Duplication of filters (no merge ability, and other UI issues)

[Anach]

TB v146.0.1 - Been a pro member for years, but I've recently had to rethink my filtering, as it was getting a little complex. I did this by removing all my old filters and starting fresh.

The filter creation logic seems a little random now that I've started from scratch. Sometimes I will get an option to merge to an existing filter category, whereas sometimes it will skip the merge dialogue entirely, and simply head to creating a new filter category, so I can end up with 5 categories named 'Inbox'. Furthermore, when I do get the option to merge, it only gives me the choice of one filter category, with the name of the folder I'm creating from, rather than letting me choose which filter category to merge it with.

For example: I have a filter category named 'Gaming (where I do the move rule)', and another named 'Gaming - Pre (where I add tags prior to initiating move, as this works best for IMAP)'. If I select to create a filter for a message in the inbox, it assumes I want a new filter named 'inbox', which isn't what I want to do at all, as I'm trying to add a gaming related email to my gaming category, that goes to the gaming folder.

If I try to add this filter after it's in the gaming folder, it will show the 'Gaming' category in the merge list, but not the 'Gaming - Pre'. It doesn't seem to matter what I name them, it only offers one suggestion in the merge list, and that's usually only the first filter created, rather than the category I want.

A sit stands right now, I'm unable to properly merge or create filters with the wizard at all. Even starting from scratch, with zero filter categories, the process is the same.

I know it says I should move the email first, but applying filters in the inbox seems the most logical place to do it, as the moving is what the filter is for, and 'if' the location is 'inbox', 'then' all filter categories should be shown. Compared to 'if' in another named folder, 'then' only show filters that include the filter name, else include a tick box, that lists all filters, to cover different naming conventions, so I can send it elsewhere and add it to a different category. This would be a massive UX improvement IMO, and save a lot of moving emails around outside filters, and let me choose which filter I wish to merge with, rather than the wizard trying to guess.

[RealRaven2000]

For example: I have a filter category named 'Gaming (where I do the move rule)', and another named 'Gaming - Pre (where I add tags prior to initiating move, as this works best for IMAP)'. If I select to create a filter for a message in the inbox, it assumes I want a new filter named 'inbox', which isn't what I want to do at all, as I'm trying to add a gaming related email to my gaming category, that goes to the gaming folder.

If you use the assistant and drag the email to another folder (outside of Inbox) then this will be used as the match criteria for merging the filter. If you tag it, then that will be used. Important to know: The matching is based on one main action, not on all actions of the filter, so if you combine move + tag I would have to check which one has precedence (not ideal I know, maybe it can be improved).

know it says I should move the email first, but applying filters in the inbox seems the most logical place to do it, as the moving is what the filter is for, and 'if' the location is 'inbox', 'then' all filter categories should be shown.

I disagree, there is really nothing to be gained here: one of the main advantages (especially for users with large folder trees) is that you do not need to select the folder from a folder picker - paired with a "move to" facility (such as quickMove from QuickFolders) this makes the whole process a lot easier - e.g. you could just enter the first letters of the folder name...

If the email is still in the Inbox, and you want to move it to "gaming" we cannot know what other filters might potentially be affected (as you haven't selected gaming yet). Which filters should quickFIlters suggest for merging? Potentially all filters that affect that Inbox would be candidates for merging.

If I try to add this filter after it's in the gaming folder, it will show the 'Gaming' category in the merge list, but not the 'Gaming - Pre'.

Again, if you use the right-click method (not the assistant, which I highly recommend you do) then how would quickFilters know what other folder you might want this moved to the future? It can literally only guess that you're already in the desired folder "create filter based on message" relates to the contents, status, tags and location of the currently selected email. The assistant on the other hand is trained to "do as I do" - so it watches your actions and searched filters based on that (e.g. tagging an email as Gaming, or moving it to Gaming-Pre) - it will try to find a filter that did what you did to it in that moment.

[Anach]

Thanks for quick response, if only I wasn't migrating my mail server for the past 4-days, I'd have responded sooner. I've decided to redo my tags from scratch, using only QF, and see how it behaves. This might take me a while, but I wanted you to know I had read your post.