E-mail Filters with Outlook 2000 and XP

Outlook 2000 and XP allows you to set up filters to sort your email into different folders, or delete certain messages automatically. You can use this functionality, in conjunction with the Spam Tagging service, to filter unwanted messages out of your inbox.

With spam tagging enabled, all spam-identified messages will have a subject that begins with:

        Subject: ~SPAM=[SCORE]~

The SCORE here is the rating the spam detection software has given a particular piece of email. This rating is based on an extensive scoring system that assigns values to certain aspects of email messages. For instance, email messages that have words in all capitals will score higher than email messages that do not include "lines of yelling". If you are interested in the complete rules, check here spam rules.

You can create a filter in Outlook 2000 and XP to detect all messages tagged as spam and move them to a different folder.

Start out by clicking on Tools and selecting Rules Wizard, as shown below:

Next select Start from a blank rule and click Next

Now check with specific words in the subject; then in the window below click on the link specific words

Type in the phrase ~SPAM= then hit the Add button. The phrase will move to the bottom window. Then click OK which will return you to the wizard and then click Next

Then check move it to the specified folder. The click on the link named specified in the lower window.

Select your Mailbox and then click on the New button.

Name the folder SPAM and make sure that your Mailbox is highlighted and then click OK

Then make sure that the new folder you created called SPAM is highlighted, then click OK

Now your filter rule is complete. Your rule should match the one below. If correct click the Finish button.

After clicking Finish you will come to this screen. Click OK to start filtering your e-mail.

Your filter is now complete and then you can close the Filter window and Save and changes that you made.

Any messages that come into your inbox tagged as spam will now be moved to your SPAM folder. Be sure to check the folder from time to time and delete your unwanted messages.

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