1. A method for manipulating a message in an apparatus including a messaging system, said method comprising the steps of: inputting selected information via a user input device into at least one data field; formulating, in response to said selected information input into said at least one data field, at least one rule comprising an event portion, a condition portion, and an action portion; translating said at least one rule into an instruction stream for execution by said apparatus; and executing said instruction stream in said apparatus to manipulate said message in accordance with said instruction stream; wherein said user input device comprises at least one graphical user interface presenting a template, and the step of inputting selected information includes filling in at least one blank in said template which provides said at least one data field and provides at least one of said event portion, said condition portion, and said action portion of said at least one rule; wherein said inputting step includes interacting with said graphical user interface and said formulating step includes composing said at least one rule according to a scripting language to form a completed rule.