This is a note to myself (and anyone who might find this useful) about how to set up a Mac to use message links.
Make Message IDs visible in Apple Mail
- Mail > Preferences
- Viewing Tab
- Click "Show Message Headers" > Custom
- Add "Message-ID" to list of custom headers
Karabiner
Download and install Karabiner Elements.
Change caps lock to complex modifier (command+ctrl+option+shift) under the Complex modifications tab. There is an example rule built in just for this modification.
Create Service
Open Automator Create a Quick Action that runs an Applescript
Cut/paste the following to pull the Message ID from the currently selected message in Mail and copy it to the clipboard as a link.
tell application "Mail"
set selectedMessages to selection
set theMessage to item 1 of selectedMessages
set messageid to message id of theMessage
-- Make URL (must use URL-encoded values for "<" and ">")
set urlText to "message://" & "%3c" & messageid & "%3e"
set the clipboard to urlText
return urlText
end tell
Save with a descriptive name, such as: CopyMessageURL
Set up a keyboard shortcut
Open System Preferences. Under Keyboard > Shortcuts tab Select Services on the left Locate the newly added service under "General" grouping, add whatever key shortcut (caps lock + m) you'd like.
Use
Use your new shortcut to generate links directly to individual emails, which should open in Mail on MacOS and iOS.