Ok lets start with housekeeping.

If a mail account or mail client is going to mess up, it will mess up the inbox. Simply because it is the busiest. So if you keep everything in the inbox you run a higher risk that "normal" of having troubles with mail and lost data. (even gmail uses all mail, not inbox to apply the labels to)

Beyond that I think you need to have a look at virtual folders (ctrl+Shift+F0 is the short cut to starting the find to create a virtual folder, you just save the find as a virtual folder.

You might also want to have a look at the various pre coded folder views, like unified and favorites. I prefer all folders.

To help with your virtual folders you might also want to have a look at tagging of messages and the use of message filters to do so, so they get tagged upon receipt.

Hitherto, I haven't suffered a problem with a corrupt inbox, but I take your point and will bear that in mind as I make the change over. It's a good time to re-evaluate the total email setup.

Many thanks for your suggestions regarding the possible use of virtual folders that I didn't know existed. I now know where to look further.

Regards,

Agree with Matt. It is somewhat risky storing everything in one simple text file. Also, if it gets too big it really is a pain trying to find a product that can open it- should the need arise.

A good emthod is to create a 'Facebook' folder. Then create a message filter 'Menu icon' > 'Message Filters' > 'Message Filters' which uses 'From' and 'contains' and 'facebook' and the action is to put them in the 'Facebook' folder.

Alternative: create a 'Custom View' But this is folder specific - only works on whatever folder is currently selected in Folder Pane. 'Menu icon' > 'View' > 'Messages' select 'Customise' you will find a few already exist. click on 'New'

give view a name eg: Facebook

• select 'Match all of following'
• Select: 'From' and 'contains' and 'facebook'
• click on 'Ok'
• click on 'OK'

You can put the 'Views' button onto the toolbar for quick access. right click on 'Mail toolbar' and select 'Customise' or 'Menu icon' > 'Preferences' > 'Toolbar Layout' Drag 'Views' icon onto 'Mail Toolbar' close window.

Another Alternative: but this method is useful if you have messages in a variety of folders and accounts and are trying to create a view of selected emails that could be dispersed through those folders and accounts. A saved search folder is a virtual folder, so you are still using the same visual space in Folder Pane, hence why you may as well create an actual folder for them; assuming you only have one account and only using Inbox.

But if you want to create a saved search: Make sure any email in any folder is selected. If you do not do this then the Find option is greyed out :)

• Menu icon(3 lines) > 'Find' > select 'Search Messages'
• Search for messages in: Local Folders Inbox

Note for anyone who has separate mail accounts visible, select one of your mail account names.

• Select 'Search subfolders'
• Select 'Match all of the following'

example:

• Select: 'From' and 'contains' and 'facebook'

• click on 'Search'
• Then at the bottom...click on 'Save as Search Folder'

• Give search folder a name eg: Facebook Search
• Suggest you 'create as a subfolder of: 'Local Folders'

• click on 'Choose'

You should find all the folders of Local folders (or one of your accounts) already listed and checkbox selected.

• If required: Use the scrollbar to locate the other mail account. Select the mail account name and any folders you require.
• when selected, click on 'OK'
• Finally, click on 'Create'
• Exit the 'Saved Search' window.

In Folder Pane look under 'Local Folders' for the name of the saved search folder and select the folder to see emails. Suggest you enable the 'account' column header if required.

Many thanks for your detailed response and suggestions.

I shall play around with the options on a couple of less important accounts to see what works best for me before switching over the ones I use most often.

Thanks again.