This Outlook add-in watches the specified folder groups and informs the user of new messages meeting certain selection criteria (filters). User notification can be passive or active. In the first instance, Advanced Folders Watch creates posts in the specified folder, containing links to the messages found and message texts. Using these links, one can open a message or the folder it is stored in, by just one click. In the second instance, the messages found are shown in a pop-up window with extra features: you can view the new document, open, delete, or copy it. The two notification methods can be combined.
A group of settings consisting of the list of folders, filters, and notification settings forms a rule — the main logical component of the program. The number of rules this Outlook add-in can work with is unlimited. The rules are created using a Wizard, and in the rule properties editing mode, one can set a most sophisticated array of filters for the selection of messages. In the properties editing mode, rule testing is also available — for example, you can check to see if the rule will work for messages received over the past month or six months. The testing mode not only helps debugging but the rules help to avoid erratic operation, it can also be used to process an old message database.