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Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

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Tip 214: Search Folders and the OR operator

"I like using Search Folders in Outlook 2003, but one thing that I'm stuck on is how can I create "or" conditions, such as:

"I want to see all messages that have this flag or that flag". It appears to me that everything is always an "and" condition…"

Search Folders (as well as Advanced find, Automatic formatting, and View's Filter) uses AND to tie different criteria together.

You can only OR conditions within one criteria – From Mary OR Bob – and can either enter it on one line, typing OR between the criteria as above or enter it on two rows:
From Mary
From Bob

In most cases, you'll need to create the filter using the Advanced tab, not the fields on the General or More choices tabs. Flags fall into "most cases" – and creating the filter on Advanced tab will allow you to create a Search Folder for two or more specific flag colors.

Published December 29, 2004. Last updated on May 21, 2011.

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Outlook has a very powerful filter available to use with Advanced Find, Views, Automatic Formatting or Search Folders. You can addTip 49: Creating Advanced Filters Search for messages to or from multiple people by using the OR operator in the To and From field in the Advanced Find's firstTip 138: Using OR Operator Update: Outlook 2003 SP1 runs rules after junk e-mail filter. Update your installation if you haven't already. If you use OutlTip 93: Outlook 2003, Junk Email and Rules Outlook has two Finds: the simple Find which displays a Find pane above your message or item lists and Advanced Find which opens tTip 74: Using Simple Find
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