**UPDATED** - What's all that stuff in my INBOX? (another view)

<--- That's the diploma from Caghs' classes, I told you about in my "Graduation" blog (or was it a review?)

Well, I've had several friends ask for help trying to decipher their Multiply Inbox.

I was as detailed (yeah, that's a disclaimer for the length of this blog! LOL) as I could be! If you already know about all this... feel free to add anything I may have forgotten. (There are some things I am saving for another blog! These ones I'm highlighting now are the ones I think are most commonly over looked!)

I will tell you, the majority of the different things I am going to explain here are things I've figured out on my own by just clicking on the different links to see what they do... with that said, you can always point & click to see what something is... if you trust the site! :)

Ok, here's a smaller version of the screen shot... to see it larger... just click on it... it will open in a new window / tab, & you can just go back & forth... to match it up with the explanation below. :)

Time to get this train moving! Starting with the big RED arrow & working clock wise....

RED Arrow = Messages sent SPECIFICALLY to you that are UNREAD! Or replies to something YOU posted on YOUR site... (I suggest you start with that when viewing messages... because PM's are also included in the count... if any!)  Soon as you click on the message it's self that number will go down. Once you've read all of them... you'll then be left with "Since your last visit"... (visit to your inbox that is!) Meaning posts by your contacts & groups (if you belong to any.)

TIP: Those messages, they auto refresh, just like the replies to a blog or other posting does!!... so, you could in essence have a little chat going on with a friend! :) And far as I know, there is no limit to how many replies are sent back & forth. (I have a friend & she & I have over 50 comments / replies in one message & counting! LOL!!) - Oh when you have read all the messages & posts & etc, that box "disappears" until you get a new reply, message, or a friend posts something!!! So, if you have a high number... chances are you're not reading your messages / replies sent to you!! (Or you have just had a bunch sent to you since the last time you looked at your inbox!) :)

The circle (color? don't remember & can't really tell! LOL) right under "Unread message list" (if you have any) = A "quick link" to post / write a new blog, review... even a PM (personal message) & etc!

The long skinny BLUE arrow = "The Pin" to pin certain messages to the top of all your other messages & posts! For example, I am doing the Secret Angel thing, & the messages you see I have PINNED to the top of the box, so when someone sends me their gift to be delivered, it's not BURIED amongst all my other non pinned message or posts from friends and / or groups! (Oh, if you're wondering... the message part is blacked out... because those are the messages that reveal to that person who they are going to be a Secret Angel to. Which is to be a SECRET... get it... Secret Angel... Secret?? LOL) I crack myself up sometimes! LOL) :)

Oh, do you not see a "pin"... well that can be set in your "preference"... (but I'm getting a head of myself... I'll cover that in a few...)

The other 2 little icons by the Pin... the envelope means you're "subscribed" to that message, or post... which means if you have email alerts set up... you'll receive an email when that post or message is replied to. (That's under settings... which is the Yellow arrow, but that's later!)

The circle with the X in it is to delete the message from your inbox... does not completely delete it... it just means you will no longer receive email alert OR be notified there are replies to it... It's rare I use that... only when someone sends out a mass message or posts something "popular" & I don't want to see any more of th replies to it. I figure, if I want to see it again, I'll go to that person's web site to see it. They normally "roll off" your list as other posts come in. I don't recommend using it, unless you're absolutely sure... Also, you'll get a pop up alert confirming it. (It's best to read it before you click ok!!)

Ok, now on to the little PURPLE arrow... that's well, just what it says... your preferences... for your InBox that is! :) It's where you can select if you want the pin or not... (the other 2 little icons come with the pin!) There are other options... that if you need me to explain, just send me a reply... but I think they are pretty much self explanatory :)

Moving on...
(Before I do... I am doing this, because of the Secret Angel site... 1, I wanted to show those participating how & why I need them to reply to the one message... Also, to show them how easier it will be for BOTH of us, if done so!!) :)

Next is the GREEN arrow left of the purple one = This is how you can "filter" your messages / posts. It's really helpful when you want to find something only you posted or sent. If you click on each one... it keeps adding more & more posts / messages. So, if you're really bored & want to see what someone in your VERY DISTANT Network has posted... then click that... but I warn you... it's VERY distant!!

I suggest using just the 1st 2 or 3. Depending how many blogs & reviews & etc you want to see that have been posted. As you can see... I have mine set to just My posts / messages & those posts from my contacts. (If I want to see my groups' postings, I just scroll through or check out the "unread message" list... if none listed, then that means no one has posted anything to a group since the last time I checked.)

OH, speaking of! I HIGHLY recommend checking your InBox OFTEN... That is how you will be able to keep up with your messages; replies to your messages and / or posts; & what your friends are posting! That is how some of us reply so quickly... because we're constantly checking it... :) I know I do at least! LOL :)

That leads me to the next item... (almost done)... I have circled the Tabs at the top in a FUCHSIA color circle... well you probably already know about these... but I just wanted to point out that no matter what MULTIPLY site you're on... you can easily come back to your INBOX, or your Home page (My Site) or etc, but just clicking the corresponding tab. (That's how I check for replies & messages so much! LOL) :) :)

Last but not least, is the YELLOW arrow = Settings, as I mentioned briefly, above...

It's where you can set up many different things... like changing your password & etc... but the one I really want to point out is the "Email Alerts"... It's where you can set up what you have emailed (to the email you registered with / have on account) to you & what you do not.

I personally do NOT have the box checked for "Replies to posts I've commented on" or even any of my groups. (Except for the one I created... but that's not public yet! LOL)

If you do not check your INBOX (here) often... then I highly suggest that you have the "Personal messages to me" & the "and replies"... that way you'll be notified via email you have a new message / reply!! (I still have it checked, even though I check my Inbox frequently... only because I use Yahoo email... & when I have Yahoo Messenger open, I'm alerted right away with a pop up that I have new email. That's another way I keep on top of things... most of the time! LOL)

Tip: Also have "Invitations to be a contact" checked. Obvious reason! At least I think it's obvious. :) I also like having the Monthly Newsletter sent to me... because that's how I get my info of the new features & etc. Though you can check that out by going to the Staff blog at:  Multiply.Multiply.com!! :)

Just be sure to click the OK button at the bottom to save your settings. There are a couple links there that are worth exploring. Or someone remind me & I'll give you detail on them later! :)

That about does it. Oh... (derailment) have you ever looked at those Google ads at the top there... some how it's geared to you personally... I know every so often I'll see an ad for a local business. I had to take a double take the 1st time I saw "Snow Trails" listed there! LOL... Since that's how Multiply keeps this free for us... I click on one every so often. (Especially if it's a local business I know... & Yes, I know "Snow Trails" I used to work there... it's a very small (compared to most) Ski Lodge (it's not big enough to call a resort. If you'd like to know... I used to be a Ski Lift Operator! More on that some other day... if you want to hear! LOL)

(Back on track) Ok, item I did not talk about was the "custom" link... that is for custom filters. & That is for another blog, another day! :)

SO... does that help? Please give me feedback, it will help me for future "basic learning" blogs! :)

One thing, I'd ask is, please, do not to criticize on how detailed I am... because I believe there may be someone either very new to Multiply or someone who really likes the detailed accounts.

If there is something you see you want an explanation about before you explore it... feel free to leave it as a reply below. Maybe "what does a "tag" do?"

For more advanced stuff like working with CSS codes... which helps in customizing a theme / background for your site... (Or tweaking a custom made theme... which I do all the time! LOL)... For that... see Learning with Carrie (Caghs)... see now, my diploma tied in after all! LOL (aww come on, give me a break, it's 1:45 Monday a.m. & I've been up since 7:00 Sunday a.m.! LOL!) :) :)

If you all like this format... I will do more... Along with some very basic internet / computer / windows tips & shortcuts. (Such as copy & paste... nope, not every one knows how to copy & paste!) :)

Your quiz is... to just apply it! LOL :) Actually if you're a part of the Secret Angel "gift" (virtual) exchange... then you'll put these things to good use! :)

I found another view available for your InBox... it's under the preference & is the "Table View"... Below is what it looks like... & I do NOT have all the options chosen... so, that you'll have to see what you like & what you don't. (By the way the above is a "Summary" View)... I personally like this table view much better! :)