Making the Most of the Watercooler (Tips)
Replying to a Member Instead of the List
By default if you reply to a message that reply goes to the full message list. This may not be your intent, and we Moderators prefer that personal messages not be sent to the full list. In fact there are many reasons not to send a message to the full list, and send it directly to the member (e.g. replying to e member about an item they are selling). The new Yahoo interface makes it more complicated to reply to members rather than the full list. Here is how it works.
If you receive Watercooler messages via email the process is the same as it was before. Simply change the "To:" field in the reply message and send your message directly. If you do not change the “To:” field your reply will go to the full list. If the moderators see a message that by its context looks to be for a person rather than the list we generally send it back to you.
If you view Watercooler messages in your web browser, do the following to direct your reply to the member.
1) Click on the message subject from the list of messages or conversations. Click in the purple "Reply" box. The individual message will be displayed with a reply box below it. The default reply is to the group.
2) Note that to the LEFT of the word "Subject:" in the subject line there are two down arrows. By clicking on this double down arrow icon, you will expand the message form to see the delivery options for your reply.
3) Then in the "To:" field there is a drop down arrow that provides choices of the destinations you wish to send the message to. Select your option (the member's address), enter your message, and send it.
Changing Delivery Options
You may manage how you receive Watercooler messages and to what email address they are delivered to. By default each message posted is sent to the email address you used to sign up for the Watercooler.
You may change the settings to receive a digest of messages collected by Yahoo and sent in one email. This is anywhere from a few to up to 20 messages in one email. You may also turn off the delivery of any emails from the Watercooler. Do this if you want to only access the ‘cooler via its web interface.
You may also change the email address emails from the Watercooler are delivered to.
To change any of these options, please log in to Yahoo under the ID you signed up for the Watercooler and navigate to this page:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/management/membership
Searching Past Messages
Most every type of service provider recommendation has been asked before on the Montclair Watercooler. Some have of course been asked more recently than others and some recommendations are perhaps out-dated. Still, to save you time (waiting for responses) and eliminate unnecessary repetition on the list, we ask that you use the search function to research past recommendations for what you are looking for. Note that this function is for all messages and types - not just recommendations. Our message history back to 2001 is available.
Searches are done from the "Conversations" page of the Watercooler Group. That page is here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/conversations/topics
Once you navigate to that page you will see a search box near the top of the page. Its contents by default read "Search Conversations". Position your cursor in this field and enter your search terms (e.g. roofer, painting, etc.). A list of posts containing your search term(s) will be returned.
At this point you may customize your search by clicking on the "Advanced Search" button on the right side upper portion (in the menu bar) of the page.
Note, there are often multiple pages of hits (like google) that you may need to page through. They’ll be sorted by most recent first. Of course, if you do not find any help, feel free to post to the board. Please mention that you tried to search for past messages.
The Watercooler Files
The Montclair Watercooler has access to a rudimentary File storage system for the posting of reference data or your files which you would like to share with the group. You may access it by clicking the "Files" link on the left hand of the web page navigation block for the Watercooler.
The web address for the files is here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/files
The creation of a file is no longer required for all local non-commercial requests on the Montclair Watercooler. This includes all requests such as For Sale, Employment, Yard Sales, and the like. That said, you may still wish to use the File section as the information remains more static in one storage location.
There are a few types of posts which do require a file and can not be posted as messages. Business Cards (promotion of your business) and all items or events outside the Montclair area (e.g. events beyond the geographic boundaries of the list) require a file.
To post a file in the file section, navigate to the appropriate folder/category for the type of file you will be adding. For example, if you are selling an item, go to the For Sale and Wanted folder and click it. Then, you’ll see sub folders. Click on the “For_Sale” one to add a for sale item. Once you have navigated to the proper folder then you may add a text file or upload one you already have (e.g. a PDF file of the item you wish to sell). To add a new text file, click the purple document icon with the “+” sign in it on the upper right side of the page. If you hover over that icon it will present “Create Text File” on the display. To upload a file you already have, click the “Upload” button to the right of the Create button. You will be prompted to select the file you wish to add.
Once you have added or created a file, you may post a message to the list referencing the file, but please do not fully repeat the text of that file. Do include a link to the file folder location.
Including links to photos inside a MWC Post
As we're sure many of you are well aware, the Yahoo group tool we use for the Watercooler has some limitations. All such groups/lists have their drawbacks, but there are often things you can do to work around some of the issues.
Many of you have noticed that the Files section that Yahoo provides us is quite small and cumbersome. We agree. Thankfully, advances in cloud storage on the net offers a simple solution.
There are many such online storage services which typically offer a basic/small amount of storage for free. Many are familiar with some of the most common services such as; Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, or MS Skydrive. A google search of cloud based sharing services will describe many more we're sure.
Each of these services allow you to create, modify, and share files that are stored on their systems remotely. They also provide smartphone apps that allow you to share from mobile devices.
How can that be of use on the Montclair Watercooler?
Well, once you have a sharable file on one of these services, you can create a public link to that file and share it. This is generally done on the web page of that service or with an option on the file system of your computer. That sharable link can then be posted in a Watercooler message.
Some examples:
1) If you are out and around town and you snap a photo of something that is of interest to the 'cooler community and you want to share it with us here, you would copy the sharable link to that photo in a new message and write what ever text you wanted to accompany it ans post it to the list.
2) If you want to sell an item or highlight an issue you want a recommendation on, why not post a link to a photo or photos this way to help describe the item to us?
3) If you have a local nonprofit event that has a promotional flier already created and you want to share it along with your announcement, share the link to it in your message.
There are many ways to enhance your messages to the list by linking to the content you already have on your shared cloud storage area.
Please note though that our existing rules against commercial postings still apply. If you wish to share files or content it should not be to advertise or promote your business.
Finally, although we would love to help you with the technical detail of how to use these cloud based services, our time is limited. We would refer you to the help links that typically accompany the services. Here are links to some of these services:
https://www.dropbox.com/
https://app.box.com/personal/
https://drive.google.com/
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/skydrive/download
Sharing a Photo to the List
It is sort of confusing. Did you want to post a photo only or a full document with photos for a File area?
A. Just adding photos or albums to the Watercooler.
Members can post just a photo by going to the “Photos” area from the main Watercooler page.
Go here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/info
If not logged in under the ID you used to join the group, Yahoo will prompt you to do so.
In the menu row under the banner you will see a menu. Select “Photos” there. The page will change and show all the current photos and add a new menu for them. To add new photos, select the “New Album+” box on the right. Then you’ll get a pop up window to add a new album. Do so and add your photo(s). Then to share, just point people to the Photos page in your post.
B. You want to post in a File area
First navigate to that Folder. Start by selecting the “Files” selection next to the “Photos” menu option on the Main Watercooler Page. Say for example you want to post in the “For Sale” area. Click through the menu and go here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/files/FOR_SALE_and_WANTED/FOR_SALE/
Once where you want to be, you will see a shaded menu of option on the right side above all the items (starts with the word “Actions” and a down arrow. You can hover over or click to see what the options are and they are pretty self explanatory, but that’s where you add or create documents or folders in the current folder. You could upload a photo here, but better to have a PDF or such with a full description of what you’re selling.
It will confirm and you’re done. Then post a message referencing that file.
Replying to a Member Instead of the List
By default if you reply to a message that reply goes to the full message list. This may not be your intent, and we Moderators prefer that personal messages not be sent to the full list. In fact there are many reasons not to send a message to the full list, and send it directly to the member (e.g. replying to e member about an item they are selling). The new Yahoo interface makes it more complicated to reply to members rather than the full list. Here is how it works.
If you receive Watercooler messages via email the process is the same as it was before. Simply change the "To:" field in the reply message and send your message directly. If you do not change the “To:” field your reply will go to the full list. If the moderators see a message that by its context looks to be for a person rather than the list we generally send it back to you.
If you view Watercooler messages in your web browser, do the following to direct your reply to the member.
1) Click on the message subject from the list of messages or conversations. Click in the purple "Reply" box. The individual message will be displayed with a reply box below it. The default reply is to the group.
2) Note that to the LEFT of the word "Subject:" in the subject line there are two down arrows. By clicking on this double down arrow icon, you will expand the message form to see the delivery options for your reply.
3) Then in the "To:" field there is a drop down arrow that provides choices of the destinations you wish to send the message to. Select your option (the member's address), enter your message, and send it.
Changing Delivery Options
You may manage how you receive Watercooler messages and to what email address they are delivered to. By default each message posted is sent to the email address you used to sign up for the Watercooler.
You may change the settings to receive a digest of messages collected by Yahoo and sent in one email. This is anywhere from a few to up to 20 messages in one email. You may also turn off the delivery of any emails from the Watercooler. Do this if you want to only access the ‘cooler via its web interface.
You may also change the email address emails from the Watercooler are delivered to.
To change any of these options, please log in to Yahoo under the ID you signed up for the Watercooler and navigate to this page:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/management/membership
Searching Past Messages
Most every type of service provider recommendation has been asked before on the Montclair Watercooler. Some have of course been asked more recently than others and some recommendations are perhaps out-dated. Still, to save you time (waiting for responses) and eliminate unnecessary repetition on the list, we ask that you use the search function to research past recommendations for what you are looking for. Note that this function is for all messages and types - not just recommendations. Our message history back to 2001 is available.
Searches are done from the "Conversations" page of the Watercooler Group. That page is here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/conversations/topics
Once you navigate to that page you will see a search box near the top of the page. Its contents by default read "Search Conversations". Position your cursor in this field and enter your search terms (e.g. roofer, painting, etc.). A list of posts containing your search term(s) will be returned.
At this point you may customize your search by clicking on the "Advanced Search" button on the right side upper portion (in the menu bar) of the page.
Note, there are often multiple pages of hits (like google) that you may need to page through. They’ll be sorted by most recent first. Of course, if you do not find any help, feel free to post to the board. Please mention that you tried to search for past messages.
The Watercooler Files
The Montclair Watercooler has access to a rudimentary File storage system for the posting of reference data or your files which you would like to share with the group. You may access it by clicking the "Files" link on the left hand of the web page navigation block for the Watercooler.
The web address for the files is here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/files
The creation of a file is no longer required for all local non-commercial requests on the Montclair Watercooler. This includes all requests such as For Sale, Employment, Yard Sales, and the like. That said, you may still wish to use the File section as the information remains more static in one storage location.
There are a few types of posts which do require a file and can not be posted as messages. Business Cards (promotion of your business) and all items or events outside the Montclair area (e.g. events beyond the geographic boundaries of the list) require a file.
To post a file in the file section, navigate to the appropriate folder/category for the type of file you will be adding. For example, if you are selling an item, go to the For Sale and Wanted folder and click it. Then, you’ll see sub folders. Click on the “For_Sale” one to add a for sale item. Once you have navigated to the proper folder then you may add a text file or upload one you already have (e.g. a PDF file of the item you wish to sell). To add a new text file, click the purple document icon with the “+” sign in it on the upper right side of the page. If you hover over that icon it will present “Create Text File” on the display. To upload a file you already have, click the “Upload” button to the right of the Create button. You will be prompted to select the file you wish to add.
Once you have added or created a file, you may post a message to the list referencing the file, but please do not fully repeat the text of that file. Do include a link to the file folder location.
Including links to photos inside a MWC Post
As we're sure many of you are well aware, the Yahoo group tool we use for the Watercooler has some limitations. All such groups/lists have their drawbacks, but there are often things you can do to work around some of the issues.
Many of you have noticed that the Files section that Yahoo provides us is quite small and cumbersome. We agree. Thankfully, advances in cloud storage on the net offers a simple solution.
There are many such online storage services which typically offer a basic/small amount of storage for free. Many are familiar with some of the most common services such as; Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, or MS Skydrive. A google search of cloud based sharing services will describe many more we're sure.
Each of these services allow you to create, modify, and share files that are stored on their systems remotely. They also provide smartphone apps that allow you to share from mobile devices.
How can that be of use on the Montclair Watercooler?
Well, once you have a sharable file on one of these services, you can create a public link to that file and share it. This is generally done on the web page of that service or with an option on the file system of your computer. That sharable link can then be posted in a Watercooler message.
Some examples:
1) If you are out and around town and you snap a photo of something that is of interest to the 'cooler community and you want to share it with us here, you would copy the sharable link to that photo in a new message and write what ever text you wanted to accompany it ans post it to the list.
2) If you want to sell an item or highlight an issue you want a recommendation on, why not post a link to a photo or photos this way to help describe the item to us?
3) If you have a local nonprofit event that has a promotional flier already created and you want to share it along with your announcement, share the link to it in your message.
There are many ways to enhance your messages to the list by linking to the content you already have on your shared cloud storage area.
Please note though that our existing rules against commercial postings still apply. If you wish to share files or content it should not be to advertise or promote your business.
Finally, although we would love to help you with the technical detail of how to use these cloud based services, our time is limited. We would refer you to the help links that typically accompany the services. Here are links to some of these services:
https://www.dropbox.com/
https://app.box.com/personal/
https://drive.google.com/
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/skydrive/download
Sharing a Photo to the List
It is sort of confusing. Did you want to post a photo only or a full document with photos for a File area?
A. Just adding photos or albums to the Watercooler.
Members can post just a photo by going to the “Photos” area from the main Watercooler page.
Go here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/info
If not logged in under the ID you used to join the group, Yahoo will prompt you to do so.
In the menu row under the banner you will see a menu. Select “Photos” there. The page will change and show all the current photos and add a new menu for them. To add new photos, select the “New Album+” box on the right. Then you’ll get a pop up window to add a new album. Do so and add your photo(s). Then to share, just point people to the Photos page in your post.
B. You want to post in a File area
First navigate to that Folder. Start by selecting the “Files” selection next to the “Photos” menu option on the Main Watercooler Page. Say for example you want to post in the “For Sale” area. Click through the menu and go here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/MtcWatercooler/files/FOR_SALE_and_WANTED/FOR_SALE/
Once where you want to be, you will see a shaded menu of option on the right side above all the items (starts with the word “Actions” and a down arrow. You can hover over or click to see what the options are and they are pretty self explanatory, but that’s where you add or create documents or folders in the current folder. You could upload a photo here, but better to have a PDF or such with a full description of what you’re selling.
It will confirm and you’re done. Then post a message referencing that file.