Systems and methods for clustering electronic messages

A method, comprising:

• at a computing device having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors:
• displaying a message list in an electronic message folder, wherein:
• the message list includes a plurality of individual electronic messages and a plurality of message clusters;
• each message cluster is displayed as a respective single cluster graphic;
• each message cluster is uniquely associated with a corresponding set of clustering rules;
• a first message cluster of the plurality of message clusters contains a plurality of electronic messages;
• and
• display of each item in the message list includes a respective single enlarged alphabetic character, which corresponds to an initial character of a sender name when the item is an individual electronic message and corresponds to an initial character of a cluster name when the item is a message cluster,
• receiving user specification of a supplemental clustering rule for the first message cluster, wherein the supplemental clustering rule is based on content of electronic messages;
• while defining the supplemental clustering rule, and prior to saving the supplemental clustering rule:
• displaying a designation identifying one or more senders of electronic messages in a sample plurality of electronic messages that qualify for inclusion in the first message cluster in accordance with the supplemental rule and the set of clustering rules associated with the first message cluster and in accordance with a display state of the first message cluster in which a subset of the text for each respective electronic message in the sample plurality of electronic messages is displayed;
• saving the supplemental clustering rule;
• applying the supplemental clustering rule and the sets of clustering rules associated with the plurality of message cluster to the plurality of individual electronic message, thereby assigning a first electronic message of the plurality of individual messages to the first message cluster;
• redisplaying the message list, including ceasing to display the first electronic message as an individual electronic message in the message list and updating display of the single cluster graphic for the first message clusters to indicate inclusion of the first electronic message.