[Pan-users] Re: filter query

[Duncan]

Rodney D. Myers posted <address@hidden>,
excerpted below,  on Sat, 13 Mar 2004 07:46:46 -0800:

> I've searched through the archives and did not see anything similar, so
> here goes.
> 
> I'm trying to filter a series of groups that I read, but has a large
> amount of SPAM/CRUD.. 90% of the spam I am trying to filter out is less
> than 50 lines.
> 
> How would I go about creating a filter for this?
> 
> I've tried the menu driven "filter/score" maker "Tools -> Edit Score", but
> none of my entries seem to be functioning in the specified groups, or any
> of the groups period.

Try setting up a rule (and filter for it).  Here's how mine's set up:

Rule name: Small
x Apply to incoming

Set up an appropriate newsgroups spec on that tab.

On the Actions tab, mark delete (or mark read) article.

On the Filters tab, click edit filters, then Add.

Again, I named the filter Small. (I have it set to show in the filter menu
but that shouldn't matter.)

Click on Article has at least N lines (inverted below), set it to your 50
or whatever. (I have mine set to 120, here, for the binary groups.)

Click add new line to the filter.

Click invert, to make that less than whatever lines.

If using this in the binary groups, you probably want to set Article has
incomplete attachments (under attachments), then add and invert that as
well.

Set any other things you want and ensure the filter is set to all of (not
any of).

Click OK to add the filter and close on the filter dialog. 

Back in the edit rule dialog, select your new filter, and OK.

The rule should now show up in the rules dialog, where you can test it.

...

Note that occasionally the filter screws up and decides the tail end part
of a multi-part, if it's small enough to match the line qualifier, isn't
an incomplete attachment, when it actually is.  Thus, you may actually be
better off setting to mark read  than to delete, if you normally view
unread only.  If you normally view all, the best you can do is set the
line count low enough it doesn't catch most and perhaps use another server
(at least in PAN, it can of course be set up for the same one) or
something, such that the filter doesn't apply (or simply apply the filter
manually in your main server and don't in your pieces rescue server) for
those that got caught anyway.  Or.. you can be like me and say screw it on
the ones with the missing piece, if the piece is small enough, and either
keep the attachment anyway or just delete it.

-- 
Duncan - List replies preferred.   No HTML msgs.
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." --
Benjamin Franklin