A single pattern filter contains one rule that is matched against your incoming email.

You can also create a multi pattern filter, which allows you to combine pattern filters you have already created. See Creating a Multi Pattern Filter.

Go to Filtering > Pattern Filtering and follow the steps below to create a single pattern filter.

  1. Select Add > Single Pattern and the Create a Single Pattern Filter window displays.

  2. Complete the fields as follows:

    • Pattern Name: Assign a name to this pattern filter. This is useful when searching for patterns in the Pattern Filtering table.

    • Pattern Description: Provide an (optional) description of this pattern filter. This is useful for searching patterns in the Pattern Filtering table.

    • Pattern Expression: Select how this pattern filter is evaluated. Select one of the following:

      Option

      Description

      Starts with

      The body or header must start with this value.

      Note

      If Starts with is selected and Apply to body is selected, the subject line is seen as the start of the body. In this case, the subject line is filtered and not the body."

      Ends with

      The body or header must end with this value.

      Matches regular expression

      Enter a regular expression to match against the body or header.

      See https://www.regular-expressions.info for information on using regular expression.

      Matches any word in

      Enter a list of words separated by a comma. If any word on the list is in the body or header, the pattern filter will trigger.

      Contains

      The body or header must contain this value.

      Equals

      The body or header must be exactly equal to this value.

    • Value: Enter an expression value. Expression values are case-insensitive.

    • Rule Type: Select an option to determine how this pattern filter is scored and treated.

      Option

      Description

      Hard Block

      Adds a score of 100 to the email, causing it to be blocked.

      Hard Allow

      Subtracts a score of 100 from an email, causing it to be allowed.

      Soft Block

      Adds a configurable positive score, between 0.01 and 99.99 (default: 5).

      Soft Allow

      Subtracts a configurable negative score, between -0.01 and -99.99 (default: -5).

      Test Mode

      Use Test Mode to create a pattern filter that triggers when a match is found, but does not affect the score of the mail (score adjustment: 0).

      Note

      Test mode can be selected when creating a single or a multi pattern filter. However, this mode only executes when rules are combined as part of a multi pattern filter.

    • Score: This field can be edited to a custom value if Soft Block or Soft Allow is selected in the Rule Type field.

    • Apply to Headers: By default, a pattern filter triggers on any header. Therefore, if this field is selected and left empty, the pattern filter is triggered on all headers.

      However, you can chose to enter only certain email headers. In this case, the pattern is triggered on only the headers you enter. For example, you can enter To, From, Cc, Subject, ALL, X-Header-From-Another-Box, Received.

      • Enter one header per line.

      • Syntax is either From or From:

      • The following special header rules can also be entered:

        Header Rule

        Description

        EnvelopeFrom

        Triggers on the Envelope MAIL FROM instead of the From header.

        ToCc

        Triggers on both the To and Cc headers.

        ALL

        The rule will trigger on any header.

      • The following three options are also available to append to a header. For example, From:addr.

        Option

        Description

        :raw

        Append to the end of a header to prevent decoding of quoted-printable or base64 encoded headers.

        :addr

        Append to the end of a From or To header to make the rule only trigger on the address in the header.

        :name

        Append to the end of a From or To header to make the rule only trigger on the name in the header.

    • Apply to Body: Select to trigger this pattern filter on the body of an email (default: ON).

      • Use Rawbody: Select to allow your body rules to trigger on the HTML of an email.

        Warning

        Rawbody tests can cause excessive CPU usage and cause mail queues, so use with caution.

  3. Select Create to create this single pattern filter or Cancel to discard.

This article relates to SpamTitan Skellig.