Do You Subscribe To Forums and Threads to be Notified of new Threads and Posts?

[Admin]

You can subscribe Forums and Threads and receive notifications either by RSS, email, or in your private message area.

If you subscribe to a Forum, you will notified whenever a new thread is created in that Forum.

If you subscribe to a Thread, you will notified whenever a new post is created in that

[myorgan]

I've only subscribed to threads when replying to a post, then (unlike the old Forum), I only get notification of the first response to that particular thread and nothing after that.

I have, however, been marking entire Forums as read so I can get on what I want (i.e. marking Hammond Forums read because I have no interest in them--no offense intended Hammond lovers!). I wish there were some way to not ever see a Forum unless I wanted to (i.e. Hide This Thread/Forum). I can always go to the Forum index if I want to see something in one of those threads/forums.

Just my 2¢ worth!

Michael

[DellAnderson]

I pretty much agree with Michael's post on all counts. Originally, I subscribed to Forums, but found that option fairly useless and an inbox-clutterer.....every day I would get list of emails simply stating something to the effect that threads had changed on these forums and I would have to click individual links to emails etc to read them...easy to get lost in the shuffle. I prefer that emails come directly to my inbox rather than have to visit the forum to read them, and that is exactly how the automatic subscription when posting works. I wish there was a way to extend that followup to more than just a single reply after a post. As it is, if I post, I get the first reply in that thread to my post, and nothing in the thread thereafter. True, this motivates me to post more, but some could call that less of a plus than a minus! Same for subscribing to forums - I wish there was a way to easily subscribe to particular threads in such a way that all emails in that particular thread automatically forward their contents to my inbox. For example, while browsing on line, if I find a thread that looks fascinating but I have nothing to say about it, I would like to click a 'subscribe' button and get all future posts to that thread (if any) hand delivered to my email inbox. I didn't find an option to describe either my current or my proposed use in the above poll.

[Admin]

I prefer that emails come directly to my inbox rather than have to visit the forum to read them, and that is exactly how the automatic subscription when posting works. I wish there was a way to extend that followup to more than just a single reply after a post. As it is, if I post, I get the first reply in that thread to my post, and nothing in the thread thereafter. True, this motivates me to post more, but some could call that less of a plus than a minus! Same for subscribing to forums - I wish there was a way to easily subscribe to particular threads in such a way that all emails in that particular thread automatically forward their contents to my inbox. .

There are different ways to subscribe to threads and forums and I wonder how you are doing it.

Are you clicking on the Thread Tools link at the top of each page of posts and choosing Subscribe... If you do you'll find that there options on where and how the notifications are delivered to you including instant, daily, and weekly updates via email.

[DellAnderson]

Frankly, one of the issues of the forum is there seem to be 50 ways to leave your...er...do anything that needs to be done, but most of them do it slightly differently, leaving me with the impression that I have made the best choice, but upon later investigation finding out that if I had used a different search box --on the same page--- I could get the results I need. Same for subscribing, it is almost impossible for me to conjure up a click by click recollection of how I subscribed or didn't subscribe (it takes searching, I do know that), but I can usually find my away around to something that looks promising. Explaining it to someone else, well that's another story! Not complaining, I love the new forum look and all, it's just taking more getting used to than I would prefer and I fervently wish that ALL of a certain type of function could be consolidated in one particular spot for easy window shopping..er..selection. Thanks!

[Admin]

Unfortunately, flexibility and complexity often go hand in hand.

Anyway, there appears to be a way to be notified of new posts to a thread by email.

[DellAnderson]

Unfortunately, flexibility and complexity often go hand in hand.

Anyway, there appears to be a way to be notified of new posts to a thread by email.

Yes, and no. I love options. I just wish they were organized. Together. Easy to find in one place. User friendlier. And there would be some explanation at time of upload of the difference between an avatar and user profile picture (where they are used. Eventually things work by trial and error or I make do. It was just a comment based on my experience with the interface. User interface design is a tremendously difficult science, and seldom mastered by even the major corporations, which instead of improving the interface blame user.

Maybe we could start a 'How to..." thread with some basic FAQ's with screen shots of where to find certain options if there is enough interest.

[Admin]

Actually, the existing Forum FAQ is pretty good. Much better than the FAQ for the old forum.

For example, regarding avatars and profile pictures it says:
http://www.organforum.com/forums/faq...atures_avatars

On subscriptions:
http://www.organforum.com/forums/faq..._subscriptions

This Forum software is as new to me as it to all here and I'm guilty of learning by necessity and not reading the FAQ as well. That's why I find these discussion useful and informative. I've discovered new things.

Your questions and suggestions are welcome and much appreciated. There's always room for improvement.

[Admin]

I wish there were some way to not ever see a Forum unless I wanted to (i.e. Hide This Thread/Forum). I can always go to the Forum index if I want to see something in one of those threads/forums.
Michael

I believe your wish has already been granted.

Subscribe to those Forums you're interested by clicking on the Forums Tools link and choose the notify in CP (control panel) option. Then when you visit the site, go to your Settings. There you will see only those forums you have subscribed to. Forms with new content will be indicated by the standard iconography.

Within any Forum you can selectively screen which threads are visible by using the Thread Display Option that you'll find at the bottom of the Forum's thread list.

[Brendon Wright]

I pretty much agree with Michael's post on all counts. Originally, I subscribed to Forums, but found that option fairly useless and an inbox-clutterer.....every day I would get list of emails simply stating something to the effect that threads had changed on these forums and I would have to click individual links to emails etc to read them...easy to get lost in the shuffle. I prefer that emails come directly to my inbox rather than have to visit the forum to read them, and that is exactly how the automatic subscription when posting works. I wish there was a way to extend that followup to more than just a single reply after a post. As it is, if I post, I get the first reply in that thread to my post, and nothing in the thread thereafter. True, this motivates me to post more, but some could call that less of a plus than a minus! Same for subscribing to forums - I wish there was a way to easily subscribe to particular threads in such a way that all emails in that particular thread automatically forward their contents to my inbox. For example, while browsing on line, if I find a thread that looks fascinating but I have nothing to say about it, I would like to click a 'subscribe' button and get all future posts to that thread (if any) hand delivered to my email inbox. I didn't find an option to describe either my current or my proposed use in the above poll.

I agree with all of the above.
Subscribing to a forum via email only gives a daily list of what threads were active but not what was in them, while subscribing to just a thread gives you more up to date info... as long as you are on the forum it'll send you updates of all posts, but only the first one if you AREN'T on the forum.

I've extended my experience now to the RSS feed option, but it isn't as good as the option of receiving an email of every post in every thread in chosen forums... it just gives the title of a new post. What the title doesn't describe is what is in that particular post, only the title which started the thread.

When I used to get everything sent to me (I was less busy at work, but...) I could briefly glance at the content of each post and see if I was A) going to have anything helpful to add or B)felt like adding anything unhelpul but enjoying the conversation all the same. or C) better off glancing at the next post in the inbox.

The OF has the benefit of posting permanent pictorial tutorials which has been extremely helpful in the past, but lacks the accessibility of the inferior (?!) email forums.
I guess the engine we had before this one operated as a bit of a hybrid.

I've noticed activity has decreased somewhat, and activity begets more activity. P'raps I need to get off my hands!

I wonder if there's a way to bring old tutorials forward (like stuff from Expiano and Farndurk, for example) in the search engine...
There have been unique threads over the years with extremely rare technical information which would be good to find again for newbies in trouble.

Right. I've got a band logo to do. Back later!
-Brendooon