As you see in the message filters window, each message filter operates on only one folder, and message filters can be enabled or disabled. Does that answer your question or are you looking for something else?

Thanks for answering my question, but I'm left with a lack of TB understanding for my original problem, other than manually select and move folders and messages... I need to filter messages against a given folder, then process them according to rules like an expanded version of the Message Filter... Is there something existing in the TB interface I've missed, a way of scripting this sort of thing, or perhaps an API? ... I'm a total TB newbie. Thank You.

Your original problem is not clear. Message filters do everything that you have specified: run against a folder, can be enabled or disabled, perform actions on the matching messages.

But you seem to believe that they will not do something that you want to do, so you need an expanded version of them. What do you want to do that message filters cannot do?

Or are you not familiar with the message filter function and need to learn about it first?

Maybe this helps: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/organize-your-messages-using-filters

Can you say more about what you are trying to accomplish and what kind of help you need? Have you tried to do something with message filters and hit an obstacle? Are you asking for step-by-step instructions to get started with filters? Or to do something specific?