What does the "Use smart indexing" option do?

When this option is enabled, the index links will go to the first page with an unread message (using the current sort order). This is handy with ascending date order or any sort order where the unread messages are not on page 1 of the index.

Smart Indexing will also shift the last page down so that the page is at least 75% full. This prevents viewing an index page with only one or two messages on it.

For example, if your INBOX contains 80 old messages and 5 new messages, and you are displaying 20 messages per page, the new messages will be on page 5 of 5 when sorted oldest to newest message. Without smart indexing, clicking on the INBOX link will go to page 1 of 5. With smart indexing clicking on INBOX will go to page 5 of 5, and shift the page down 10 messages so that you can view the index for the most recent 15 messages, instead of just the last 5 messages in the folder.

If the messages were sorted by sender, the unread messages could be on any of the 5 pages. Smart indexing will take you to the first page containing an unread message, instead of requiring you to hunt for new messages or resort the page.

Smart indexing also changes the current index page when viewing a message. If you are viewing a message on page 3 of 5, for example, clicking on the folders's index link will take you to page 3. You can still jump to the next unread message by clicking the unread-message-count link, or the "next unread" link on the message view page.

Last modified: April 20, 2006