Auto-Response Filter
If you find out that you are writing the same emails every time and you wish that you could schedule the reminders and follow-up emails, it may be the time to set up auto-responses and scheduled emails. We would show you just how to do that in Mozilla Thunderbird, which is the free, cross-platform, and open-source desktop email client.
An auto-response filter allows you to define filters for incoming emails and join them with a template message. When an email triggers the filter, the sender would automatically receive a template response. Here are examples where an auto-responder can come in handy:
- Reply to common questions.
- Set up an out-of-office responder while you’re on vacation
- Confirm you received the email and will respond asap.
Below, is how to create an auto-response in Mozilla Thunderbird.
Set Up Your Message Template
To create your template, click on the Menu Bar and head over to File > New > message, or if you are using the Mail Toolbar click the Write button to open a new email or you can just use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + N (Command + N on the Mac).
Next, create the message as if you are writing an ordinary email. Remember to add a Subject!
Now save your message as a template. In the email’s Menu Bar, go over to File > Save As > Template. or inside the Composition Toolbar expand the Save drop-down and click on Template.
Set Up Your Message Filters
When you go back to your Thunderbird Menu Bar, go to Tools > Message Filters… to open the particular window.
In the Message Filters window, click on New… to start setting up a new filter.
Start by entering the Filter name. This should be something you can recognize easily, in case you need to edit your filter later.
Now it is time to set your rules. First, you should decide whether the filter should Match all of the following or Match any of the following rules. Then compose your rules. The filter criteria can either apply to anything from the email subject to who was CCed and you can even create custom criteria. For our purpose, Subject and Body should be ok. Click the + icon to enter in additional rules. Clicking the button would delete the respective rule.
Finally, Thunderbird would need to know what to do with messages that match your rules. Under the Perform these actions you can choose Reply with Template, then select your template. You can also enter in extra rules, such as moving the message to a specific folder.
When you are happy with the filter, click OK to save.
Creating a Scheduled Email
Another unique feature that you can turn on in Thunderbird is creating scheduled emails. It means that Thunderbird will send those emails at a specific time in the future.
Setting Up Send Later
The easiest way to install a Thunderbird add-on is by using the Add-ons Manager. Click the Thunderbird Menu icon and click on Add-ons. In the Add-ons Manager, go over tot he Extensions tab. Look for the search box at the top right and search all add-ons for send later. Click the Install button that next to your match.
Your add-on will download and install in one step. Click Restart now to complete the installation.
Using Send Later
Next time you’ve written an email you want to send later, go to File > Send Later or press CTRL + SHIFT + RETURN.
In the Send this email later window that pops up, set the day and time under Sent at, pick a Recur mode if you want this email to repeat, and choose one of the other options as needed.
