New Gmail Filter Hacks

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Nosotros can make this a running word of uses for Gmail's Filter feature. It'south a simple tool that makes organizing your emails a breeze, and chiefly, automatic. Today we'll focus on iii topics: Storage, Bookmarking and Organization [GTD].

Either in Settings or next to Gmail's search box, is a link to Create a Filter.

• When calculation a filter we enter some parameters similar who the email is from or what the discipline line contains etc.

• Next stride, we cheque Skip the Inbox, add the Characterization we desire the email to exist sorted to, check Employ to conversations below and Create Filter.

That'due south a uncomplicated process that we will repeat for the following hacks.

Storage

There are two handy programs out at that place that turn that free two.something gig on your Gmail account into existent space. This is swell to keep sure files mobile and accessible.

GSpace is a firefox extension that creates a direct link through your browser to that disk infinite. Information technology will create an icon in your status bar that, when clicked, will open a dialog box to add and extract files from.

You can drag files direct from your browser, but it's somewhat temperamental. However, this extension's strength lies in the ability to manage multiple Gmail accounts.

Gmail Drive is a "Shell Namespace Extension that creates a virtual filesystem around your Google Gmail account," to quote the website. This enables yous to use your Gmail storage as another bulldoze on your computer.

This works very well and enables you to throw any filetype in there – you just need to login. Since nosotros've created another bulldoze, you tin treat it as such and organize files into folders.

Each time y'all add a file to your Gmail drive, via either application, information technology will testify up in your inbox as another electronic mail. So instead, we create a few filters so your inbox isn't filled with emails each time a file is uploaded.

Each file added from the Firefox extension volition come into Gmail, as an email, with "GSPACE" in the subject line. Then create a filter with "GSPACE" as the subject, and a Label chosen something like Drive.

The same applies for the Gmail Drive uploads, however, use a filter with the subject line, "GMAILFS". Now, here's the adept bit.

If y'all do happen to upload files into separate folders on the drive – MP3s, Documents etc – nosotros can create a different characterization for each, and then your files are not only organized within the bulldoze, but likewise out on your Gmail.

All nosotros need to do is append GMAILFS with the binder proper name ie: "GMAILFS: /mp3s/" filtered to a label called MP3s. At that place is no way to create a label hierarchy, and then labels should be used more like tags.

With Gmail Bulldoze you can motility existing files around into new folders. Go along in mind, a new email will be sent through for each change.

Bookmarking

This hack relies on a site called RSSFWD.com or something like it. There you can forward whatsoever RSS feed to your email, without having to register. Each update volition come through to your email with the feed's post every bit information technology'southward content.

A handy way to keep all your bookmarks stored in Gmail – with the added benefit of Gmail's search – is to use your bookmark'southward feed through RSSFWD and so all your bookmarks come through your Gmail.

I utilize my del.icio.united states account and so each site I tag, volition come through. All I really take to do is create a filter for anything from del.icio.us to be archived in a label called Bookmarks.

The dazzler here is, say I employ a range of bookmarking sites, I can have all of them stored in one identify.

System or GTD

There is already a Firefox extension called GTDinbox that implements GTD styled filters and arrangement within Gmail. Yous tin can transport yourself tasks, keep rail of outstanding tasks and even print HipsterPDA-friendly index cards. Likewise 43Folders suggested this kind of filtering back in 2004, then it's not a new thought.

However, it'due south worth mentioning a few things that may not have been covered even so.

First of all, it should be mentioned that creating your own GTD Gmail is as simple as setting your labels [ToDo, Someday/Maybe, Projects etc] and creating filters using the username+ function.

For instance: Anything I ship to username+todo@gmail.com will go filtered off to my ToDo listing. Add data and links that may assist the task and but delete tasks equally they are completed.

If you need a reminder for a future event or task, you tin can Add Event Info to any e-mail and specify a date for the task to occur. If you lot have Notifications set to E-mail in your Google Agenda settings, you will be reminded to act on the email at that time.

Let's expect dorsum at the RSSFWD plan. We can integrate a lot of things with Gmail, as long every bit in that location is an RSS Feed.

Twitter

Attempt Twitter. It's all the rage and has a feed.

Create a Twitter account just for your tasks. Add information technology's feed to RSSFWD and let it roll through the ToDo filter in your Gmail account. Now you can add tasks via IM and your mobile's SMS straight to Gmail.

If you preface each 'Tweet' with where you want information technology to go, in Gmail, y'all can organize your Twitter feed just by refining the parameters of your filter to include a keyword.

For example: "TODO electronic mail jack" through Twitter could get through a filter with "Twitter" and "Todo" as parameters.

Flickr

Your Flickr photos have a feed. Add together a filter with the parameter From: 'Your' Photos and utilize Gmail's search to find the photo yous want.

Want a family unit member or friend to know when you've added a new photo? Y'all can forward emails within a filter to a item email address. You'll just need to create a new filter for each email you lot desire to forward to.

Also don't forget you could just put any feed you like to read through RSSFWD, set it to transport to username+anyfeed@gmail.com and create a filter for that email to frontwards to a label for anyfeed.

Tip of the iceberg? Accept some more interesting means to use Gmail's filters? We'd like to hear them.

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Source: https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/new-gmail-filter-hacks.html

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