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Message Filter Sorting

  • 3 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 18 views
  • Last reply by Matt

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I have tried for quite sometime now to find a way of sorting my many message filters in Thunderbird so that they are in alphabetical order. This is to enable filters to be found much quicker and easier when editing, removing or adding new filters (to make sure that you are not using the same or similar filter name already). At present Thunderbird defaults to displaying message filters in the chronological order in which they were created. Can I ask if this can be changed to the alphabetical order of the filter name? If this is not an option at present, is it something which can be added in a future version of Thunderbird (this may not help me at any point in the near future as a Debian user I am on version 91.11.0). It just seems (to me at least) a protracted process of adding a new message filter or editing an existing filter as I have to scroll through the entire filter list due to it not having any evident sort options. If I have blindly missed something obvious please point it out to me.

Best regards

I have tried for quite sometime now to find a way of sorting my many message filters in Thunderbird so that they are in alphabetical order. This is to enable filters to be found much quicker and easier when editing, removing or adding new filters (to make sure that you are not using the same or similar filter name already). At present Thunderbird defaults to displaying message filters in the chronological order in which they were created. Can I ask if this can be changed to the alphabetical order of the filter name? If this is not an option at present, is it something which can be added in a future version of Thunderbird (this may not help me at any point in the near future as a Debian user I am on version 91.11.0). It just seems (to me at least) a protracted process of adding a new message filter or editing an existing filter as I have to scroll through the entire filter list due to it not having any evident sort options. If I have blindly missed something obvious please point it out to me. Best regards
Attached screenshots

All Replies (3)

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Albeit tedious, you can manually sort your filters in alphabetical order by using the 'Move Up' and 'Move Down' buttons at the right hand side of your screenshot.

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Thanks for the response christ1. What you suggested is what I am already doing, which as you already mentioned is a bit tedious. I was just hoping for a more standardized approach like most file browsers use to be able to toggle the arrangement automatically between chronology and alphabetical rather than a trip down memory lane as an office junior fresh out of school in the filing / archive room at work.

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The filters execute in the order shown in the list. You might have issues with some filters that used to work not working if they are changed to run after other filters that also match an email.

I suggest you use the search box to limit the list. Instead of sorting the list.