OL2000: How to Filter Junk and Adult Content E-mail (195398)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q195398

SUMMARY

There is a growing business in using e-mail messages as a direct marketing tool. If you do not wish to receive these kinds of messages, Microsoft Outlook 2000 can filter such messages and automatically move them from your Inbox to a Junk E-mail folder, your Deleted Items folder, or other folder you specify. Outlook can also color-code these messages.

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook bases its filtering for junk or adult content e-mail on an internal list of terms and a list of specific e-mail addresses. You cannot modify the internal list of filtering terms, however Outlook maintains a list of e-mail addresses of senders of commercial or adult content; you can add to this list as you get unwanted e-mail messages.

To Automatically Move or Delete Messages Based on Content

  1. From the Inbox folder, on the Tools menu, click Organize.
  2. Click Junk E-Mail.
  3. In the Automatically action Junk messages list, click to select Move, click to select the destination folder from the list, and then click Turn On.
  4. In the Automatically action Adult messages list, click to select Move, click to select the destination folder from the list, and then click Turn On.
As Outlook receives messages it will move them to the specified folders if they contain content matching the internal list of terms. If you wish to color-code these messages rather than move them, select Color from the list and then select the color you want to apply.

To Automatically Move or Delete Messages Based on Sender

  1. Right-click a message from an unwanted sender, and on the shortcut menu point to Junk E-Mail.
  2. Click either Add to Junk Senders list or Add to Adult Content Senders list.
Outlook adds the sender of the e-mail to the selected list and takes the specified action to either move or color-code the message.

To Update the List of Unwanted E-mail Senders

  1. From the Inbox folder, on the Tools menu, click Organize.
  2. Click Junk E-Mail.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the Organizer window and then click Click Here.
  4. To change the commercial e-mail list, click Edit Junk Senders.
  5. To change the Adult Content list, click Edit Adult Content Senders.
Outlook adds the sender of the e-mail to the selected list and takes the specified action to either move or color-code the message.

To Make an Exception to Your Filtered Content List

  1. On the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard.
  2. In the Apply rules in the following order box, click Exception List.
  3. In the Rule Description box, click Exception List.
  4. Click Add.
  5. Enter the e-mail address you want to make an exception.
Messages from the e-mail address that you entered will remain in your Inbox, even if the content contains phrases found in the internal list of filtering terms.

NOTE: The Exception rule will not work for e-mail addresses within your own intranet.

To Change the Destination Folder for Junk Messages

  1. From the Inbox folder, on the Tools menu, click Organize.
  2. Click Junk E-Mail.
  3. Click Turn Off for Junk messages.
  4. In the list of folders, click to select Other Folder.
  5. In the Choose A Folder list, click to select a folder and then click OK.
  6. Click Turn On.

To Change the Destination Folder for Adult Content Messages

  1. From the Inbox folder, on the Tools menu, click Organize.
  2. Click Junk E-Mail.
  3. Click Turn Off for Adult Content Messages.
  4. In the list of folders, click to select Other Folder.
  5. In the Choose A Folder list, click to select a folder and then click OK.
  6. Click Turn on.
As Outlook receives unwanted messages it will move them to the newly specified folders.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/5/2003
Keywords:kbhowto kbusage KB195398
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.