howdy bill,
tags used to be named labels. [*grin*] that's why the default tags [important, work ...] have names like "label1". if you make your own tags then you will see them with more readable names. for instance, i have a tag that shows in tb3 as "Customer_Service" and when i look at the source of a msg tagged with that tag [or at the raw filter in the filter file], i see "customer_service". odd that it drops the case to all lower, but it's still there.
i don't think it's wise to try to rename the default tags. if you don't like them, then make new ones and use those. you can also delete the old ones if desired. um, er, AFTER you are sure you won't need them! [*grin*]
editing tags is here ...
Tags - MozillaZine Knowledge Base... along with a buncha stuff on tags.
i use the tag toolbar addon here ...
Tag Toolbar... to help me manage sets of tags. it's pretty handy.
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on the 2nd gotcha ...
the problem is that filters AUTO-run only on you inbox. you can't auto-magically run filters on any other mailbox. for instance, i have a custom "forums" folder that i occasionally run filters on to move msgs to more appropriate folders. that folder NEVER has any filters auto-run cuz auto-run is only available on an inbox.
it's not often a prob for most folks as they usually want filters run only when msgs are rcvd and that's taken care of by the inbox-auto-run feature.
it IS an occasional prob for folks who go hog wild with filters, tho. [*grin*]
take care,
lee