OL2003: Junk-Mail vs. Rules

[Ching Kee]

I have a number of rules that sort email into folders. If a rule moves an
item into a folder, it seems to override the junk mail setting so my guess
is there is a hidden rule that fires before my rules.

Is there any way to get junk mail into the junk folder or is this just a
design goof in OL2003?

 

[JPSobel]

I, too, have the same problem with rules overriding the Junk E-mail
Filter. I can physically observe an incoming e-mail flash through the Inbox,
then the Junk E-mail folder, and finally into the folder designated by the
rule. If I choose the option to permanently delete suspected junk e-mail,
almost no junk e-mail makes it into the folder designated by the rule.
My belief is that Outlook 2003 applies the Junk E-mail Filter first and
then runs through the user's rules. Unless the user is willing to take the
risk of permanently deleting suspected junk e-mail, the Junk E-mail Filter
is virtually useless when used in conjunction with rules. Microsoft (or
someone more skilled than me) needs to program an option to "stop processing
more rules" for the Junk E-mail Filter

 

[Grant Robertson]

I, too, have the same problem with rules overriding the Junk E-mail
Filter. I can physically observe an incoming e-mail flash through the Inbox,
then the Junk E-mail folder, and finally into the folder designated by the
rule. If I choose the option to permanently delete suspected junk e-mail,
almost no junk e-mail makes it into the folder designated by the rule.
My belief is that Outlook 2003 applies the Junk E-mail Filter first and
then runs through the user's rules. Unless the user is willing to take the
risk of permanently deleting suspected junk e-mail, the Junk E-mail Filter
is virtually useless when used in conjunction with rules. Microsoft (or
someone more skilled than me) needs to program an option to "stop processing
more rules" for the Junk E-mail Filter

Normally, I'm no apollogist for Microsoft but I really like this reature.
I like that I don't have to worry about something I have set a rule for
ending up being considered junk anyway and put in the Junk Mail folder. I
don't want to have to keep going through the Junk Mail folder looking for
things I thought I made a rule for.

Perhaps you need to make your rules a bit more specific so they aren't
catching things that are really junk. I know I certainly wouldn't create
a rule saying to put anything with @yahoo in the header into my special
'Read it Now' folder. ;^)

 

[JPSobel]

The solution I proposed in my post would not prevent you from using the
Junk E-mail Filter as it is currently configured. The proposed solution was
to provide an option to stop processing further rules after a new message
has been processed by the Junk E-mail Filter. You would be able to simply
not select the option.
Though I receive email through nine email aliases, all of which are
specific and useful; only two are governed by a rule as simple as you
suggest. I would argue that for me to have to write rules to pick my good
messages from the Junk E-mail folder negates the benefits of filtering new
messages in the first place. I would also argue that writing such rules is
not possible using the standard options available in the Rules and Alert
routine (that is, without writing custom actions, macros, etc.)
In Outlook 2000, I was able to write simple rules using the
application's rudimentary junk and sexual content filters, and keep my
custom Inbox folders very clean. The Junk E-mail Filter processes are not
accessible in the Rules and Alert routine; foiling any effort to replicate
the rules I was able to write in OL2000. While the filters in Outlook 2003
are a tremendous improvement over their predecessors, they do not, at
present integrate well with custom rules.
I reiterate that the solution is reasonably simple: program an option to
stop processing more rules on messages that have been moved to Junk E-mail
folder.

 

[Guest]

Same problem here! They should put the junk mail filters back in the rules or add a "stop processing other rules" button or an "unless mail is in junk mail folder" exception. Grr.. Stupid outlook.

 

[Johnny]

Same problem here! They should put the junk mail filters back in the

rules or add a "stop processing other rules" button or an "unless mail is in
junk mail folder" exception. Grr.. Stupid outlook.

I'm really unhappy with the quality of the junk mail filter. It caught
twice as many good emails as it did spam! Lucky I didn't have it
permanently delete the mail it "caught".