Filter by contact group

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unshift

unread,
Aug 12, 2008, 12:02:39 PM8/12/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
in filters.

For example, I might have a contact group for accounting, one for
finance, etc. I'd like to filter and label based on which contact
group the sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
long filter with lots of ORs. Adding a new person is tedious, not
only because the filter gets unreasonably long and annoying to
maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in the filter,
once in the contact group).

Adding a filter-by-contact-group feature would be a huge usability
improvement, since maintaining groups becomes more effective and more
useful.

Hans Donner

unread,
Sep 1, 2008, 2:10:20 AM9/1/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
+1

On Aug 12, 6:02 pm, unshift wrote:
> Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> in filters.
>
> For example, I might have a contact group for accounting, one for
> finance, etc.  I'd like tofilterand label based on which contact
> group the sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
> longfilterwith lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
> only because thefiltergets unreasonably long and annoying to
> maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in thefilter,
> once in the contact group).
>
> Adding afilter-by-contact-group feature would be a huge usability

Brenda

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Sep 2, 2008, 11:09:07 PM9/2/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
I also would love to see a filter-by-contact-group feature!

infpgirl

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Sep 5, 2008, 11:36:39 AM9/5/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
I totally agree with unshift. In fact, I joined the gmail labs group
for the sole reason of making this suggestion. :)

On Aug 12, 12:02 pm, unshift wrote:
> Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> in filters.
>
> For example, I might have acontact groupfor accounting, one for
> finance, etc.  I'd like to filter and label based on whichcontactgroupthe sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
> long filter with lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
> only because the filter gets unreasonably long and annoying to
> maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in the filter,
> once in thecontact group).
>
> Adding afilter-by-contact-groupfeature would be a huge usability

Mitchell

unread,
Sep 9, 2008, 1:55:05 PM9/9/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
I too joined for the sole purpose of making this suggestion! I have
111 people in one group!!! That is way too costly time wise to create
and maintain a filter that long!!! It seems to me this should not be a
very difficult task PLUS it will make the group contacts feature that
much more useful!!

On Sep 5, 11:36 am, infpgirl wrote:
> I totally agree with unshift.  In fact, I joined the gmail labs group
> for the sole reason of making this suggestion.  :)
>
> On Aug 12, 12:02 pm, unshift wrote:
>
> > Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> > infilters.
>
> > Forexample, I might have acontact groupfor accounting, one for

pwuk

unread,
Sep 10, 2008, 5:40:19 AM9/10/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
This is a must have, I'm currently using the OR method.

In addition an easy way to add contact to group is a must.

tmadhavan

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Sep 10, 2008, 7:52:09 AM9/10/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
+ 1

I've joined just to suggest this too :D

cbohorquezm

unread,
Sep 16, 2008, 4:06:37 PM9/16/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
Yes! It's actually insane that this feature has not been implemented
by now! +1!

Jesi

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Sep 16, 2008, 8:09:56 PM9/16/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
Good one, I really really really NEED this feature!

On Aug 12, 12:02 pm, unshift wrote:
> Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> in filters.
>
> For example, I might have a contact group for accounting, one for
> finance, etc.  I'd like to filter and label based on which contact
> group the sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
> long filter with lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
> only because the filter gets unreasonably long and annoying to
> maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in the filter,
> once in the contact group).
>
> Adding afilter-by-contact-group feature would be a huge usability

NetSean

unread,
Sep 17, 2008, 12:21:46 AM9/17/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
I found this group while searching around in an attempt to figure out
how to do this. Much to my surprise, its not even implemented yet! I'd
love to see it get done soon!


On Sep 16, 7:09 pm, Jesi wrote:
> Good one, I really really really NEED this feature!
>
> On Aug 12, 12:02 pm, unshift wrote:
>
> >Contactgroups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> > in filters.
>
> > For example, I might have acontactgroupfor accounting, one for
> > finance, etc.  I'd like tofilterand label based on whichcontact
> >groupthe sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
> > longfilterwith lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
> > only because thefiltergets unreasonably long and annoying to
> > maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in thefilter,
> > once in thecontactgroup).
>
> > Adding afilter-by-contact-groupfeature would be a huge usability

mateolan

unread,
Sep 17, 2008, 3:49:29 PM9/17/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
Hear here. I second, I mean third, I mean 100th that motion. It is a
great idea.

On Aug 12, 9:02 am, unshift wrote:
> Contactgroups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> in filters.
>
> For example, I might have acontactgroup for accounting, one for
> finance, etc.  I'd like tofilterand label based on whichcontact
> group the sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
> longfilterwith lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
> only because thefiltergets unreasonably long and annoying to
> maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in thefilter,
> once in thecontactgroup).
>
> Adding afilter-by-contact-group feature would be a huge usability

AriaK

unread,
Sep 18, 2008, 1:39:23 PM9/18/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
I have been wanting this feature for a long time.
It seems like quite a few other email apps allow this.

So where can we vote it up?

I'm sure a bunch of gmail users would like to have it as well.

On Aug 12, 9:02 am, unshift wrote:
> Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
> in filters.
>
> For example, I might have a contactgroupfor accounting, one for
> finance, etc.  I'd like to filter and label based on which contactgroupthe sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
> long filter with lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
> only because the filter gets unreasonably long and annoying to
> maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in the filter,
> once in the contactgroup).
>
> Adding a filter-by-contact-groupfeature would be a huge usability

Yomach

unread,
Sep 21, 2008, 7:26:00 AM9/21/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
i need it as well!

DynamicDan

unread,
Sep 26, 2008, 10:19:54 PM9/26/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
+1....

What's taking them so long???

On Sep 21, 9:26 pm, Yomach wrote:
> i need it as well!

pwuk

unread,
Oct 17, 2008, 4:48:54 AM10/17/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
C'mon guys, we're gagging for it :-)

vhbit

unread,
Oct 21, 2008, 5:33:53 PM10/21/08
to Gmail Labs - Suggest a Labs feature
One more vote. This is one of the important mail client features.

Dinh Luong

unread,
Oct 23, 2008, 11:06:31 AM10/23/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
I also joined just to ask for this feature. +11ty billion

drds

unread,
Nov 6, 2008, 7:40:02 AM11/6/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
Me too! I could really do with this feature and so could my mum!

BeeP

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Nov 13, 2008, 6:46:38 AM11/13/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
On 21 Ott, 22:33, vhbit wrote:
> One more vote. This is one of the important mail client features.

+1
Definitely a must.
Joined just to post this request... but i realized it was already
posted :)
Hope it's going to be implemented as soon as possible!
Message has been deleted

Silviu

unread,
Nov 13, 2008, 2:29:09 PM11/13/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
I am quite amazed this has not been implemented by now.
i need this feature, because my filters for people in a group are very
large and difficult to manage.
+1 vote

Silviu

unread,
Nov 13, 2008, 2:29:51 PM11/13/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
I am quite amazed this has not been implemented yet.
i need this feature, because my filters for people in a group are very
large and difficult to manage.
+1 vote

On Nov 13, 1:46 pm, BeeP wrote:

Jesi

unread,
Nov 15, 2008, 10:50:32 PM11/15/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
WOW its been a long time and I haven't heard news about implementing
this feature. Please Gmail staffs make it possible

On Nov 13, 3:29 pm, Silviu wrote:
> I am quite amazed this has not been implemented yet.
> i need this feature, because my filters for people in agroupare very
Message has been deleted

jed

unread,
Dec 4, 2008, 3:57:47 AM12/4/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
Hi

It will be very useful indeed. It take so much time to add address to
a filter. A group thing would be a lot faster and easier.

An other way would be to add a labelling thing directly in the contact
manager. As you can add address to a group, why don"t be able to
choose a label for a contact.
And it must take into account the to and from thing, and not only
incoming message.

please gmail staff, I think it"s an easy features to do, but will be
so useful for a lot a people.

Thanks anyway.

On 2 déc, 20:10, Jesi wrote:
> Wow not approved yet?!?1
>
> On Nov 13, 3:29 pm, Silviu wrote:
>

rpeterclark

unread,
Dec 5, 2008, 2:33:45 PM12/5/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
Another vote! The group feature has no real use unless you can search
and filter by it.

Jesi

unread,
Dec 9, 2008, 4:07:10 PM12/9/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
We really need this feature! :)

On Dec 5, 3:33 pm, rpeterclark wrote:
> Another vote! The group feature has no real use unless you can search
> andfilterby it.

Glenner

unread,
Dec 10, 2008, 11:30:41 PM12/10/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
I too would love this feature! And joined this group specifically to
request it. Thanks

mbus3r

unread,
Dec 11, 2008, 3:20:19 PM12/11/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
Agreed! One more vote for this feature!

nigel kersten

unread,
Dec 21, 2008, 3:32:25 PM12/21/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
and another vote.

This is something I expected as soon as I saw groups in contacts....

MarkB

unread,
Dec 21, 2008, 3:41:48 PM12/21/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
And another vote, just to make sure they notice this.

BlakeU

unread,
Dec 22, 2008, 8:33:23 AM12/22/08
to Suggest a Labs feature
This feature would make filters and contact groups SO much better.
Please create this ASAP.

Julien1979

unread,
Jan 2, 2009, 1:52:33 PM1/2/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
It is an ESSENTIAL feature that would save lots of time!

1antonio

unread,
Jan 14, 2009, 12:03:16 PM1/14/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
While we wait for the feature, if the group is NOT very big, we could
do something like the following:

In the "from" field, we can put the string (without the
quotes):"(jo...@hotmail.com) (b...@gmail.com)" for example, then the
filter will be applied to email coming from any of those addresses. I
have tried it with the field "from" and just with two addresses. I
just don't know if it works in the other fields and with more
contacts, I suppose so.

Also if you want john and bob not to be filtered, the string "-
(jo...@hotmail.com) -(b...@gmail.com)" has worked for me.

Of course if the group has 100 members, this is not practical.

Jaume

unread,
Jan 15, 2009, 10:37:27 AM1/15/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
Another vote! I support this cause ;)

jms

unread,
Feb 12, 2009, 1:36:37 AM2/12/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
Count me in. This would be a great feature. It would really empower my
contacts and groups.

- jms

Gyom

unread,
Feb 18, 2009, 4:48:03 AM2/18/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
Another vote for this time saving feature!

Terrence O'Brien

unread,
Mar 11, 2009, 10:33:06 PM3/11/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
I just got so pissed off that this isn't possible. Though I should
have guessed that it wouldn't be since Contacts is clearly an
afterthought... while we're at it how about a contacts iGoogle gadget?

On Feb 18, 5:48 am, Gyom wrote:
> Another vote for this time saving feature!
>
> On Feb 12, 7:36 am, jms wrote:
>
> > Count me in. This would be a great feature. It would really empower my
> >contactsand groups.

B Sodhi

unread,
Mar 12, 2009, 9:54:06 PM3/12/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
One more vote for this feature. It will be immesely useful for me.
> > > > Another vote! I support this cause ;)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Ben Smith

unread,
Mar 17, 2009, 1:52:49 PM3/17/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
This would be very useful.

On Mar 12, 6:54 pm, B Sodhi wrote:
> One more vote for this feature. It will be immesely useful for me.
>
> On Mar 11, 10:33 pm, Terrence O'Brien wrote:
>
> > I just got so pissed off that this isn't possible.  Though I should
> > have guessed that it wouldn't be sinceContactsis clearly an
> > afterthought... while we're at it how about acontactsiGoogle gadget?

shrainbowlake

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Mar 17, 2009, 2:32:08 PM3/17/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
Yeah me too. One more. :D
> > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

itsmoirob

unread,
Mar 30, 2009, 12:02:22 PM3/30/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
I agree. Being able to create filters for a whole group of contacts
would be very helpful

NicBlue

unread,
Apr 6, 2009, 9:50:33 PM4/6/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
I was very surprised this feature was not there
come on google

On Mar 31, 2:02 am, itsmoirob wrote:
> I agree. Being able to create filters for a wholegroupof contacts

jar

unread,
Apr 9, 2009, 1:20:39 PM4/9/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
How is this feature not there? I'm trying out gmail and thinking of
switching from my existing unix shell / imap account. This is the one
thing from my procmail script I haven't been able to recreate in Gmail.

Michael Van Bergen

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Apr 28, 2009, 10:18:28 PM4/28/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
/me adds his vote

I have so many bloody filters it's not funny.

JoseC

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May 9, 2009, 11:43:18 AM5/9/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
+1 Vote

Y.N.T.

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May 10, 2009, 2:38:09 AM5/10/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
One for me, please!

AYShalev

unread,
Jun 20, 2009, 6:41:57 AM6/20/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
Totally! count me in!

Phyvyn

unread,
Jul 3, 2009, 8:16:07 AM7/3/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
Please allow multiple lables. This must be really hard for Google
since it's been nearly one year - reunion at two, ten ???

C'mon Google- how hard can it be?

Can I try?

On Jun 20, 6:41 am, AYShalev wrote:
> Totally! count me in!

Jay113

unread,
Jul 7, 2009, 7:24:45 PM7/7/09
to Suggest a Labs feature
+1
I'm looking for this feature for long time. Please Google !!!

JoshR2

unread,
Jan 4, 2011, 2:23:26 PM1/4/11
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
I went to use this feature today and it didn't exist. I support adding this as well.

Jorge Rivera

unread,
Apr 1, 2011, 4:14:30 PM4/1/11
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
I'd love to see this implemented!

It is featured in the GMail suggested features:


Go, vote for it!
Message has been deleted

Dan Healy

unread,
Apr 17, 2013, 2:44:45 AM4/17/13
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
It must be intentional, right? It's been on the official feature voting page for at least two years now, and has been suggested for almost 5!
The only other reason I can think of why they haven't implemented this is to promote Google+ Circles instead of contact groups.

Here's to still hoping it becomes a feature!
(Or at least a lab!)

jullit31

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Apr 21, 2013, 11:18:21 AM4/21/13
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Hi all,
I dont get it: this is an issue since five years now, and still nothing changed. I agree with Dan, this must be intentional. But why?
The only thing you can do, i guess, is to find an email sevice that supports such a feature...

GranPaSmurf

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Apr 21, 2013, 12:22:06 PM4/21/13
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
Great idea for a new feature! I will start using it the first day it arrives.
GPS.

On Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:02:39 AM UTC-5, unshift wrote:
Contact groups are of limited use since it's not possible to use them
in filters.

For example, I might have a contact group for accounting, one for
finance, etc.  I'd like to filter and label based on which contact
group the sender is in, but the only way to do is now is make a very
long filter with lots of ORs.  Adding a new person is tedious, not
only because the filter gets unreasonably long and annoying to
maintain, but I now need to update it in 2 places (once in the filter,
once in the contact group).

Adding a filter-by-contact-group feature would be a huge usability
improvement, since maintaining groups becomes more effective and more
useful.

Arjan van Lith

unread,
May 12, 2013, 5:29:21 AM5/12/13
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
Would love this feature

Tracy.42

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Jun 21, 2013, 3:04:38 PM6/21/13
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
One more vote for 'Please implement a way to filter e-mails by Contact Group'!
Thanks!
Tracy

Maria Zingerle

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Jul 23, 2013, 4:40:50 AM7/23/13
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
Yes please!

Maria Zingerle

unread,
Jul 23, 2013, 4:45:38 AM7/23/13
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I agree. But how are Google+ Circles better? I would use them if there was a way to filter contacts there.

sntec...@gmail.com

unread,
Jan 14, 2014, 1:58:26 PM1/14/14
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+ 1

Geoffrey Mahiat

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Jan 6, 2015, 10:44:37 AM1/6/15
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So evident functionality !
Add it please!

Le mardi 14 janvier 2014 19:58:26 UTC+1, RUBEN PALAZUELOS SERRANO a écrit :
+ 1

Goofy 235

unread,
Jan 6, 2015, 11:56:49 AM1/6/15
to gmail-labs-sugge...@googlegroups.com
The discussion is SEVEN years old by now...so, do not hold your breath!
Plus, I think Google has already implemented most of these...I think.
(Use Google Search and simplify your life :-)

(copy/paste from an old posting)

Requested by hundreds or thousands of Gmail users, since 2008...ignored by Google.
(Use the search box above, marked "Search for topics")

BTW:

In case you think someone from Google monitors this forum or this is a popularity contest, take a look at:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/gmail-labs-suggest-a-labs-feature/Wz55gyU03h4

No wonder we have 106,575 active topics in this forum and growing every day :-(

But...keep on asking, you never know!

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