Need help with variables in PMMail 2000 filters

[Michael Baum]

I sincerely hope this isn't an FAQ, but in any event I need help with using variable 
expressions in a filter for PMMail 2000. 

The goal is to write a filter that intercepts incoming email from a select group of 
addresses -- members of my familty, actually -- and route it to a particular folder. To 
do this, I created a filter, specified it as "complex" and (trying my best to follow the 
documentation) used the following expression:

H.Fromid = "$ab.Family$"

As I read it, this should extract the email address from the "From:" field in the 
message header and compare it to all email addresses stored in the Address Book 
"Family", returning true if it encounters a match, and then proceed to Take 
Appropriate Action.

It don't work. Does anyone notice what I've done wrong? (Except, possibly, trusting 
Help files?)

Thank you,
maab