Email threading example

The following example scenario illustrates how documents are formed into threads.

For information about email threading concepts, including an explanation of the types of threaded documents, see Email threading concepts.

In the example, the documents described in the following table are submitted for thread analysis.

Item	Description
	Document 1: An email message from Joe to Anita, with no attachments.
	Document 2: Reply to email 1 from Anita to Joe, adding Kate, with an attached image file.
	Document 3: Forward of email 2 from Joe to Fred, with the attached image file from email 2.
	Document 4: Reply to email 2 from Joe to Anita and Kate, without the attached image file from email 2.

The following figure shows how the example documents appear in threaded view.

Document threading scenario

The following table describes the thread structure of the example documents.

Item	Description
	Document 1 is a duplicate document because document 2 contains all of the document 1 content. Document 1 is also the root, or original, document of the thread.
	Document 2 is a pivot because it has unique content; it includes recipients not included in document 3 (Anita and Kate) and an attachment not included in document 4.
	The thread data icons identify the pivot, attachment addition, and people change.
	Document 3 is a pivot because it has unique content; it is the end of its branch (no further email messages were sent from the forward) and it includes a recipient not included in documents 2 or 4 (Fred).
	The thread data icons identify the pivot, attachment change, and people change.
	Document 4 is a pivot because it has unique content; it is the end of its branch (no further email messages were sent from the reply).
	The thread data icons identify the pivot and attachment removal.

As an alternative scenario, if document 3 included Anita and Kate, then document 2 would be a duplicate instead of a pivot. Similarly, if document 4 included the attachment, then document 2 would be a duplicate instead of a pivot.

For information about how to review threaded documents, see Review threaded documents.