Setting a Rule's Priority?

[ellentk]

The classic interface had a box to set a rule's priority. Where is it in the current interface?

Thanks.

[n5bb]

Hi, Ellen. Please read the notice at the bottom of the Rules page:

The first organize rule whose conditions are met will apply to the message. Drag and drop to reorder.

Bill

[ellentk]

Thanks, Bill. I have so many rules, I didn't see it down there. :-]

Ellen

[n5bb]

I know what you mean, Ellen! I also have many rules. Here are some additional tips:

• Only one (at the most) Discard rule is executed. You can't change the order of execution (which usually isn't important).
• Several Forward rules can operate on a single message. You can not change the order of execution (which usually isn't important).
• Only one (at the most) Organize rule (which move messages to folders) is executed. You can drag the Organize rules to change their execution order.
• You can edit any rule and temporarily disable it. You can then enable it at a later time. This is a very useful feature.

Bill

[ellentk]

Great tips, as usual, Bill.

Thanks.

Ellen

[DumbGuy]

Yes, those are helpful tips. Thanks, Bill.

[ellentk]

Bill,

You mentioned that only one organize rule is executed. Does that mean that if I have two rules, one sorting messages from senderX into the Y folder and another sorting messages from senderX with subject containing wordA into the Z folder only the one that has a higher priority will work? But, if organizing with multiple criteria is possible, how would it be done?

Thanks.

Ellen

[n5bb]

Hi, Ellen.

• There is no "priority" other than the order shown on the Rules page. The Organize rules are executed in the order show, as I earlier described.
• You can make Organize rules as you described.
  • If the first one listed matches the conditions it will be executed and the message would be filed into the selected folder.
  • If that rule is not matched then if the second one listed matches the message would be filed into that selected folder.
  • If no rule matches the message will be filed into the default delivery folder. This is normally your Inbox folder.
• I don't understand your question. As you specified in your comments, you can create a rule with multiple criteria (conditions), such as "messages from senderX with subject containing wordA".

Bill

[ellentk]

Hi Bill,

You may have not understood my question, but your answer helped me see where I'd been going wrong. I'd been trying to do this using two rules with only one condition in each. Your answer made me realize that I needed to put both a sender and subject into one rule with the higher priority and just the sender into the lower priority.

Thanks for your help, even (especially?) when my questions are unclear.

Ellen