Setting up a Whitelist in Outlook Express

First of all what is a whitelist? A list of pre-authorized email addresses from which email messages can be delivered. Let’s say that the tip I gave last time (Setting up Message Rules) didn’t really stop some of the emails you have been receiving. Setting up a whitelist can take email addresses of people you know and put them in a folder called “Read First.” This way it will take you less of a time to skim through all of the junk to find the important ones. It works with Message Rules like the last tech tip.

Here are the steps:

1. Open Outlook Express. Click the Tools menu, Message Rules, Mail…
   
2. On the screen that pops up, click the New button (for newer versions of Outlook Express, you don't have to hit the New button - the screen you need pops up automatically).
   
3. At this point, there should be a screen that lets you set up your rules. Check the options you want to filter. Example: I only want emails from tkriskovich@hotmail.com and joeschmoe@nwls.lib.wi.us to be place in a folder called “Read First”. So under 1: Select the Conditions for your rule: I have “Where the From line contains people” box checked. When you do this you should see “Where the Subject line contains people” show up in box 3: Rule Description:.
   
4. The next step is to tell Outlook Express what it should do with the email. From here you can do so many different things. For my example I will check “Move it to a specified folder” for 2: Select the Action for your rule:. You should see “Move it to a specified folder” shows up in the 3: Rule Description: box.
   
5. The next step is to make all of it work together. In the 3: Rule Description: box you will be able to click on any of the blue underline words. This will bring up a box that you can enter the “email addresses” that you want the Message Rules to catch. You can also go through you address book to find the emails. For my example I entered tkriskovich@hotmail.com and joeschmoe@nwls.lib.wi.us. You can enter as many email addresses as you want. There is even an Options buttonif you want to do more advanced settings.
   
6. Now to setup “Move it to a specified folder” settings. Click on specified and it will bring up an explorer view of your Outlook Express folders. Usually if it is new mail and you plan on reading it you may want to make the new folder under Inbox. Highlight Inbox then click on the New Folder button. Give it a name (mine is Read First) and click OK.