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WebCT Faculty Tip Sheets

Send and Read Discussion Messages

Tips for sending and reading discussion messages:

  • To view both read and unread messages, click All.
  • To view messages by thread, click Threaded. 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 View thread icon.
  • To expand a thread, click the green arrow in the Status column. To collapse the thread, click the green arrow again.
  • To view the message thread, click the View thread icon next to the thread.
  • To view messages in chronological order, click Unthreaded.
  • To display any messages that were just sent, click Update Listing.
  • To view a different topic, from the select topic drop-down list, select a topic and click Go.
  • To move to the bottom of the screen to access more options, click Designer message options.

To read messages:

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. In the Discussions table, click the topic containing the messages you want to read. The Discussion messages screen appears.
  3. In the header row, click Unread, and then expand all of the threads by clicking Unthreaded. All unread messages appear. A paper clip icon appears if the message has attachments.
    Discussion topic with arrows pointing to Unread and Unthreaded buttons
  4. Click the message that you want to read. The Subject screen appears.
    • If the message includes a file attachment, click See Attached next to the paper clip icon. The Attachments screen appears. Note: It is recommended that you install updated anti-virus software before viewing or downloading attachments.
      Message with arrow pointing to "See attached"
      • To view the file attachment, click the file name. The file opens in the view frame.
      • To download the file attachment:
        1. Select the file, and click Download. Your browser's file download dialog box appears.
        2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
        3. From the Attachments screen, click Close. The Subject screen appears and you are returned to the message.
  5. When you have finished reading the message, you can:
    • close the message. Click Close. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
    • read the previous() or next () message in the thread.
    • reply to a message
    • quote a message
    • download a message

To send messages:

You can send messages to other users in the course.

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. In the Discussions table, click the topic to which you want to post a message. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
  3. Click Compose message. The Compose Discussion Message screen appears in a new browser window.
    Discussion topic with arrow pointing to Compose message button
  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.
  6. If you want to create or import an equation, use the WebEQ Equation Editor for Windows or Macintosh.
  7. If you want to attach a file:
    1. To locate and select the file, next to the Attachments text box, click Browse. Your computer's file browser appears. Select the file you want to upload. The path and filename you selected is displayed in the Attachments text box.
    2. Click Attach file. 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. The message is sent and a copy is placed in the Outbox folder.
    Compose Discussion Message window

To reply to messages:

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. From the Discussions table, click the topic containing the message to which you want to reply. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
  3. Click the message to which you want to reply. The message appears in a new browser window.
  4. Choose the format for your reply:
    Reply buttons
    • To reply to all members of the topic without including the original message, click Reply. The Reply to Message screen appears.
    • To reply only to the person who posted the message, click Reply Privately. The Reply Privately to Message screen appears. 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 Reply to and Quote Message screen appears.
  5. In the Subject text box, enter or edit the subject for your message.
  6. 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.
  7. If you want to attach a file:
    1. To locate and select the file, next to the Attachments text box, click Browse. Your computer's file browser appears. Select the file you want to upload. The path and filename you selected is displayed in the Attachments text box.
    2. Click Attach file. 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 Reply to Message screen appears.
  9. Click Post. The message is sent and a copy is placed in the Outbox folder.

To mark all messages as read:

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

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. In the Discussions table, click the topic containing the messages that you want to mark. The Discussion messages screen appears.
  3. Display the messages that you want to mark. By default, only unread messages are listed. To view all messages, click All.
  4. Click Mark All As Read. A warning message appears.
  5. Click OK. All messages are marked as read.

To mark selected messages as read:

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. In the Discussions table, click the topic containing the messages that you want to mark. The Discussion messages screen appears.
  3. Display the messages that you want to mark. By default, only unread messages are listed; to view all messages, click All.
  4. Select the messages that you want to mark as read.
  5. Click Mark as read. A warning message appears. Note: If this message option is not visible, click Designer message options to move to the bottom of the screen.
  6. Click OK. The selected messages are marked as read.

To mark selected messages as unread:

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. From the Discussions table, click the topic that contains the messages that you would like to mark. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
  3. Display the messages that you would like to mark. By default, only unread messages are listed. To view all messages, click All.
  4. Select the messages that you would like to mark as unread. To mark all messages in a thread as unread, select the check box next to thread.
  5. Click Mark as unread A warning message appears. Note: If this message option is not visible, click Designer message options to move to the bottom of the screen.
  6. Click OK. The selected messages are marked as unread.

To download messages:

  1. Go to the Discussion Board. The Discussions screen appears.
  2. In the Discussions table, click the topic containing the message that you want to download. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
  3. Click the message that you want to download. The message appears in a new browser window.
  4. Click Download. Your browser's file download d ialog box appears. Follow the on-screen instructions.
  5. When the download is complete, click Close. The message browser window appears.
  6. Click Close. The Discussion Messages screen appears.
 
CRC Help Support for WebCT Designers is available through the Computing Resource Center. To contact a Help Desk representative, please call 702.895.0777 or email crchelp@ccmail.nevada.edu. Support is available Monday through Friday 8:00AM - 5:00PM PST. WebCT training and instructional design support are available through the Teaching and Learning Center.

Last Updated: December 6, 2004
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