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Wildcards in mail filtering rules

That does the trick, Thanks so much for your help! I'm all set.

That does the trick, Thanks so much for your help! I'm all set.

Is there a wildcard symbol that can be used in defining a mail filtering rule? I tried setting up a rule using the usual * wildcard symbol, but the rule is not getting applied.

Is there a wildcard symbol that can be used in defining a mail filtering rule? I tried setting up a rule using the usual * wildcard symbol, but the rule is not getting applied.

Wildcards only work in expression filters.  Details about what metacharacters Pegasus Mail will recognize are available via the Help button.

Wildcards only work in expression filters.  Details about what metacharacters Pegasus Mail will recognize are available via the Help button.

Thanks for the reply Brian. But I don't understand what you are saying. What is an "expression filter"? Also, under help I can't find the word "metacharacter". Where specifucally do I need to look for help on using metacharacters? 

Thanks for the reply Brian. But I don't understand what you are saying. What is an "expression filter"? Also, under help I can't find the word "metacharacter". Where specifucally do I need to look for help on using metacharacters? 

An expression filter is one of the rule types (second option when creating a new rule).

Clicking the Help button in the toolbar of a rules window and it will take you to the help topic on filtering as will selecting the topic "Rule-based mail filtering" (a sub-topic of "Automated mail processing") from the Contents tab of the main help system.

 

<p>An expression filter is one of the rule types (second option when creating a new rule).</p><p>Clicking the Help button in the toolbar of a rules window and it will take you to the help topic on filtering as will selecting the topic "Rule-based mail filtering" (a sub-topic of "Automated mail processing") from the Contents tab of the main help system. </p><p> </p>

I'm afraid I am still having trouble finding anything on metacharacters in help. Perhaps giving a specific example would be better. 

 I have created a folder named "spam". I would like all emails coming from a specific organization to be moved to the spam folder.  To do so, I have created a general filter that looks at the "From" header, and in the"Contains" field I have entered  *.verizon.net in order to get all emails originating from any verizon.net address to be moved to the spam filter. I then send a test email to myself, since my own email address includes the verizon.net extension. But the email arrives into the New mail folder and is not moved to the spam filter.

What am I doing wrong? How can I get Pegasus to do what I am trying to do? 

<p>I'm afraid I am still having trouble finding anything on metacharacters in help. Perhaps giving a specific example would be better.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></p><p> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">I have created a folder named "spam". I would like all emails coming from a specific organization to be moved to the spam folder.  </span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">To do so, I have created a general filter that looks at the "From" header, and in the"Contains" field I have entered  </span><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">*.verizon.net in order to get all emails originating from any verizon.net address to be moved to the spam filter. I then send a test email to myself, since my own email address includes the verizon.net extension. But the email arrives into the New mail folder and is not moved to the spam filter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.3333px;">What am I doing wrong? How can I get Pegasus to do what I am trying to do? </span></p>

A header rule simply detects content of a header so if you select the From header and then enter "verizon.net" (without the quotes) the result will be that any From header that contains "verizon.net" anywhere in the header will trigger the rule.

Be aware that a filter on verizon.net is a pretty wide net to cast.  You mentioned that you want to divert messages from a specific organization to your spam folder.  Usually there is some consistent content in the message headers of email like that on which you can filter more specifically.  If you can identify something, I'm sure we can help with a filter that is a little more precise.

<p>A header rule simply detects content of a header so if you select the From header and then enter "verizon.net" (without the quotes) the result will be that any From header that contains "verizon.net" anywhere in the header will trigger the rule. </p><p>Be aware that a filter on verizon.net is a pretty wide net to cast.  You mentioned that you want to divert messages from a specific organization to your spam folder.  Usually there is some consistent content in the message headers of email like that on which you can filter more specifically.  If you can identify something, I'm sure we can help with a filter that is a little more precise. </p>

Actually, it is in fact a very broad domain that I want to block, although "verizon.net" is not it - I was just using that as an example.

In any event, if I understand what you are saying a wildcard character should not be needed to achieve what I want to do. But I tried your suggestion, but I could not get it to work. First, I put "verizon,net" into the "Contains" field (without the quotes), but my test email still came through. I then tried just my email address (without the "verizon.net" part), and that got through as well. 

By the way, I am trying to set up a filter on the "pop3" behavior. I  am setting the behavior to "leave on server." I have checked the "From" checkbox. But whether I fill out the "Contains" field with my email address (minus "verizon.net") or just "verizon.net" (without the quotes and without the main part of the address), in either case the message is still downloaded from the server.

As one final test, I put my entire email address into the "Contains" field, and a test email still got through. For some reason, nothing I try seems to get anything filtered. 

<p>Actually, it is in fact a very broad domain that I want to block, although "verizon.net" is not it - I was just using that as an example.</p><p>In any event, if I understand what you are saying a wildcard character should not be needed to achieve what I want to do. But I tried your suggestion, but I could not get it to work. First, I put "verizon,net" into the "Contains" field (without the quotes), but my test email still came through. I then tried just my email address (without the "verizon.net" part), and that got through as well. </p><p>By the way, I am trying to set up a filter on the "pop3" behavior. I  am setting the behavior to "leave on server." I have checked the "From" checkbox. But whether I fill out the "Contains" field with my email address (minus "verizon.net") or just "verizon.net" (without the quotes and without the main part of the address), in either case the message is still downloaded from the server.</p><p>As one final test, I put my entire email address into the "Contains" field, and a test email still got through. For some reason, nothing I try seems to get anything filtered. </p>

Did you specify the filter rule set in your POP3 host configuration?  That option is in the Download controls tab.

 

 

<p>Did you specify the filter rule set in your POP3 host configuration?  That option is in the Download controls tab.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

No, I had not set that. And setting it does indeed do the trick. Thanks!

But if I may ask, rather than leaving the message on the server I would actually prefer to download the message and direct it to my spam folder. But the pop3 filter options don't include a "move" option. I see the "new mail" filter does include a move option, but only upon opening or closing the new mail folder. I would prefer for the filtering to be a continuous process, always downloading the messages as they come in and immediately moving them to  my spam folder. Is there some way to do that which I am not seeing in the available filter options?

<p>No, I had not set that. And setting it does indeed do the trick. Thanks!</p><p>But if I may ask, rather than leaving the message on the server I would actually prefer to download the message and direct it to my spam folder. But the pop3 filter options don't include a "move" option. I see the "new mail" filter does include a move option, but only upon opening or closing the new mail folder. I would prefer for the filtering to be a continuous process, always downloading the messages as they come in and immediately moving them to  my spam folder. Is there some way to do that which I am not seeing in the available filter options?</p>

A new mail filter on folder open will do what you want.  It acts on messages as they are downloaded as well as when the folder is opened so a rule with a move action will drop the detected messages into the destination folder.  You won't ever see them in the new mail folder.

A new mail filter on folder open will do what you want.  It acts on messages as they are downloaded as well as when the folder is opened so a rule with a move action will drop the detected messages into the destination folder.  You won't ever see them in the new mail folder.
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