Assigning Categories (MSO 2007)

[CWBillow]

I want to categorize my email. But I'd like to do it automatically, so that, for instance, anytinme I receive an email from anyone at wopr.com, it will be categorized to "Software".

I understand I can do this at the Inbox point. I can also do it using a rule upon receipt.

Is there another way so that the rule will "stick" and be applied "automatically"?

Regards,
Chuck Billow

[JoeP517]

You can easilty setup a rule to categorize an e-mail when it is received. Unless you disable a rule it is run automatically all the time. What are you really asking?

Joe

[CWBillow]

Joe:

I know that the rule isn't difficult to set up, except, as I understand it, the rule would be something like "if mail comes from someone@anywhere.com then put it in Category Red." That's OK, except I have say, 45 or more e-mail addresses for a given category.

I know I can assign an e-mail to a category once it comes in (right click and select), but they don't "stick" -- they don't say "Oh you mean ALL e-mails like this". The category is just for that one item.

I wanted "a cross between the two" I suppose.

Regards,
Chuck

[JoeP517]

You can use 'specific words in the senders address' for a whole domain such as "wopr.com" as the words. The dialog allows you to enter as many specific words as you need.

Joe

[CWBillow]

OK.

Thanks,
Chuck

[peterg]

You may find that you have legacy colour codes from your previous version. I think the old ones are squares and the new are smaller and with rounded corners.

[CWBillow]

I'll double-check.

Thanks,
Chuck

[peterg]

There are other routes to the same end, but if you are in mail, look in the left column under Mail Folders, All Mail Items, Personal Folders, Search Folders, Categorized Mail. In the next column (Categorized Mail), click on Arranged By, and you will find a remarkably generous collection of search categories that you can use in the Search Categorized Mail box (above the Arranged By line). So far as I know this is completely automatic: Outlook has a set of categories that you can search on without having to do any categorizing of your own, which represents an enormous savings in labour. I suggest you give that a try and see if it works before you do something that may not be necessary.

There is certainly a place for including your own categories. I use online purchases and serial numbers for downloaded software, either of which I may want to find in a hurry and that aren't easy to search for.

[CWBillow]

Thanks, I'll take a look.

Regards,
Chuck

[CWBillow]

Peter:

Although that is a great idea that I AM going to use, it really doesn't speak to what I was/am trying to figure:

Once I receive a mail and categorize it, I was looking for various ways ( a way besides Rules) to have all other mail from the same send categorized to the same category automatically from then on.

It appears that rules are the only option for this.

Thanks,
Chuck