This imports either good or spam e-mail addresses from a text file. For each address, a rule is created on the allowlist (or blocklist) that matches messages sent from that address. If such a rule already exists, SpamSieve makes sure that it’s enabled. Rules in the opposite list are not affected.
This feature is usually not needed, as SpamSieve will automatically create allowlist and blocklist rules based on the messages that you receive.
Many file formats are supported: the addresses can be return- or comma-delimited, or they can be mixed in with message text as part of a mbox file.
You may be wondering why you would want to import addresses from the macOS address book instead of using the Use macOS Contacts preference, or why you would import addresses from Entourage or Outlook instead of using the Use Outlook/Entourage contacts preference. The difference is as follows. When you ask SpamSieve to use an address book directly, it will always consider messages from senders in the address book to be good—even if you receive many spam messages that are forged to appear as if they were sent by your friends.
When the addresses are imported to the allowlist, however, they are subject to SpamSieve’s normal allowlist behavior. That is, if Train SpamSieve allowlist is checked, when you receive a spam message from someone on the allowlist, SpamSieve will disable the corresponding allowlist rule. Subsequent messages from that sender will no longer be allowlisted. In short, the address book is safer because it makes sure messages from people in your address book always get through. The allowlist is less safe, but it allows you to block forged spam messages.
If you prefer the address book behavior but don’t have all of your addresses entered into the address book, you can use Import Addresses… to create allowlist rules from your addresses, and then select the rules and use this script to convert the rules into address book cards.