders(Search Folders) compared to
> "regular folders? I'm trying them but still don't quite see the point
> yet.  They still require a filter and a destination folder. Are regular
> folders creating duplicates or using more file space?

If you understand database terminology, a vfolder (or search folder) is
like a database view. If you understand Unix-like filesystems, a vfolder
is somewhat like a set of symbolic links. It's just a collection of
references to messages which all obey a given criterion (the filter). If
you change the filter, the vfolder updates automatically, i.e. it's a
dynamic view, unlike what happens if you just filter incoming mail into
separate real folders. The messages are *not* copies. They remain in
their orginal locations, in fact you can add a column to a vfolder list
pane which shows you where they are. Note that deleting a message from a
vfolder affects the original message (and any other vfolders it might be
in).

The "point" is twofold: 1) the Trash and Junk folders are vfolders,
which affects the semantics of what you do with them e.g. undeleting a
message from Trash leaves it back where it came from, and 2) it allows a
lot of flexibility in how you organize your mail, e.g. you can have a
vfolder to hold all messages to and from the same person. The downside
is of course that you have to set this up, which could be easier IMHO.

poc