TB3.0b4 'Run filter on message/folder' not working.
Barry Jackson
- the "run now" button has gone and been replaced with menu entries AFAICT.
However, the menu entries don't seem to work.
Opening a message and then 'Tools->Run filter on message' fails to do
anything. Likewise opening a folder and running 'Run filters on folder'
does nothing.
The filter log does not seem to have a 'view log' button anywhere unless
I missed it, so not sure if there is anything in there.
I don't see anything about this in other posts.
Nir
Barry, from the header of you post it seems like you haven't updated
Thunderbird recently. Can you start it in safe mode[1] after updating it
( Help > Check for update ) to latest version and check if you still
have similar issue?
Kent James
I suspect you are using POP3, and the filters are defined on the server.
If so, you should note that for so-called "deferred" POP3 accounts,
where the messages are delivered to a different account (typically Local
Folders), then the Manual filters must be applied on the "deferred-to"
account (typically Local Folders.)
Since for incoming messages, both the filters from the "deferred" POP3
account as well as the "deferred-to" account are applied, then best
practice in most cases would be to define the filters on Local Folders
rather than on the POP3 server account.
I realize this is terribly confusing. It took me months to really get
this straight, and I'm the guy who has been maintaining most of this
code recently - though I am not the guy who implemented all of these
distinctions.
rkent
Barry Jackson
> On 11/2/2009 5:00 AM, Barry Jackson wrote:
>> The manual filter system has changed considerably from previous releases
>> - the "run now" button has gone and been replaced with menu entries
>> AFAICT.
>> However, the menu entries don't seem to work.
>> Opening a message and then 'Tools->Run filter on message' fails to do
>> anything. Likewise opening a folder and running 'Run filters on folder'
>> does nothing.
>> The filter log does not seem to have a 'view log' button anywhere unless
>> I missed it, so not sure if there is anything in there.
>> I don't see anything about this in other posts.
>
> I suspect you are using POP3, and the filters are defined on the server.
Yes all accounts are POP3 but filters are in TB and are working OK on
receipt of mail.
The problem occurs when I create a filter on messages that are already
in the inbox. (or whose filters are disabled allowing them into the inbox)
To explain...
I joined a new mailing list. The first message arrived, so I created a
folder under inbox and created a filter to move all mail from that ML to
that folder. I then looked for the old "Run Filter Now" button that I
always used before in earlier versions but it's gone. The "Tools->Run
filters on folder" and "Tools->Run filters on message" do nothing. So it
does not seem possible to select a filter and run it manually on a
specified folder, as I have always done in the past.
I have a selection of filters that I leave disabled and then just run
them manually like this to clean up from time to time. This can't be
done as things are at present.
As regards the version - I am running Linux, and "Check for updates" is
greyed so I guess this is the latest beta? I will check in safe mode,
but not until tomorrow :-)
Barry Jackson
Tried that running :-
]$ thunderbird -safe-mode
and still the Help->Check for Updates is greyed out.
I can see nothing newer than 3.0b4
http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/early_releases/
Cheers, Barry
Nir
Create a filter for testing with very basic configuration like
Subject - is not - #$%^T^^%
Move to : <Some folder>
Test this filter from two place :
First disable all filters of that account.
1. From filter manager window, select this new filter. At bottom of
window select Inbox in folder drop-down and run filter on it.
2. In Tb main window, select Inbox folder and run filter from Tools menu.
What are the results?
> I have a selection of filters that I leave disabled and then just run
> them manually like this to clean up from time to time. This can't be
> done as things are at present.
> As regards the version - I am running Linux, and "Check for updates" is
> greyed so I guess this is the latest beta? I will check in safe mode,
> but not until tomorrow :-)
Sorry, thought you are using a nightly version. Btw, generally 'Check
for update' is unavailable for all non-root user in Linux box.
Barry Jackson
> 1. From filter manager window, select this new filter. At bottom of
> window select Inbox in folder drop-down and run filter on it.
manager window, no folder drop-down, nothing.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n287/barjac_2006/filters.png
Do you have a link for the nightly builds?
David Pyles
via the dropdown arrow on the "Filters For:" window.
Dave Pyles
Nir
Certainly I have the link but I think its a configuration issue you are
experiencing.
Is that mail account set to use 'Global Inbox' feature, i.e, account
will not have a separate Inbox instead it will use 'Local Folders'
folder structure?
Barry Jackson
Err... yes - maybe - I have never seen such an option.
My profile is from TB2 - simply moved .thunderbird to the new
installation. I have, with David's comments managed to get this to work.
All my filters (created in TB2) only appear when the "Filters for"
selector is set to my main mail account as in the screen shot I posted.
If I change that selector to display "Local Folders" then there are no
filters listed, but the bottom selector appears, with the "run now" button.
New filters created in that window work, and will "run now".
It all seems over complicated.
How can I move my filters from one window to the other? Seems like TB3
displays them all in the wrong place.
Barry
Barry Jackson
Cheers
Kent James
> It all seems over complicated.
the complication to you.
I've filed "Bug 527585 - Disable filter editing of deferred-from POP3
server filters" which has my recommendations for the future, namely that
we discourage using the filters from the POP3 server account, and
strongly encourage the use of Local Folders. I cannot think of a use
case where it is better to put these filters on the server - and there
are plenty where Local Folders makes more sense, yet if anything the UI
encourages the filters be placed on the server.
By "server" here I mean "The local POP3 account for the server" not a
server-side filter.
rkent
Barry Jackson
Just a couple more questions...
1. Just what is the use of the Tools->Run filters on... menu options as
I have just seen another question about these?
2. Could TB3 be changed to see TB2 filters as Local Folders filters
rather than associated with the main POP3 account? It would save
upgraders from having to start over.
Thanks again,
Barry
Kent James
> Just a couple more questions...
> 1. Just what is the use of the Tools->Run filters on... menu options as
> I have just seen another question about these?
I'm not sure that I understand the question. It is designed for people
who want to do repetitive operations to a set of messages, but on
demand, not when the message is first received. It only runs for filters
that are enabled for "Manual" use.
> 2. Could TB3 be changed to see TB2 filters as Local Folders filters
> rather than associated with the main POP3 account? It would save
> upgraders from having to start over.
I'm not very familiar with the capabilities of TB 2, since I have mostly
worked on TB 3. I'm not aware of any intentional change that made
message filters only work on the deferred-to account ("Local Folders" in
this case) in TB3, but I see that in fact that is what is happening,
while that was not the case in TB2. So there should not have been any
need to upgrade, but I see the issue now, and I can see it is a problem.
Let me investigate this some more. Answering your question, I would
rather eliminate this need to move the filters rather than try to make
it easy to do.
rkent
Kent James
> Let me investigate this some more.
This *is* a regression, I believe from a patch that landed 2008-05-26.
I've felt something was amiss here that I've never been able to pin
down, but it was only when Barry suggested that we provide a means to
more easily migrate from TB2 did I realize that this used to work in TB2.
I've filed bug 527629 to cover this, though I have a hard time believing
there is not an earlier bug. I believe the fix will be very easy, though
I also know that it is not trivial at this point to get new fixes into
TB3 before release.
rkent
Barry Jackson
Barry
Nir
You can certainly move filters from one account to another using this
extension
"Thunderbird Message Filter Import/Export 1.3.7.5" :
"https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/2474"
Once imported don't forget to disable filter in source account.
(Just make you to understand the difference between to have a filter in
an account level and same filter in Global Inbox level)
When you define a filter for an account, set to use Global Inbox, it
becomes a part of that account, i.e, it will be applied to only messages
those are downloaded from that account server.
When you associate this filter with Global Inbox/Local folders it will
be applicable to every messages downloaded to the Inbox of Local folders
irrespective of their source server.
Randy ®
Kent James
> Great - hope it makes it into the release !
> Barry
This is now fixed in the latest nightly, so it just made it into RC1 as
builds should start today or tomorrow.
rkent
Barry Jackson
However, the filter box top right of screen is now not working as it
did. (should?)
To find this thread in TB2 I could be browsing the newsgroup and type
"filter" in the box and the messages pane would immediately be filtered
to messages containing "filter" in them. (In fact I just had to switch
to TB2 from Shredder to find this post).
In Shredder this just does not work - it seems to want to search
everywhere (not just the current folder) and does filter the messages pane.
Also why three magnifying glasses?
It's not ready for prime time yet ;-/
Barry
Kent James
"quick search" box. (I objected strenuously to the use of "filter" in
the dropdown from that, since it is a completely different concept than
the message filters that I deal with, to no avail.)
The default for that has now been set to the gloda global search. To get
the traditional quicksearch terms (that use the older style search), you
are supposed to click on magnifying glass (the down arrow is your hint),
and select which quick search term that you want. That selection is
supposed to be sticky, so once you select it that should be the new
default. If I select 'subject filter' (wince at overloading of work
'filter'), then I get the behavior that you expect.
rkent
Barry Jackson
provides - I take it all back - it's looking good. :-)
I still don't understand the reason for the triple magnifying glass icon?
Barry