Site Help & Support - Private Messages (PM) System
When using the forums, there are times when you may need to get in touch with
others forum users on a one to one basis. When registering on the forum, it
is down to the individual user as to whether their e-mail address is made available
to other registered forum users. Consequently, as many users prefer to maintain
their e-mail address privacy, the PM system provides any registered forum user
with a facility to contact any other registered forum user.
Only registered users of the forum can use the PM system.
- Accessing the PM system
- Inbox limitations
- Sending a Message
- Receiving e-mail notifications of new PM's
- Technical Support over PM
- Does HPC:Factor automatically clear messages from the PM system?
Accessing the PM system
- The PM system is accessed using the Inbox link on the forum header bar,
available on every page under the forum.
- Alternatively if you have a new PM, the HPC:Factor content extension area
at the left of the page will alert you to the presence of a new PM. Clicking
on the Inbox link here will take you to the Inbox and display the new message.
- Finally you can access the Inbox using the following URL:
http://www.hpcfactor.com/forums/inbox.asp
If your user account is configured to notify you of new PM's via e-mail, this
link will be provided automatically in the notification.
Inbox limitations
By default, all registered forum users are permitted to store up to 50
individual messages in their PM folders. This number includes the total of all
messages stored in:
Once the message limit is exceeded, you will be presented with a warning message,
and will not be able to make full use of the PM system - including message delivery
until you have deleted messages from your storage folders.
Sending Messages
 To
create a new message, click on the 'Create New' option on the left had side
of the Inbox window. To reply to a particular message, simply click on the Reply
option next to the PM you wish to reply to to bring up the message dialogue.
If you are composing a new message, either type the name of the recipient click
on the "..." button to bring up a user search/selection dialogue where
you can automatically populate the to field. Under the PM system you can only
send a PM to one user at a time. Multi-user selection is not permitted.
Writing a new message is identical to creating a new message on the forum.
Although the PM system does not have an Emoticon or Formatting selector, you
can use any of the emoticon or formatting code in your message e.g. [b]text[/b]
to make the text bold.
When you are ready to send the message, click the Submit button at the bottom
of the page.
Messages in the Outbox
Once you have clicked on the Submit Button, the message is moved into your
Outbox. The message will remain in your Outbox until the recipient views the
message. Once the recipient has picked up the message it will be automatically
moved into your Sent Items folder.
Until this time, you will have the option to deleted (but not edit) any message
in your Outbox. While this provides uses with the ability to change their mind,
please be aware that if the recipient elects to receive e-mail notifications,
these are dispatched as soon as the message is originally sent. There for if
you delete the message, the recipient will be aware that you sent them a message.
Receiving e-mail notifications of new PM's
All registered forum users have the option of receiving notifications of new
PM's via the e-mail address stored in their forum profile.
This is an optional feature of the forum, and can be enabled from the 'Your
Settings' area of the control panel under the option "Receive e-mail
notifications when someone sends you a private message?"
Technical Support over PM
The forums are designed to allow H/PC users to come together, discuss their
devices, trouble shoot problems and generally share their interests. When dealing
with technical support requests, the PM system is a good way of extending upon
an issue that needs to be addressed privately, however HPC:Factor would like
to make it clear that the PM system is not to be used as a substitute for the
public bulletin board.
Any and all direct technical support requests received through the PM without
an established necessity in a forum thread is to be discouraged. In line with
our e-mail support policy, HPC:Factor staff will not provide one-on-one technical
support to uses over PM. Each individual staff member reserves the right to
ignore such requests at their discretion.
Please use the public forums to post your technical support requests. That
way the entire community can benefit from the answers given to your problem,
both now and in the future.
Does HPC:Factor automatically clear messages from the PM system?
Inbox and Outbox messages are not reviewed by the forum system, and will remain
in the user account until you chose to delete them.
Messages in the Sent Items folder will be periodically cleared out by the forum
manager.
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