Solel//dev docs

Filters and away replies

Filters deal with mail as it comes in, and an away reply answers it while you're away. Both run on your server, so they work with every account, even when Mail isn't open.

Make a filter

  1. In Mail, open Settings, find Filters and press New filter. You can also start one from a message's More actions with Filter mail like this, or from Search options with Make a filter.
  2. Under Mail that comes in, fill in what to look for: From, To, Subject has, Words, To the account, or Has an attachment. Mail says how many conversations match already, and See them shows them.
  3. Under Does this, tick what to do: Move it to a folder, Put it in an Inbox tab, Skip the Inbox (archive it), Mark it as read, Flag it, Don't tell me about it, or Move it to Trash.
  4. To do the same to the mail already here, tick the box beside Save filter, which says how many there are, like Do this to the 12 already here too. You can undo this afterwards.
  5. Press Save filter.

To change or delete a filter, press Edit beside it in Filters.

How filters work

Filters run on new mail in the Inbox, before you're told about it and before any away reply. When more than one filter finds a message, each does what it says. If two move it, the first folder wins, and Trash wins over a folder.

Filters look at who mail is from and to, its subject, its words and its attachments, not its date. A filter follows its folder when you rename it. Gmail mail can't move to a folder, only skip the Inbox.

Turn on an away reply

  1. In Mail's Settings, find Away reply and turn on Reply while I'm away.
  2. Choose the First day, and the Last day if you know it. Leave Last day empty to keep replying until you turn it off.
  3. Write a Subject and Message. With no subject, it answers with Re: and theirs.
  4. Tick Only reply to people I've written to, if you'd like.
  5. Press Turn on.

While it's on, a banner above your mail says so, with Change and Turn off.

Who gets an away reply

  • It answers new mail in the Inbox of any of your accounts, from the address the mail was sent to.
  • Each person hears it once every four days, and again after you change it.
  • It never answers mailing lists, newsletters, bounces, other automatic mail or noreply addresses.
  • Mail sends it itself, so it works the same with every mail service. It isn't kept in Sent.