SpamBayes Configuration


Many SpamBayes configuration options are managed via the SpamBayes manager, available from the SpamBayes toolbar item.  While this dialog allows you to configure standard options, there are a number of other options that can be set manually.

WARNING: Please read the following before going any further.
If you have any further questions, please post them to the SpamBayes mailing list.

About SpamBayes configuration files

SpamBayes configuration options are stored in the directory \Documents and Settings\{username}\Application Data\SpamBayes\{outlook-profile-name}.ini.  Note that the name of the file depends on the name of your current Outlook profile; if you use Outlook in Internet Only mode, then the profile is generally named Microsoft Outlook Internet Settings.  This file is a standard text file, and can be edited with any text editor.

A configuration file has a number of sections, and each section contains a number of named values.  For example, you will find the following excerpt in your INI file:
[Filter]
enabled:True
This defines a section named Filter, with value enabled set to value True.  The valid section names, value names and valid values depends on the option.  Note that in some cases, we will refer to options being in a certain section, but when you check your INI file, you will find no such section defined.  In this case, simply add the section header, and any values manually.  For example, it will not be uncommon for you to add a line
[General]
if you need to set options in this section, as by default, you INI file will have no such section.

Additional Options

The following options are supported in this version
Section
Option Name
Valid Values
Default
Comments
[Filter]
spam_mark_as_read
True, False
False Determines if spam messages are marked as 'Read' as they are filtered.  This can be set to 'True' if the new-mail icon bothers you when the only new items are spam.  It can be set to 'False' if you use the 'read' state of these messages to determine which items you are yet to review.
[Filter]
unsure_mark_as_read
True, False
False
Determines if unsure messages are marked as 'Read' as they are filtered.  See 'spam_mark_as_read' for more details.
[General]
field_score_name

Spam
The name of the field used by SpamBayes to record spam scores.  This should only be changed if you know what you are doing.
[General]
delete_as_spam_message_state
None, Read, Unread
None
Determines how to set the "Read" state of a message as they are manually managed by the "Delete as Spam" button.  By default, the 'Read' state of the message is not changed, but this allows you to explicitly change it to either 'read' or 'unread'.
[General]
recover_from_spam_message_state
None, Read, Unread
None
Determines how to set the "Read" state of a message as they are manually managed by the "Recover from Spam" button.  By default, the 'Read' state of the message is not changed, but this allows you to explicitly change it to either 'read' or 'unread'.
[General]
data_directory


The directory where SpamBayes will save its database and primary configuration file.  This can only be set in the 'early' configuration files - see below.
[Genera]
verbose
Number
0
The level of debug output generated by the program.  This output is written to the standard log for the application - see the troubleshooting guide for information on locating the log.

Multiple Configuration Files

There is rudimentary support for multiple configuration files.  The intention of these files is to site administrators can set global options for all SpamBayes users.  Only some options make sense to store in other configuration files.

All options from all configuration files are "merged".  This means that any file can set any option, and as all options files are processed, all values are merged.  If multiple configuration files specify the same option, the value from the file last merged is used.  When SpamBayes writes its configuration during normal processing, the entire merged set of options is written.  The end result of this means that next time SpamBayes is run, the earlier configuration files will have no effect, as the last one loaded (the main config file written by SpamBayes) will have all values already.

SpamBayes processes configuration files in the following order: