Mailing List: Subject Tags

[Bret Busby]

On Fri, 23 Jul 2004, Elizabeth Dodd wrote:

> Date: Fri, 23 Jul 2004 21:31:42 +1000
> From: Elizabeth Dodd <liz at billiau.net>
> To: gnucash-user at lists.gnucash.org
> Subject: Re: Mailing List: Subject Tags
> 
> On Friday 23 July 2004 06:27, Michael Forbes wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > Could someone please direct me to the person in charge of the mailing
> > list?  I am wondering if it would be possible to have the server place a
> > small tag to the subject line of messages sent out to help subscribers
> > filter the messages:
> >
> > For example:
> 
> I think that you are using Pine. I have no experience with Pine and cannot 
> advise how to run mail filters. 
> I know how to do them in Kmail, and I do find filtering messages to keep them 
> in order very helpful.
> Can someone who knows how to do this in Pine help Michael?
> liz
> 
> 

Personally, I like mailing lists that prepend the subject line with the 
mailing list name - it makes retrieving messages from the messages 
filtered as spam and viral, easier, and one simple criterion for 
filtering spam, is the message format - about 99% of spam is in HTML, 
and, about 99% of HTML messages are spam and/or viral. I use prepending 
on the (about) 20 lists that I administer, but ultimately, whether 
prepending is used, is the decision of the list administrator, and 
depends on how the list administrator regards prepending.

Anyway - filtering with PINE...

I use PINE v4.4 running on Red Hat Linux 7.3.

To filter the mailing list messages into a single folder, is easy 
enough. The following procedure may appear complex, but it is much 
simpler than it appears, and it works well. I have stated the 
procedure, fairly much step by step, so that it can easily be 
followed. Where there is <CHARACTER>, the character may be entered in 
either upper or lower case - for the options, PINE is not case 
sensitive.

The same procedure should work for all versions of PINE, that allow 
message filtering - v4.44 is old, and this procedure should work with 
every version since that version. A mailing list for PINE exists, hosted 
by Washington University, at www.washington.edu (then following the 
links for PINE).

The first step is to go up to the highest menu level, using the left 
cursor arrow, until you can go no further. Then enter <S> (for Setup) 
then <R> (for Rules) then <F> (for Filters). (<S> means the S key)

Then, to scroll through the filter list (I have somehwere around 
100-150, to deal withat all of the mailing lists to which I subscribe, 
and the various spam and virus filters) to the position to insert the 
new filter, then enter <A> (for Add).

Then, enter <C> (for Change), and delete the filter name (a default 
filter name is automatically created), then enter the filter name that 
you want and understand. Then press <ENTER>.

For the first filter (due to the operation of the list, two filters are 
needed), I suggest something meaningful, like GnuCash-To . Then scroll 
down to the header fields on the filter menu. At the "To pattern" field, 
enter <C> , then enter the string "gnucash.org" (without the double 
quotes), and scroll down to the  "Filter action" field, check the "Move" 
box, and for the folder name, insert your existing folder name for your 
Gnucash messages (if you have one), or, a new folder name (eg, GnuCash). 
Then press <ENTER>. Then press <E> for Exit and Save. You will then be 
advuised that the folder does not exist (if it is a new folder name), 
and asked whether you want to create the new folder. Enter <y> (for 
yes), and you will be returned to the filters menu.

For the second filter (needed because the list does not default replies 
to the list), go through the same procedure again, except using the "CC 
pattern" field, instead of the "To pattern" field, and using a 
different filter name, eg, GnuCash-CC.

Then, enter <E> (for exit and save), then <Y> to confirm, and you will 
be back at the top-level menu.

Then, return to the INBOX folder, and then go and view your messages in 
your GnuCash folder.

I hope that this is helpful. If not, let me know.

-- 
Bret Busby
Armadale
West Australia
..............

"So once you do know what the question actually is,
 you'll know what the answer means."
- Deep Thought,
  Chapter 28 of 
  "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:
  A Trilogy In Four Parts",
  written by Douglas Adams, 
  published by Pan Books, 1992 
....................................................