You can create and maintain message filters so that Messenger automatically matches
criteria you set, including filing messages in a folder when they arrive.

To create a filter that handles incoming messages:

1. In the Messenger window, choose Message Filters from the Edit menu.
2. In the Message Filters dialog box, click New.  You see the Filter Rules dialog box, where you enter information necessary to define the filter.

To edit a filter:

       Select the filter name and click Edit.

To delete a filter:

       Select the filter name and click Delete.

To turn a filter on or off:

       Click the dot to the right of the filter name to turn it on (checkmark), or click the
       checkmark to turn it off (dot).

To change the order in which filters are
applied:

       In the filter list, click a filter's name, and click the up or down arrow to move it.

To log filter activity, which can help to debug filtering:

       Click the checkbox at Log Filter Use.

To display the filter log:

       Click View log.

Specifying Settings for Message Filters

Use the Message Filters Rules dialog box to edit or define an action you want a filter to
perform, and the type of messages to which you want to apply the action.
 

1. Type a name for the filter.
2. Select the "Match" option you want.  Use the pop-up menus to choose filtering criteria and type a keyword to be used in the search.
3. Click More to add criteria and Fewer to remove them. Then use the filtering action you want.
4. Click New Folder to create a new mail folder.
5. Type information about this filter in the Description field.
6. Click Advanced to enter customized header information.

From Netscape Help Files