(The following instructions relate to Messenger in 2-Panel View. The information remains essentially the same but the illustrations differ.
Click here for 3-Panel View version.)

Messenger stores email messages in folders-- much like the way your other computer files are stored in directories.

When you first start up Messenger, it will generally open to your Inbox folder (where your new mail is placed). Initially you probably won't need to deal with any of the others.

Soon thereafter the value of working with the other folders should become apparent.

To see your folders in Messenger, click on the down arrow to the right of the word "Inbox." A drop list will appear.

To view the contents of each folder:

1. Click on the name of the folder you wish to view
2. The messages in that folder should now be showing in the Header area

1. Click on the down arrow again to display the drop list
2. Click on Inbox

Inbox: where Messenger stores new mail  Unsent Messages: contains messages you've deferred for later delivery or messages sent while working offline.  Drafts: contains messages that you want to finish later before sending  Sent: contains copies of messages you've sent  Trash: contains messages you've deleted

You can also create your own folders. These can be used to organize your mail. You can move messages you've received from one folder to another. You can also set up "filters," a means of directing incoming mail to folders other than Inbox-- for instance, you could have all messages sent to you from Bill Gates go directly into a folder you created called "Sparky."

For more information about filters, click on "Filtering Incoming Messages" under Level III on the menu.