Can't keep message filter "age in days"

I have just started experimenting with message filters for my email; one of the filters I want to use is "age in days greater than n ". I seem to be able to enter it all right, but when I return later to check my message filters, it isn't mentioned. Any ideas?

 

What the heck?

Hi Pekeman,

I set up a filter for "age in days greater than" , created my folder, etc. When I went back to the Filters mine was gone too??? I don't have a clue as to why, but am trying to get an answer for both of us. I'll post back when I have some info.

Ramona

 

I just know there is such an option.

I will try it now.

 

Antony,

The Option is there in the Mail Filter configuration, but retaining the configuration for "age in days greater than" is the problem.



Ramona

 

I believe the Message filter only works for incoming mails.
And for "age in days" function to work, someone must send you an e-mail with old date. (i.e. their setting in their computer or system delay)

In other word, I don't think this function is useful.

 

Antony,

I'm using the filter feature for spam, so I need it only for incoming mail. For some of the spam, the unique feature is that it arrives with a date in the past. I get quite enough of those for the function to be useful to me.

I can approximate the function with a filter that catches email with a date earlier than a specified date, but "age in days" would be better.

Thanks for your investigation.

 

Pekeman,

There is a good one (excerpt from ufaq.org)

"SPAM" fighting filter:
Filter Name: Spam Fighter
If the: To or CC (Incoming Mail Addressed To YOU) Doesn't Contain: YourEmailAddress
Then: Move to Folder "Not Me "

The reason I chose the Folder "Not Me" instead of just DELETING the message is in case you are subscribed to a "Mailing List" or ListServer you can evaluate the incoming mail and delete if necessary or move it to another folder.

 

Antony,

I'm using a "Not Me" filter, as you suggest; but some spam arrives with my correct email address. Adding the "age in days" filter (or the substitute, the "older than date" filter) provides more selectivity.

Incidentally, all this filtering is after my ISP has culled out about 75% of the spam with a filter called Spaminator.

Thanks again.

 

Yeah, That one only works for some SPAMs.

I will have to test "age in days" myself before I can tell you anything about that.

There are some suggestions to protect you...
* don't give out your (main) e-mail address to un-trusted parties.
* get free webbased e-mails (such as HotMail), then you can give out those e-mails for not-so-important and not-so-trustful parties.* Don't open (read) the e-mail if you have a doubt about the sender and the subject, delete it straight.
* Make sure your anti-virus software programme is running and scanning e-mails.
* if possible, you can check your e-mail (through) web interface before download them, and hence you can delete them through web interface. (This feature depends on your ISP.)

 

Hi Pekeman,

I'm still unsuccessful in getting information from the Netscape NG. I have also been unsuccessful in using any combination with "age in days ".

I have, however, found that if I use this combination, that the setting is retained in the Mail filters:

Match any of the following
Date > of the message > is after > 12/31/1970

You can of course substitute entries for your needs.

I don't know if this is the workaround you're using, but the filter is retained.

Ramona

 

Ramona,

Fulvio reported that the setting works under Netscape 6.2.3 but not 4.79?

 

Antony,

LOL! Well, not quite, as you will note that Fulvio says:

Now, the contents are gone, but the filter remains.

Ramona

 

so e-mails were deleted and the filter is still there?
Wow, thanks god, I haven't tried

 

I'm currently using a filter which looks for any email with a date earlier than May 15, 2002. This has caught several spams with pre-1970 dates, as well as a few from 2001. This filter should be adequate for what I am trying to do; I can advance the date from time to time if I find that doing so will make a difference. I don't know why some spammers use phony dates, but I can use that information to my advantage.

While exploring filters I ran across two other interesting bits of information:

(1) There is another feature that doesn't work--a button in the upper right corner of the "Message Filters" dialog box which says "Filters on Server..." After searching on the net I found something stating that Netscape had not yet implemented this feature. I have no use for such a feature, but found it interesting that Netscape apparently put in the button without the capability.

(2) An "age in days" capability also appears in the "Search Messages" section. This capability works; but of course the difference is that "Search Messages" is an immediate function, with no need to retain a setting.

Ramona, please don't spend more time seeking information about "age in days" as a filter characteristic. We know it doesn't work, and we know that the "older than" capability will do the job for me. However, if something relevant falls into your lap, I certainly would be interested in hearing about it.

Thanks again, Ramona and Antony, for your inputs.

Pekeman