Discussion Groups

Reading messages

On the left is a list of topics. Each time someone posts a new question, that creates a new topic. All replies to that question will be listed under the same topic. The default view is with threads showing i.e. all the messages in each topic are shown, with the relationships between individual messages. If you would rather see only the list of topics, without the messages within topics being shown, click on the link marked "Collapse Threads". The number of messages in each topic will still be shown. You can go back to the threaded view by clicking on the link "View Threads".

To read a topic, click on it in the topic list. In this view, use the "Previous Message" and "Next Message" links to navigate within the topic, or click on the individual messages. You can also go to the previous or next topic. To return to the list of topics, click on the link "Go to Topic", which takes you back to where you were. "Go to Top" goes to the latest topic i.e. at the top of the list.

Posting messages

If you wish to post a new question (creating a new topic), click on the "New Topic" link in the topic list. You will be presented with a form in which you can put your question. If you wish to be notified by e-mail when somebody replies to your message, enter your e-mail address and click on the checkbox marked "Email replies to this thread, to the address above". Once you have finished composing your message, click on the "Post" button.

When you are reading a message, the form for sending a reply is shown in the middle of the page. The procedure is the same as posting a new message, with the exception that if you wish to refer to the text of the message you are replying to, you may click on the button marked "Quote".

Searching

You may wish to find all the messages relating to a particular subject. In this case, click on the "Search" link. There are further details on the searching procedure there.

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