Abstract: Processing electronic messages by applying a rule representing a combination of additions, actions, or exceptions. A conditions window is displayed to present conditions upon which a rule for processing electronic messages cause an action to be taken. A condition can be selected in response to an input signal. In turn, an actions window is displayed to present actions that may be taken in response to the selected condition. An action is selected in response to receipt of an input signal. The actions window is updated to display the current state of the rule in a natural language format presented as a contiguous string of appended clauses corresponding to both the selected condition and the selected action. To create a rule including an exception, an exceptions window is displayed to present a list of exceptions associated with the selected condition. In response to receiving an input signal, an exception corresponding to the input signal is selected.

Abstract: In an electronic mail system environment, a system and method for automatically checking recipients' names, providing message flags, providing custom forms, and providing an autoresponse feature. Recipients' names are resolved in the background, while the user of the e-mail system is composing the message. The user easily resolves ambiguous names by using a context menu. The resolved ambiguous names are automatically used to create nicknames, which are used to resolve ambiguous names in the future. Message flags allow a sender or recipient to identify required follow-up action and a deadline. The recipient may use the message flags to quickly determine which messages require follow-up action. The e-mail system notifies a recipient when a due date is approaching or when a follow-up action is past due. A custom forms feature allows a user to create and share custom forms without requiring the form to be published or installed by other user.

Abstract: A desktop information manager includes a "Rules Wizard" for creating and editing rules for processing electronic messages. The Rules Wizard allows creation of rules in a step-by-step manner by selecting natural language phrases representing conditions, actions, and exceptions. As rule components are selected by the user, the current rule is displayed in a natural language format. Variables are displayed as hypertext links. When the user specifies the value of a variable, the specified value is threaded back into the displayed rule. Templates and a rules from context feature expedite the construction of rules. Once created rules are stored on the client computer and possibly uploaded to the server in order to ensure efficient message processing.