View topic - Tips about the Private Message (PM) system

The first step is to go to your User Control Panel.

The link to it is in the upper right hand corner of the page, under the Forums tab.

From here, you can personalize your board profile and settings.

Once there, click on Board Preferences, on the left side.

There are a number of areas that you can modify. These are listed on the left side.

For the pm system, we'll look at "editing global settings".

You will see the following options, that you will need to check "yes" or "no":

Allow users to send you private messages - - If you wish to receive pm's from other members, make sure that the "yes" box is checked.

Notify me on new private messages - - Checking the "yes" box will prompt an email to be sent to you to advise you of a new pm.

Pop up window on new private message - - Checking the "yes" box will prompt a pop-up box to appear when you log in to the board.


As a side-note, somewhat related to the private message system:

Users can contact me by e-mail
Checking "yes" for this box displays your email address in your profile and in your replies in the forums.

If you do not want your email address displayed to the public, be sure to check "no" for that box.


There are some other options you can modify while you're there. This is also where you can set your time zone, for example.

Once you've finished making any changes, click "submit" at the bottom of the page.

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Managing your private message system


>>UCP

>>Private messages (on the left)

>>Rules, folders & settings

The steps to create new inboxes, name them, and to define the message rules are here. The system takes you through the process and the steps are straight-forward.


Create new inboxes
The system allows 5 inboxes, one default, and up to 4 of your own creation.
You can create them and name them to your specifications.
Each box will hold a maximum of 50 messages.
Once you have created them, they will appear in a list on the left side.

Create message rules
Once you have created your own inboxes, you can then define what pm's get sent to which box.

Creating/adding/removing users from the "Friends" list
The people on your Friends list will appear on the left side. You will be able to see if they are on-line.

Outbox
Messages that you send to others will stay in your "outbox" until they are delivered to the other people. Once the message has been opened by the reader, it will move to your "sent messages" box.

Sent box
A maximum of 50 messages is retained. As more are sent, the oldest ones "drop off" and are deleted. If you want to save the messages that you have sent, it's best if you copy them to your own computer using a word processing utility.

Inbox is full
When the inbox(es) maximum of 50 messages is reached, this message will appear:

You have x private message(s) currently on hold because of full folder.
Release all on-hold messages… they will be re-sorted into the appropriate folder if enough space is made available.

If you have more than one inbox, you will need to identify which box has reached its maximum.

At the top of each inbox folder, there will be displayed the amount of messages currently in that box. You will be able to see that the box is at the maximum 50/50.

You will need to go through your messages and delete enough to be able to receive new ones.

If you wish to save any, you will need to do that by copying and pasting them into a word processing file and save that to your computer.

To delete messages, you can do it two ways:
-- open each one and read it, then click on the small "x" at the bottom, within the body of the message

-- you can check off the desired messages in the list, and then go to the bottom of the page. There, you will see a drop-down box. Highlight "delete marked", then click "go".

Once you have deleted the messages, then go back to the "full folder" message, and click the words "Release all on-hold messages".

The system will then deliver the messages to your inbox(es).

If you want to change the way the system handles a full inbox, go to "Rules, folders and settings", and scroll down to the "Folder options" area.

Here, you will see the options:

--Delete oldest messages
--Move to (when there is more than one inbox)
--Do not accept new messages (New messages will be held back until enough space is available)

Default action: (This action will be triggered if none of the above is applicable.)
Do not accept new messages (New messages will be held back until enough space is available)

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Should this be an anti sinky for future reference?

I would hate to see it disappear.

Composing a private message

There are a few different ways you can send a private message (pm).


Compose a new pm

Go to your UCP
>> click on Private Messages on the left
a new private message box will open

or

click on "messages" at the top of the page, beside where it says Logout [*your username*]
>> click on "compose message" on the left
a new private message box will open


Type the name of the recipient in the white box on the left, then click Add [To]

You can also send Bcc's to other people....input the list of usernames in the box, then click Add [BCC]

You will need to fill in the subject line.

And you can use the little icons to amuse the recipients, if you choose.

The range of options for the body of the message is similar to the forums. Type size, colour, italics, etc are available in the private message.

Once you have finished composing your message, click the Preview button. Look over your message, and make any changes or corrections.

Once you are satisfied with the finished product, click "send". The pm will stay in your "outbox" until the recipient opens it. Then it will be moved to your "sent messages" box.



Sending a pm while reading a thread

A handy feature of this software is the ability to send a pm to someone while you are reading a thread.

While still in that thread, click on the pm button of the post that you would like to send a pm regarding. What will happen is that the system will open a new pm box for you, with the title of the thread as the subject line. The post where you clicked the pm box will be set up in the message box as a quote.

This is particularly handy if there is a listing in the Buy, Sell & Trade forum that catches your eye.


Replying to a pm

When replying to a pm sent to you, you can either click the "reply" button, or the "quote" button. Having the message quoted in your reply box is handy to have when there are a number of points you want to remember to address.



Other options:

Print View:
Click this and the pm is now in "print friendly" mode. You can either print it out or save it as a text file.

In the event of abuse or questionable messages, you should forward the message to the CCR Moderators account.

************************************************

The purpose of a message board is to share information with others. This is the reason you joined the board, isn't it?

If you wish to exchange personal information such as email addresses and telephone numbers, that is understandably not something to post on a public forum. This type of information is best shared in the private message format.

But it goes against the spirit of a public message board to relay information using the private message system. If a question has been asked publicly, then it is hoped that the answer will also be public.

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

It's not going to disappear.

I would like this to stay as a regular thread for right now. Any questions, comments, suggestions....I'm hoping that the members will post them here.

The plan is to hone, polish, add, revise until it can be placed somewhere "more permanent".

That's it for now, folks. Please give a try with experimenting with your private message setup, and if you encounter problems, please post them here. Along with any comments, about the clarity and usefulness of the instructions I've written and posted. If I'm missing anything, let me know.

Seriously, post here.....pleeeease don't send me any pm's.






Barbara

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

I had/have done all of the above, still can't get that one new message. The only one I do not understand is the Add a new rule.

You are doing a find job by the way!

_________________

Present: Slip, Slap and Slop, hide from the sun! Past: Get some colour in those cheeks! Paddle Naked!

You've either deleted old messages, or created new inboxes, and moved old messages into them?

Then clicked on the message "Release all on-hold messages..." ?



Here's the first step in the Add New Rule process:




The next step is to choose your method of sorting from the drop-down menu:



Which option are you choosing?

I've only used the "sender" as a way to sort messages. It seemed simpler to me.


Thanks. I hope this is going to be helpful.


Barbara

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Just a reminder....you need to be logged in to read your private messages via the link in the notification email.




Barbara

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Is anyone having problems with the private message system? Are there any questions?

Any comments about this thread are welcome. If there is information missing that could help people, please post here in this thread.



Thanks,
Barbara

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Not at the moment, but I'm sure I will in the future, in which case I'll refer to this excellent tutorial. Great job, Barbara. Will it become a 'floatie' so that it's easy to find?

_________________

Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

Thanks, wotrock.

The plan is to move it to a new, permanent home soon.



Barbara

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

This tip just saved my bacon....so da da bump and

_________________

Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

bump

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?

Saved it yet again buut............wouldn't it be easier if that step wasn't done automatically. I mean, why in the heck wouldn't you 'release all on-hold messages??

_________________

Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

I dunno....cuz that's how they wrote the software?



Barbara

_________________
I'm out of bed and I made it to the keyboard....what more do you want?