Difference between Content Filters and Rules in IceWarp

Rules (server rules, domain rules, user rules) and Content filters can help you manage emails: organize emails by folders, automatically forward messages, catch spam, block external messages and suspicious senders, check attachments, etc.

This article will explain the difference between Rules and Content filters.

Rules

Rules (server, domain, user) manage only the incoming messages as opposed to Content filters.

• Server rules are applied to all domains and users on the server. 
• Domain rules are applied to all users on the specific domain.
• User rules are applied to a specific user.

How to create rules

You can create server, domain and user rules both in Remote Console and WebAdmin.

1. In Remote Console:
   •  
     • To create server rules, go to Mail > Rules > click Rules tab.
     • To create domain rules, go to Management > {domain name} > Rules. 
     • To create user rules, go to Management > {domain name} > Users > {user} > Rules.
2. Click Add .
3. In the rule window , select Conditions and Actions.
4. Click OK to save the rule.

Check Rules to learn more about how to create rules in Remote Console

1. In WebAdmin:
   •  
     • To create server rules, click > Content rules.
     • To create domain rules, click > Users & domains > {domain name} > Rules.
     • To create user rules, click > {domain name} > Accounts > {user} > Rules.
2. Click Add rule .
3. In the rules window , select Conditions and Actions.
4. Click Save to save the rule.

Content Filters

Content filters manage both outgoing and incoming messages. Content filters are applied to all domains and users on the server. The process of creating a content filter is similar to creating a rule. However, the content filter has a wider variety of conditions and actions.

How to create content filters

You can create Content Filters only in Remote Console.

Use case: Mark emails that come from external domains.

Create a content filter to add the mark External mail to the email subject.

1. Go to Mail > Rules > Content Filters tab
2. Click Add to open a Rule window. In the Rule window:
3. Check Conditions:
   • Where Subject: message header matches some words
   • Where Sender / Recipient is local/remote
4. Check Actions:
   • Edit message header
5. Change Description :

   • Once the email is marked as external, it should not be marked again. To avoid duplication, click some words and add

     [EXTERNAL MAIL]

     in the String field. Check NOT in the function field. Click OK to save.

6. Only emails from external (remote) senders should be marked. Click local/remote and check Sender and Remote. Click OK to save.
   

7. Emails are marked by adding [EXTERNAL MAIL] to the email subject. Click header and enter the value

   [EXTERNAL MAIL] - %%Subject%% 

   Click OK to save.
   

8. Click OK in the rule window to save the rule.

Result: [EXTERNAL MAIL] will be added to the subject of all emails that come from external senders.