Suggestions, problems and queries.

[Fester]

Something that I have been meaning to ask for ages now...

Why is it that when I click on the button ''show new replies to my posts'' there are items in there that ARE NOT listed in ''show unread posts since my last visit''

Unless I check BOTH lists, I often miss things.

I would expect to see ALL unread posts in one list .... and only the ones I had contributed to on the other.  It doesn't work that way.

Its not an isolated example, it happens every day.

[DaveR]

Every time you log in, the 'Show unread posts since last visit' bit is reset. So, unless you look at EVERY post in the 'unread posts' list EVERY time you log in, the problem you've described will happen and the posts you haven't read will only subsequently appear in 'Show new replies to your posts'.

[Fester]

Eh?  No.
I don't think I'm explaining myself very well.
I am always logged in... my browser is set that way.

But how can a post that is UNREAD,  (on a thread that I have been involved in) be UNREAD in the MY list ... but not in the total list?

By definition, it should be in the list of 'ALL since my last visit'.... AND the list of ones I have been involved in.

[Trojan]

I just click on the little blue "new" icons, then click on the home page from time to time, which deletes all the threads I've read, and leaves future threads in place to be read in the future.

When I've finished reading I click "mark all messages as read" (at the bottom of the home page) to delete annoying threads that I'm not remotely interested in like "Follow On" and "Fun For All".

[Ian]

I don't think I'm explaining myself very well.
I am always logged in... my browser is set that way.

But how can a post that is UNREAD,  (on a thread that I have been involved in) be UNREAD in the MY list ... but not in the total list?

The best option is 'show unread posts since my last visit'  That will always show every unread post since your last visit AND when you last clicked "Mark all messages as read'.  The other option will show actual posts in response to your posts, but not the most recent post in any topic which has seen posting since you last invoked 'show unread posts since my last visit'.

In summary, if you want to see the latest post in every topic that has had any posting in since you last invoked that option, use 'show unread posts since my last visit'.  If, however, you only want to see actual replies to your posts, but not necessarily the most recent post in a topic, then use ''show new replies to my posts'.

While we're on this subject, we probably need to be clearer about terminology. There is one forum (Three Towns), three Categories (Forum central, The Local, Members' lounge) nineteen Boards (the different sections within each Category) and a whole welter of topics.

This topic "Suggestions, problems and queries" contains various Threads;  more than most, actually, since it's all about different questions, but this apparent rambling of mine has a point.  'show new replies to my posts' is more thread oriented, while 'show unread posts since my last visit' works on a topic by topic basis.

[Fester]

But... I have to tell you... ''show unread posts since my last visit'' DOESN'T show them all...

When I have exhausted that list .... I click on ''show new replies to my posts''    ... and there are others residing there!

That shouldn't be the case,  but it is ... day, after day, after day.

There.. I said it!

[DaveR]

Well, click on both then!  ZXZ  Z**

[Fester]

This reply from you is a classic example... it was in NEITHER list ... I spotted it by accident on the home page!

[Yorkie]

Accidents will happen - and sometimes we are grateful for them!   

[Ian]

But... I have to tell you... ''show unread posts since my last visit'' DOESN'T show them all...

Are you sure?

When I have exhausted that list .... I click on ''show new replies to my posts''    ... and there are others residing there!

Well, as I said, the first option shows you the most recent recent posting in every unvisited topic.   It doesn't, of course, show you what replies have been made to your posts, which will then appear - as if by magic - and provide the illusion that there are posts you're missing.

[Merddin Emrys]

this is making my brain hurt!  L0L  more complicated than the new recycling L0L
I just look at the recent posts section at the bottom

[Ian]

It's really pretty simple, but it's the specialist language that causes the problem. The 'Show unread posts" button shows you which topics have been posted in since you last marked them all as read or visited them. The 'show new replies" is more specific, and reveals only replies to any post you made previously.  

We can modify the php template so only one option appears at the top;  that might help stave off some of the confusion.

[Yorkie]

I find the easiest way is to go down the left hand column  of the main page and if there are new posts go to that section.  There I then look at all the new posts in that section, and take ach subject in turn sometimes having to back track for other posts in the same thread.  Once I have exhausted that Section I then go back to the Main page and select the next section in the left hand column that has new posts.  This continues until I have read all the posts or marked as read those I don't want to read.  Simple really.   ZXZ

[Trojan]

I find the easiest way is to go down the left hand column  of the main page and if there are new posts go to that section.  There I then look at all the new posts in that section, and take ach subject in turn sometimes having to back track for other posts in the same thread.  Once I have exhausted that Section I then go back to the Main page and select the next section in the left hand column that has new posts.  This continues until I have read all the posts or marked as read those I don't want to read.  Simple really.   ZXZ

Yes, that's what I do. 

[hollins]

One thing I would personally find useful is if it were possible to show a few more posts in the recent posts list.
I check this list regularly having become a 3 towns forum addict and most times it is long enough but it would be great if there were a slightly longer list to catch up with if there are a lot of posts within a few hours.