Lets take a look at look at Email rules in Outlook Express - a useful way you can get your computer to do some of the work.

Email jargon is based on the office and the old fashioned protocols of sending a Memorandum.  That's why we have an INBOX (and what should we do with post that comes into our office INTRAY?  Well there, should only be two actions - File It or Bin It!  If you really think about it, leaving emails in the INBOX is a bit like using your INTRAY as a filing cabinet and bin!  Besides your email program will not thank you that every time you open it it has to load up thousands of emails stored in your inbox. 

Filing Emails - Using Rules

What if you get regular emails that you always want top move to the same folder? (e.g. from EBay or the Easykey Newsletters)  Did you know you can create rules that examines emails when they come into your INBOX and move them to the folders of your choice.

For users of Outlook Express do this...

1. In Outlook Express click on Tools / Message Rules / Mail...

2. Click the New button at the top right and you should get a box like this...

3. Notice the 4 steps (1. Conditions, 2. Actions, 3. Description, 4. Name of Rule)

As an example let's set a rule for the Easykey Ezine

- Start by ticking the first box in 1. (Conditions) that says Where the from line contains people

- Now click the blue link contains people in the 3.(Description) box a Select People box will pop up

- Type This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it in the top box and click the Add button, then click the OK button

- Now in the 2.(Actions) box tick the box that says Move it to the specified folder

- Next click on specified in the 3.(Description) box and click on the folder you want it to be moved to and click OK

- Finally name your rule e.g. Easykey Ezine and click the OK button.

You may be asked if you want to run the rule now on messages that are already in your inbox - I suggest you run it.