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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Xairbusdriver on June 26, 2010, 09:45:31 AM

Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: Xairbusdriver on June 26, 2010, 09:45:31 AM
Mail's Search function looks pretty simple. Choose either the current mailbox or "All" boxes. Then decide if you want to search in one these To:, From:, Subject: or the entire body. Not much choice, right?

Well, how about this, from "joekewe" in a Macworld <comment (#6)>:
QUOTE
More complex searches are easily accomplished in Mail.app for free. Choose "Entire Message" then you can enter: [search string] [from:sender] [to:recipient] [subject:subject] in the regular Mail search box. Probably enough for most needs without switching apps. Note that the [brackets] represent optional criteria. Do NOT type the brackets, and don't forget to choose "Entire Message" or it won't work. You can select "this" mailbox or "All Mailboxes" to search as usual. No need to spend $30 and switch applications for this functionality.
This is similar to how it can be done in Spotlight, which is probably the core function used in Mail, of course. Thinking.gif
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: Paddy on June 26, 2010, 11:14:01 AM
Cool - I didn't know that was there either. Could be quite handy when searching through my 19,000+ messages in my inbox/18,000+ in the sent folder. whistling.gif (Yes, I know it needs editing - I HAVE done some and but it spans ELEVEN years worth of email and who has the time?)
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: kimmer on June 26, 2010, 04:30:51 PM
Thanks. Very handy tip.
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: Jack W on June 28, 2010, 11:31:10 AM
can't get it to work in 10.4.11 and Mail 2.1.3
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: krissel on June 29, 2010, 02:51:19 AM
This must be a Snow Leopard thing.
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: kimmer on June 29, 2010, 03:50:54 AM
Works in 10.5, Mail 3.6 also.
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: krissel on June 30, 2010, 12:45:16 AM
OK, I misunderstood the instructions.  I thought there was some new window or menu item where you select Inbox, Entire Message, etc. before you do the first search.  It's after the initial search that those choices appear and then you put in the additional parameters in the box following the search term. rolleyes.gif

BTW, I'm sure most of you know this but putting quotes around the search word will eliminate any other words that may have that word within.  

"letter" will only get you messages with letter in it
letter will get you letterhead, newsletter, etc.
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: Xairbusdriver on June 30, 2010, 11:41:36 AM
Sew, yu're knew skreen naym iz "Miss Understood?" tease.gif laughhard.gif
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: kimmer on June 30, 2010, 01:16:23 PM
QUOTE(krissel @ Jun 29 2010, 09:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
OK, I misunderstood the instructions.  I thought there was some new window or menu item where you select Inbox, Entire Message, etc. before you do the first search.  It's after the initial search that those choices appear and then you put in the additional parameters in the box following the search term. rolleyes.gif


Yes, I wouldn't say it's the most intuitive search feature I've seen. wink.gif
Title: Nice Mail function I didn't know about
Post by: Xairbusdriver on June 30, 2010, 01:38:09 PM
QUOTE
I wouldn't say it's the most intuitive search feature I've seen.
Some search features require extra seeking? inspect.gif