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Use
Newsgroups 
Newsgroups are very much like bulletin boards. They consist of collections
of postings about a topic. For example, you may have a question about using
new software. By going to the appropriate newsgroup, you can post your question.
Your question and the responses to it are called a discussion thread. Newsgroups
are also sometimes called discussion groups or USENET newsgroups.
Quick Tips
- Read postings and get to know the newsgroup
before you jump into a discussion.
- It's a good idea to read the FAQ for a newsgroup
before posting.
- Keep your postings short.
- Use accurate headers or subjects lines.
- Don't use all caps. That's the equivalent of
shouting on the net.
- Be aware of hierarchies before you post. (An
example alt.html is a hierarchy of alt.html.editors - when you post
to a hierarchy, you post to all the newsgroups it includes.)
- Make sure your settings for using newsgroups
are correct in the Options menu.
To do this, locate the "Mail and News
Preferences" under "Options"
- News Preferences are located at the bottom.
Local StarText groups are designated "news2.startext.net."
If you want this to be your default setting, enter it here. Internet
newsgroups are located at "news.startext.net." You can customize
"number of messages" loaded up to 3,500.
- To go to the newsgroups area
select "Netscape News" under the
"Window" option.
- To bring up the local newsgroups
Select "news2.startext.net".
5. To view all available newsgroups
Open the folders listed by clicking on the selection
of your choice. Once you opened the folder of your choice, select "Show
All Newsgroups" under the "Options" menu to display all
newsgroups available. Column one displays the list of newsgroups. Column
two displays new messages. Column three displays total messages.
6. To subscribe to a newsgroup
Click on the box beside the group of your choice.
A yellow check mark indicates it is a subscribed newsgroup. Each newsgroup
you check "subscribed" will automatically be listed when you
open your news folder.
To unsubscribe to a group, click on the box again and the check
mark disappears.
You may read or post messages in any newsgroup without subscribing
to that group.
7. Reading a message ...
After selecting a newsgroup to read (in the above
example, "startext.brisbee"), the messages will appear in the
box on the right. Highlight the message you wish to read. The text of
that message will appear in the box below.
8. Reply to a Message ...
Under the "Message" option you will see
your options for replying to a message.
They include:
- Post a Reply: Posts your comments in response
to that message. The original text is quoted within your response. You
can edit or modify that text as needed. For easier reading, it is best
to post your comments above the original text, but this is a
matter of preference.
- Post and Mail Reply: Posts your response in
the newsgroup and sends it as a private email to the poster.
- Mail Reply: Sends your comments in a private
email message.
- Forward: Forwards that message to another email
address or newsgroup.
- Forward Quoted: Quotes the original text, which
can edit or modify in your response.
9. Options for Using Newsgroups
When using newsgroups, you can find the following
options under the "Options" menu:
- Show Subscribed Newsgroups: Select this if you
want to bring up a list of all your subscribed newsgroups.
- Show Active Newsgroups: Select this if you just
want to display a list of subscribed newsgroups with new messages.
- Show All Newsgroups: Select this if you just
want to display a complete list of all newsgroups available.
- Show New Newsgroups: Select this to display
any new newsgroups that have been added.
- Show All Messages: Select this to display all
the messages, both read and unread, in a newsgroup.
- Show Only Unread Messages: Select this to display
only the new messages in a newsgroup.
10. More options for Using Newsgroups
When using newsgroups, you can find the following
options under the "Options" menu:
- Show Subscribed Newsgroups: Select this if you
want to bring up a list of all your subscribed newsgroups.
- Show Active Newsgroups: Select this if you just
want to display a list of subscribed newsgroups with new messages.
- Show All Newsgroups: Select this if you just
want to display a complete list of all newsgroups available.
- Show New Newsgroups: Select this to display
any new newsgroups that have been added.
- Show All Messages: Select this to display all
the messages, both read and unread, in a newsgroup.
- Show Only Unread Messages: Select this to display
only the new messages in a newsgroup.
11. Extra Posting Options
When posting a message, these options are available
under "View" on the menu ...
- Newsgroups: Type the name of the group (or groups)
you want to send the message. For example: Newsgroups: startext.beta
Would send your message to the startext.beta newsgroup. To send the
same message to more than one newsgroup, follow this example: Newsgroups:startext.beta,startext.computers,startext.postit
Would post that message to all three groups.
- Follow-ups to: This is advisable if you are
sending your message to more than one newsgroup, since it limits responses
to the group you specify. Otherwise, responses are "cross-posted"
to all newsgroups listed.
To use this feature, type the name of the group
(or groups) you want responses to your message to go.
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