### 4.5 Flags

Each message can have various flags assigned to it as a means of classification. Each flag has a name; different names are different flags. Any given flag is either present or absent on a particular message. A few flag names have standard meanings and are given to messages automatically by IMAIL when appropriate. All other flags are assigned only by users.

`a flag RET`

  Assign the flag flag to the current message (`imail-add-flag`).

`k flag RET`

  Remove the flag flag from the current message (`imail-kill-flag`).

`C-M-n flags RET`

  Move to the next message that has one of the flags flags (`imail-next-flagged-message`).

`C-M-p flags RET`

  Move to the previous message that has one of the flags flags (`imail-previous-flagged-message`).

`C-M-l flags RET`

  Make a summary of all messages containing any of the flags flags (`imail-summary-by-flags`).

The `a` (`imail-add-flag`) and `k` (`imail-kill-flag`) commands allow you to assign or remove any flag on the current message.

Once you have given messages flags to classify them as you wish, there are two ways to use the flags: in moving and in summaries.

The command `C-M-n flags RET` (`imail-next-flagged-message`) moves to the next message that has one of the flags flags. The argument flags specifies one or more flag names, separated by commas. `C-M-p` (`imail-previous-flagged-message`) is similar, but moves backwards to previous messages. A numeric argument to either command serves as a repeat count.

The command `C-M-l flags RET` (`imail-summary-by-flags`) displays a summary containing only the messages that have at least one of a specified set of flags. The argument flags is one or more flag names, separated by commas. See Summaries, for information on summaries.

If the flags argument to `C-M-n`, `C-M-p` or `C-M-l` is empty, it means to use the last set of flags specified for any of these commands.

Some flags such as ‘`deleted`’ and ‘`filed`’ have built-in meanings and are assigned to or removed from messages automatically at appropriate times. Here is a list of built-in flags:

‘`seen`’

  Means the message has been selected, implying that the user has seen it. Assigned to a message when it is selected by the user. When you start IMAIL, it initially shows the first message that lacks this flag.

‘`deleted`’

  Means the message is deleted. Assigned by deletion commands and removed by undeletion commands (see Deleting Messages).

‘`filed`’

  Means the message has been copied to another folder. Assigned by the message-copying commands (see Multiple Folders).

‘`answered`’

  Means you have mailed an answer to the message. Assigned by the `r` command (`imail-reply`). See Sending Replies.

‘`forwarded`’

  Means you have forwarded the message. Assigned by the `f` command (`imail-forward`). See Sending Replies.

‘`resent`’

  Means you have resent the message. Assigned by the command `C-u f` (`imail-resend`). See Sending Replies.

All other flags are assigned or removed only by the user, and have no standard meaning.