Subject Lines ** Accessing The List's Archives

[Guest guest]

Howdy Rachel .. other good folks ..

 

Not sure how the system works but .. read on ...

 

 

 

> Hi folks. I wanted to reply to the " message search " information because not

> everyone is aware that is having a problem with its message search

> function. I use the search function all the time, and it's very frustrating

> because it just does not work right dependably.

>

> For example, I was looking for a post that contained " butch " because Butch

> is a frequent poster and I wanted to see the post that said " let's see what

> Butch has to say " or something like that. Anyway, I put (with no quotes)

> " butch " in the search box at the top of the Messages page. Got nothing. Got

> zip with capitalized Butch, and nothing with the " advanced " search looking

> for Butch or butch in the message body. Since I'm looking RIGHT AT a message

> with Butch's name in it, obviously hasn't got their arms around this

> problem yet.

>

 

I have never used the Message Search function .. I use the Advanced Search

function. It is off to the right of the Message Search function .. in

small red letters.

 

If you just put my name in the Author Block .. as Butch Owen .. then click

it ..a list of 4,060 messages pops up. The sequence of listing is a bit

confusing .. I can't explain it.

 

If you go further than just listing my name .. like type in Oregano in the

Subject Line .. a list of 162 messages comes up .. so I reckon we need to

look for a subject to narrow it down.

 

This bit of using appropriate subject lines has been something I have

emphasized for a long time .. its tough to find a message when the subject

line is .. I have a question .. or something like that.

 

If folks will go to Files .. left hand corner of the Main Menu .. click it

and the last entry is .. Netiquette Policy on Subject Lines. Click and

read that and you will see how very important it is to assign an appropriate

subject to any post .. and why sometimes you might need to CHANGE the

subject line of someone else's post when you are replying to it.

 

 

> If you look at the message right above the search box, here's what

> you see:

>

> Having problems with message search? Fill out this form to ensure your

> group is one of the first to be migrated to the new message search system.

> <and then bang your head on your desk - ok it doesn't say that last thing,

> but it oughta>

>

 

That message is down now .. at least it is when I use the Advanced Search

function.

 

>

> Anyway, apparently knows something is amiss with the message search

> button, so if someone asks a question for which there's an answer in the

> " archives " be aware that the search function is unreliable. I earnestly wish

> would fix this.

>

 

I am sure that has many problems. ;-)

 

A small part of the reference I gave (above) states:

 

 

Subject Lines: Businesses and government agencies and other organizations

that maintain a filing system always begin the subject line of a

communication with words that allow that communication to be filed properly

and later retrieved .. those who don't do this are not taken seriously

because they are route step amateurs.

 

 

 

There is an archive for this Group that can be searched by all members ..

but its next to impossible to find something when the main subject is not

clear .. trying to find information when a post begins with. " I Have A

Question " .. or " Question on Absorption " .. " Can We Use EO Around Birds? " or

other vague descriptions of the intent of the post .. is as difficult as is

finding an honest politician. " I Have " and " Question " and " Can We " , unto

themselves .. are NOT Subjects .. so they should NOT be the lead in to a

Subject Line.

 

 

 

If the post is asking about Rosemary .. or Absorption .. or Birds .. or

whatever .. the post should have a subject line like: Rosemary - Can It

Help To Restore Hair . .or .. Absorption of EO .. or .. EO and Birds .. or

... Birds and EO, etc..

 

 

 

This properly identifies the main subject and allows folks to later retrieve

it from their files or the List Archive.

 

 

 

Please remember this and do it .. it is important to all of us. If you

have tried to search the Group Archive you will know how important it is.

 

best regards,

> Rachel in AZ

>

 

Y'all have a good one .. and keep smiling. :-)

 

Butch ... http://www.AV-AT.com