Hello all,

I have only recently joined The Cove and am having a wonderful time digging through all the posts. I would like some tips and techniques on how to more effectively keep up with all posts made to The Cove.

How do you Cove regulars manage to stay current with all matters posted to The Cove? Is there a Cove tutorial or Cove primer?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Jaime

You can subscribe to discussion threads (and forum(s)) that interest you or threads that you post in.

How do I Subscribe to a discussion thread in the Elsmar Cove?

You can 'Subscribe' to a discussion thread that you have not posted in (or a whole forum) using the Thread (or Forum) tool (this is the Thread Tool drop down menu):

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Subscribe Drop Down Menu.jpg

You can choose to receive an e-mail notification of new posts in a discussion thread. You must visit the discussion thread in the Elsmar Cove forum after you receive the email notification if you want to be notified of the next new post in that discussion thread.

You can also click on the Since Last Visit (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getnew&exclude=143) in the navbar (aka Navigation Bar) and you will see a list of all threads that have received a post since your last visit. There is also a Posts Last 24 Hours (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getdaily&exclude=143) link in the navbar.


How do I Subscribe to a specific forum in the Elsmar Cove?

Go to the forum you want to be notified about and use the Forum Tools menu:

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Subscriptions Forum 091023-2.jpg


How do I manage Subscriptions and Folders?

Thread subscriptions can be sorted into folders for easy management. You can create as many folders as you wish by going to 'Edit Folders' in the 'Subscribed Threads' section of your User CP (http://elsmar.com/Forums/usercp.php) (aka User Control Panel). To add a new folder, enter the folder name into one of the blank boxes and save the page. To delete a folder, delete the folder name. Editing a folder is done by simply editing the folder name in the list.

You can also manage your individual subscriptions by clicking 'List Subscriptions' under 'Subscribed Threads' in your User CP. Here you can select which subscriptions you wish to manage and delete them, move them to another folder, or change their subscription type.

http://elsmar.com/jpg/Subscriptions 091023-1.jpg

Forum subscriptions are not managed through the List Subscriptions page and are shown on the User CP page (scroll down and you will see any Subscribed Forums under the list of Subscribed Discussion Threads where there is the option to unsubscribe from the forum(s)).

Also see the Subscriptions related FAQs (http://elsmar.com/Forums/faq.php?s=&do=search&q=subscription&match=all&titlesonly=0) for more detailed information.

You can subscribe to the threads that interest you and you will receive an e-mail notification of new posts.

I have been doing this using the daily digest format and that seems to keep me updated with the stuff I have already read. As for the ones I have not yet read I will try this suggestion:
You can also click on the Since Last Visit text and you will receive a list of all threads that have received a post since your last visit. There is also a Posts Last 24 Hours option. I hope this helps.

Thanks mshell. This does help.

Is there some way to make the most active threads pop to the top of the list?

How do you Cove regulars manage to stay current with all matters posted to The Cove? Hello Jaime,

To be honest few of us keep up with everything going on here, but together we cover it all. Personally, i don't use the Email notification mshell mentioned.

This is what I do use:

Everytime I log in to the Cove (Which is normally every day, but right now I'm on vacation :sleep: ) I go straight to the Posts Last 24 Hours (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getdaily)or the Since Last Visit (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getnew) feature, and start picking the new posts off. I am a definitely a speedy reader, but I'll happily admit that I'm not reading all of them. :read:

/Claes

Got to go with Claes!!!

I check in usually daily to the "last 24 hour" button to see if I can contribute in some way. Usually not, but at times I do remember and can help. :)

Al...

I just wander about aimlessly until I find something new.

You can subscribe to the threads that interest you and you will receive an e-mail notification of new posts. You must visit the thread after you see the mail if you want to be notified of the next new post. You can also click on the Since Last Visit text and you will receive a list of all threads that have received a post since your last visit. There is also a Posts Last 24 Hours option. I hope this helps.
You can also 'Subscribe' to individual forums. When you're in a 'Forum View' where the threads in the forum are listed, in the Forum Tools dropdown menu there is a Subscribe to Forum option. So if you're interested in all new threads and posts in one or more specific forum(s) you can use the e-mail notification feature and then choose either a daily or weekly 'digest'.

Like the others, I typically use the 'Last 24 Hours' listing - Mainly because I'm here most every day.

You can also 'Subscribe' to individual forums. When you're in a 'Forum View' where the threads in the forum are listed, in the Forum Tools dropdown menu there is a Subscribe to Forum option
I will give the forum subscription a try. I have tried all the other suggestions and am still not certain what I like best. Thanks.

I just wander about aimlessly until I find something new.
This I have tried as well. Sometimes it works great. Other times I get nowhere. Oh well :confused: .

I have a link to Get New Posts (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getnew)

Latest Post since my last visit, anyway if you forget to check daily you will receive a lot of results, because this forum is toooo much active :applause:

Everytime I log in to the Cove (Which is normally every day, but right now I'm on vacation :sleep: ) I go straight to the Posts Last 24 Hours (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getdaily)or the Since Last Visit (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getnew) feature, and start picking the new posts off. :read: /Claes

Iam taking this same approach too. Both these search are very useful.
Iam currently spending lot of hours in this forum. Averaging posting of 1.64 threads/day, atleast total of 20~30 views of various threads. Besides reading the thread,I observe the member reply patterns also.
Members reply patterns are always interesting. Particularly the resurrected long threads. These are the threads that are difficult to keep up.When resurrected, members comment the last posting on the thread.The thread will take totally new spin and continue for a while :)..long silence...resurrection..new spin..cycle continues, Interesting life cycle.

Threads up to 7~10 postings are easy to get back track and keep up.
My suggestion is: As the threads evolves, if the Thread initiator summarize the key points of discussions every 10th postings or so, it will be easy to quickly review when the thread gets resurrected and maintain the thread with minimum deviation from the intent.

Govind.

My suggestion is: As the threads evolves, if the Thread initiator summarize the key points of discussions every 10th postings or so...:agree1: Not a bad idea at all. I have seen others do it, and done it myself on occasion. We could try it on a more regular basis. It takes a bit of effort, but would probably make many threads even better than they already are.

/Claes

I tried the sugestions mentioned in this thread to keep up with what's new at The Cove.

I have settled on the following:
- I log in when I first get to my desk at the office.
- I go to the "Since Last Visit" (http://elsmar.com/Forums/search.php?do=getnew) link.
- At the list of new topics since my last visit, I wade through and select the ones I find of interest that I have not already subscribed to in the past.
- I read the new topics I find of interest and subscribe or reply to those I wish to keep up with.
- I've set my profile to send me a daily digest of each subscription I make.
- Throughout the day I refresh The Cove's home page in my browser to see if something new has developed during the day.

This has suited me well thus far since I first posted my original question. I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and I had a lot of daily digest emails for all those subscriptions I made. It took me a few days to get caught up.

Thanks to all that made suggestions.

Jaime

Although I did not start the post, I have updated mshell's Post 2 (http://elsmar.com/Forums/showpost.php?p=81861&postcount=2) to include details.