Submit Hint Search The Forums LinksStatsPollsHeadlinesRSS
14,000 hints and counting!

MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail Pick of the Week
The macosxhints Rating:

[Score: 9 out of 10]
[This is the tip of the week for the week of November 20th]

I'll be the first to admit that my email filing scheme is far from efficient. I use multiple nested folders and subfolders to keep my archives organized -- I like that I can view any correspondence about a given subject or project by simply selecting that folder in Mail's folder list. The downside of this method, of course, is that I have a great number of folders and subfolders: 110 as of today. And yes, I probably only look at 10 of those regularly, but I like the fact that my archived mail is there for me to look at, should the need arise.

From a productivity standpoint, I know this is bad. Really bad. Merlin Mann of 43Folders tells me as much. But I can't help it; my mind works better with compartmentalized buckets of information, so I rely on folders (that I find Smart Folders not so smart, and Spotlight not quite there yet, also comes into play).

The thing about folders in Mail is that filing messages into those folders is time consuming. You can use drag and drop or the contextual menu, but with 100+ folders, either solution isn't the best. Enter MsgFiler. This Mail plug-in does one thing, and does it very well: it lets you file messages much as you'd launch a program using Butler, Quicksilver, or LaunchBar. Press Command-9 to activate MsgFiler, and a small launcher-like window appears. To file a message, just type a few letters of its name. MsgFiler will display a list of matches which gets shorter as you type more ltters. When you see the mailbox you want to use, highlight it with the down arrow key and press Return. That's it; the message will be filed.

Given my byzantine folder structure, MsgFiler is a huge timesaver. I used to put off filing older emails, just because of the work involved. But now, I can file as quickly as I can type a few letters, letting me clear out the inbox more quickly.

MsgFiler isn't perfect; this is just it's first week of release, and the author has noted some of the current issues on his site. And though it's a Mail bundle, it's a standalone application when launched, meaning it takes up space in your Dock and shows in the Command-Tab application switcher. But I can live with these minor inconveniences, knowing how much time MsgFiler saves me each day. I doubt I'll ever approach the simplicity of Merlin Mann's folder setup, but with MsgFiler, I won't spend as much time being non-productive!
    •    
  • Currently 1.60 / 5
  You rated: 1 / 5 (10 votes cast)
 
[9,960 views]  

MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail | 6 comments | Create New Account
Click here to return to the 'MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail' hint
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail
Authored by: wogri on Nov 21, '06 08:14:35AM

Eeerm...
Have you ever heard of Sieve or server-based message filtering? I'm using cyrus as a mailserver, and I do all this in sieve. If you get mulberry you have a GUI to define your rules, and the server will do all this for you. no need for extra applications to improve your moving-habits...

wogri



[ Reply to This | # ]
MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail
Authored by: robg on Nov 21, '06 08:55:22AM

There's no way a rule could be used to move my mail correctly based on content -- it's just not possible.

As but one example, an email related to Macworld Expo. I've got folders for the last five and the next one. Not every email includes the year, and many may not even include the words "Macword Expo." Many times, these come from people whom I don't know. Pretty much most of my folders are susceptible to similar situations.

I do use Mail's rules to auto-sort where it makes sense (mailing list emails, for isntance, and stuff from my family). But for everything else, I can't even think about what a tool would have to be able to do to file things correctly without my involvement.

regards,
-rob.



[ Reply to This | # ]
MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail
Authored by: jnunez on Nov 21, '06 01:06:02PM

Rob,

How do you archive? I have an iBook and mail is taking up the majority of my disk space. I need to keep it for 3 years. I would like to archive any messages over a year old into client folders and then move it to a NAS but have it searchable (missing element). In the past Apple Mail was able to open any mbox file but that is no longer possible.



[ Reply to This | # ]
MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail
Authored by: Robin_Liechti on Nov 22, '06 12:00:22AM
Hi,
I don't know if you read french, but there is a test of MailSteward in a wonderful swiss web site (http://www.cuk.ch/articles/3128]). This software will let you archive your emails. Otherwise, you can simply have a look at MailSteward ;-)
Robin

[ Reply to This | # ]
MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail
Authored by: Helge33 on Nov 24, '06 12:32:01AM

I rather prefer the "Mail-Act-On" which gives you the same functionality with much less clicks and keys.

BTW: Why is there a rating function for the Pick of the Week when all ratings are anyway >=8? ....;-)

Cheerio, Helge



[ Reply to This | # ]
MsgFiler - A launcher-like solution to filing email in Mail
Authored by: klatt on Nov 24, '06 08:45:23AM

Maybe something only because "Pick of the week" if it has a very good rating?



[ Reply to This | # ]