Re: [Evolution] Negative searches

[Ángel <angel 16bits net>]

On 2021-01-20 at 14:30 -0600, Anonymous Japhering wrote:
> Evolution  3.38.4 (flatpak git5dcefb2)
>
> I'm currently being overrun by emails from on particular source,
> which unfortunately I need to read every single
> one..
>
> I know I can set a rule to peel all of then off into a separate
> folder, but that negates the value of using Imap as the
> folder only exists in Evolution.  Additionally,  it loses me some of
> the context of what came in with any particular email.


I suspect moving them to a separate folder _would_ be the right
approach, as that way you create a different flow, which can be
processed separatedly. Or, if emails from that source (priority S) are
mixed in a thread from other people which should be processed with
normal priority, I would recommend using a virtual folder to hide this
user mails.


Anyway, if you want to do that as a folder search

> So the question is ... can one do a negative search on an inbox?  
>  Something like  !<email address>  or  -<email address>, 
> these two variants return a completely empty response ( even though
> the inbox has  about 10,000 emails of which currently
> about 2,500 I'd like to exclude.

…the answer is, obviously, yes. 

The standard way to do this would be to click on the magnifier glass, →
Advanced Search → Add Condition → Sender  → is not → <that
person/domain>

If you want to define the rule directly as text, instead of Advanced
select Free form expression and input "not:(from:<email address>)"


Also note, you can create virtual folders, both for the search of
emails from this soruce and not from this source.


Regards