• About Discussions
• Reading and Sending Messages

What do you want to do?

• read a message
• mark all messages as read
• mark selected messages as read
• mark selected messages as unread
• send a message with or without attachments
• reply to or quote a message
• download a message
• compile and download messages
• search messages
• change topic settings
• view members of your private topic

Reading a message | Top

By default, messages are presented by threads. Threaded messages are a series of replies to the same subject. The header row of each message thread displays the following information:

• Status: displays the number of unread messages in the thread over the total number of messages in the thread.
• Subject: displays the subject of the first message in the thread and the magnifying glass icon. You can view the message thread by clicking the magnifying glass icon.

1. From Discussions, do one of the following:
   • If you want to view messages for a single topic, click the topic containing the messages you want to read. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
   • If you want to view all messages, click All. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. In the header row, expand the thread by clicking the arrow next to it. All unread messages in the thread appear. Note: A paper clip icon appears if the message has attachments.
3. Click the name of message that you want to read. The message opens.
4. If the message includes a file attachment, you can do the following:

   Note: It is recommended that you install updated anti-virus software before viewing or downloading attachments.

   • If you want to display the file attachment:
     1. From the Discussion Messages screen or an open message, click the paper clip icon or See Attached. The Attachments screen appears.
     2. From the Attachments screen, click the file you want to view. The file is displayed.
   • If you want to download the file attachment to your computer:
     1. From the Discussion Messages screen or an open message, click the paper clip icon or See Attached. The Attachments screen appears.
     2. Select the file and click Download. Your browser's file download screen appears.
     3. Follow the onscreen instructions.
     4. Click Close. The message appears.
        
5. When you have finished reading the message, you can:
• close the message. Click Close. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
• reply to the message.
• download the message.

Marking all messages as read | Top

Note: Threaded messages, whether collapsed or expanded, will be marked as read.

1. From Discussions, click the topic containing the messages that you want to mark. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
   
2. Click Mark All As Read. All messages are marked as read.

Marking selected messages as read | Top

1. From Discussions, click the topic containing the messages that you want to mark. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. Display the messages that you want to mark. Note: By default, only unread messages are listed; to view all messages, click All.
3. Select the messages that you want to mark as read:
   • To select individual messages in a thread, select the check box next to each message.
   • To select all messages in a thread, in the thread's header row, select the check box next to the magnifying glass icon.
   • To select all messages in a topic, in the topic's header row next to Subject, select the check box.
     
4. Click Mark as read. The selected messages are marked as read. Tip: To automatically scroll to the bottom of the screen to click Mark as read, click Message options.

Marking selected messages as unread | Top

1. From Discussions, click the topic containing the messages that you want to mark. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. Display the messages that you want to mark. Note: By default, only unread messages are listed; to view all messages, click All.
3. Select the messages that you want to mark as unread:
   • To select individual messages in a thread, select the check box next to each message.
   • To select all messages in a thread, in the thread's header row, select the check box next to the magnifying glass icon.
   • To select all messages in a topic, in the topic's header row next to Subject, select the check box.
4. Click Mark as unread. The selected messages are marked as unread. Tip: To automatically scroll to the bottom of the screen to click Mark as unread, click Message options.

Sending messages with or without attachments | Top

1. From Discussions, click the topic to which you wish to post a message. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. Click Compose message. The Compose Discussion Message screen appears in a new browser window.
3. If you want to post the message to a different topic, from the Topic drop-down list, select the topic to which you want to post the message.
4. In the Subject text box, enter the subject for your message.
5. Compose your message by doing one of the following:
   • In the Message text box, enter your message. The following message options are available:
     • To change the number of viewable lines in the Message text box, from the Height of edit area drop-down list, select a number and click Resize.
     • To allow text to continue horizontally beyond each visible line, select Don't wrap text.
   • Click HTML editor. For help, see HTML Editor. Note: Depending on administrator settings, the HTML editor may not be available.
6. If you want to insert an equation, use the WebEQ Equation Editor for Microsoft Windows or for Macintosh. Note: Depending on administrator settings, the Equation Editor may not be available.
7. If you want to attach a file:
   1. Next to Attachments, click Browse. Your computer's file browser appears.
   2. Locate and select the file you want to upload. The path and filename of your attachment appears in the Attachments text box.
   3. Click Attach file. The filename appears as a link, and the file is attached to your message.
      
8. If you want to preview your message before sending:
   1. Click Preview. A preview of your message appears in a new browser window.
   2. Click Close. The Compose Discussion Message screen appears.
9. Click Post. Your message is posted to the discussion topic.

Replying to or quoting a message | Top

You can reply to discussion messages that were posted by other users in the course. Note: If replying to a message containing an equation, you cannot edit the equation. You can insert or edit an equation only by replying privately or quoting the message.

1. From Discussions, click the topic containing the message to which you want to reply. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. Click the message to which you want to reply. The message appears.
3. Choose the format for your reply:
   • To reply to all members of the topic without including the original message, click Reply. The Compose Message screen appears with the original message at the bottom of the screen.
   • To reply only to the person who posted the message, click Reply Privately. The Compose Mail Message screen appears with the original message in the Message text box and at the bottom of the screen. Note: When you reply privately, your reply is sent as a mail message to the person who posted the message, rather than being sent as part of the discussion forum. The recipient of your reply should check their mail messages for your response.
   • To include the original message in your reply to all topic members, click Quote. The Compose Message screen appears with the original message in the Message text box and at the bottom of the screen.
4. In the Subject text box, edit the subject of your message.
5. Compose your message by doing one of the following:
   • In the Message text box, enter your message. The following message options are available:
     • To change the number of viewable lines in the Message text box, from the Height of edit area drop-down list, select a number and click Resize.
     • To allow text to continue horizontally beyond each visible line, select Don't wrap text.
   • Click HTML editor. For help, see HTML Editor. Note: Depending on administrator settings, the HTML editor may not be available.
6. If you are replying privately or quoting a message and you want to insert or edit an equation, use the WebEQ Equation Editor for Microsoft Windows or for Macintosh. Depending on administrator settings, the Equation Editor may not be available.
7. If you want to attach a file:
   1. Next to Attachments, click Browse. Your computer's file browser appears.
   2. Locate and select the file you want to upload. The path and filename of your attachment appears in the Attachments text box.
   3. Click Attach file. The filename appears as a hyperlink, and the file is attached to your message.
      
8. If you want to preview your message before sending:
   1. Click Preview. A preview of your message appears in a new browser window.
   2. Click Close. The Compose Discussion Message screen appears.
9. Click Post. Your reply is posted to the discussion topic.

Downloading a message | Top

1. From Discussions, click the topic containing the message you want to download. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. Click the message that you want to download. The message appears.
3. Click Download. Your browser's file download screen appears.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions.
5. Click Close. The Discussion Messages screen appears.

Compiling and downloading messages | Top

This feature allows you to select messages, compile them into one file, and download the file to your computer.

1. From Discussions, click the topic containing the messages you want to compile and download. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
2. Display the messages you want to compile:
   • To display all messages, click All.
   • To display only unread messages, click Unread.
3. Select the format by which you want to select messages for compilation:
   • If you want to display messages in chronological order, click Unthreaded.
   • If you want to display messages by threads, click Threaded. Note: Threaded messages are a series of replies to the same subject. To expand a thread, click the hyperlinked triangle.
4. Select the messages to compile:
   • To select individual messages, select the check box next to each message you want to compile.
   • To select all messages in a thread, in the thread's header row, select the check box next to the magnifying glass icon.
   • To select all messages displayed, in the header row next to Subject, select the check box.
5. Click Compile. The Compiled Messages screen appears displaying your compiled messages. Tip: To automatically scroll to the bottom of the screen to click Compile, click Message options.
6. If you want to download your compiled messages:
   1. Click Download. Your browser's file download screen appears.
   2. Follow the onscreen instructions.
7. Click Close. The Discussion Messages screen appears.

Searching messages | Top

You may search messages by

• first name of the message author
• last name of the message author
• user name of the message author
• thread subject
  
• unique message number
• date that the message was sent
• content of the mail message

After you have searched your messages, you may compile and download them.

To search messages:

1. From Discussions, click Search. The Search Topics screen appears in a new browser window.
2. Select your search parameters:
   1. From the Search drop-down list, select the messages to search.
   2. From the Topic drop-down list, select the topic to search.
   3. From the Criteria drop-down list, select the filter to apply to your search:
   • None = no filter
     
   • First Name = first name of the message author
   • Last Name = last name of the message author
   • User ID = user name of the message author
   • Subject = the thread subject
   • Message no = the unique message number associated with each message
   • Date = the date that the message was sent
   • Message = any of the words in the text of the mail message
   4. From the Comparison drop-down list, select how the information entered in the Value text box will be compared with the search Criteria
      • Contains = retrieves messages containing the letters or numbers entered in the Value text box
      • Equals = retrieves messages that match exactly the letters or numbers entered in the Value text box
      • Before = in combination with the Date or Number filter, retrieves all messages before the date or number entered in the Value text box. In combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message) retrieves all messages containing letters that occur alphabetically before the word entered in the Value text box.
      • After = in combination with the Date or Number filter, retrieves all messages after the date or number entered in the Value text box. In combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message), retrieves all messages containing letters that occur alphabetically after the word entered in the Value text box.
      • Starts with = in combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message) retrieves messages with words that begin with the letter entered in the Value text box.
      • Ends with = in combination with a text filter (Name, Subject, Message) retrieves words that end with the letter entered in the Value text box.
   5. In the Value text box, enter the words or numbers you want to search. If you have selected the Date filter, type the date in the format mm,dd,yyyy including the commas.
3. Click Search. The Discussion Messages screen appears listing all messages that satisfy your search requirements.

Changing topic settings | Top

Topic Settings allows you to control how many threads per page to display on your screen. Selections made in Topic Settings will apply only to your own screen.

1. From Discussions, click Topic Settings. The Topic Settings screen appears.
2. Next to Threads per page, select the number of threads you want to view at once:
   • To set a limit for the number of threads to display per page, enter the limit number in the Display text box.
   • To view all the threads in a topic at once, select Display all messages at once.
3. Next to Length of subject, select the number of characters to display in the Subject column for each thread and message:
   • To set a limit for the number of characters to display for the subject of each thread and message, enter the limit number in the Display first text box.
   • To display the entire subject of each thread and message, select Display entire subject.
4. Click Update. Topic Settings is updated.
5. To return to the Discussions table, click Back.

Viewing members of a private topic | Top

Note: Depending on administrator settings, you may not be able to view the members of your private topics.

1. From the Discussions screen, under the Status column, click private for the topic whose members you want to view. The Private Topic screen appears.
2. To return to the Discussions screen, click the Discussions link in the breadcrumbs.

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