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Top tip - using the Genes Reunited community

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Message & Contact Updates

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 3 Aug 2009 12:13

It appears that a new facility has been added this morning which allows you to see any updates made on the site by other members who are in your Contact list, and with whom you have shared your tree.

If you click on "Messages" you will see that two new options have been added on the left. "My updates" and "Privacy settings".

The Privacy settings allow you to decide if contacted members should see you updates or not. You can also chose whether or not you see updated from other members, or just selected contacts.

The privacy defaults are 'Allow' so if that is not to your taste, then you need to change the settings.

Alan

Alan Report 3 Aug 2009 12:32

Well done "BrinsleyS"................I wouldnt have noticed.
Be lucky

Marcelle

Marcelle Report 3 Aug 2009 12:33

Thanks for that, I had not noticed it. Just had a look and I have loads of pages of updates

Marcelle

Thelma

Thelma Report 3 Aug 2009 12:45

Well spotted Peter
One of mine has added twenty photos.All showing together.

lancashireAnn

lancashireAnn Report 3 Aug 2009 12:47

thanks for that - I had just been into messages but did not notice as I was only looking at the received box - I have at least 12 pages of updates & 20 people with whom I seem to have shared my tree. Some work to be done here I think!

Helen

Helen Report 3 Aug 2009 12:47

Thanks for the tip !

Doubt if I would have noticed the extra information available.

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 3 Aug 2009 13:20

Annie,

The GR notes would seem to indicate that facility only applies to members with whom you have shared your tree.

If you think that this is not the case then email GR with the details of what you think is wrong.

Thelma

Thelma Report 3 Aug 2009 13:39

I had updates from a name that I did not recognise.
However in the dropdown box in tree there they were.

Sprack

Sprack Report 3 Aug 2009 16:50

I've got one that says they added to the good morning thread on the chat board lol.
Jenny

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 3 Aug 2009 19:15

Yes, one of the reasons I put this up here.

In addition to tree updates, the update messaging system also clocks the fact that you have posted on the message boards,or have updated your tree, loaded a new gedcom or photo.

So, be careful what you post on the boards, for fear of upsetting someone...!



ElizabethK

ElizabethK Report 3 Aug 2009 21:10

Also-it seems you get updates from people who have opened their tree to you although you have not opened yours to them !!

I have 38 pages,is it possible to delete them ? !

AllanC

AllanC Report 3 Aug 2009 22:07

Another "improvement" which seems to be something of a mixed blessing. I've opted out of all updates, incoming and outgoing.

SylviaInCanada

SylviaInCanada Report 4 Aug 2009 01:11

BrinsleyS


thanks for this!!


I did notice when I switched earlier that I had some Contact Updates ..... but ignored them, didn't even bother to see what it was all about.


Now I have changed my privacy settings!



I do not want to know where someone has posted on the boards!




sylvia

NetGrrl79

NetGrrl79 Report 4 Aug 2009 08:03

Am I the only person who actually likes this facility? lol - I have a couple of contacts on here who I was say 75% sure were relations of mine - now I can see that I'm even more sure we're related as they add other names to their trees which appear in mine. Much better than having to check the trees manually every so often on the offchance that they may have added another common relation.

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 4 Aug 2009 17:28

What I might do is opt to receive update from selected members - those who I know are researching my family too.

I also notice that clicking on a name takes you direct to that person in My Contacts. There is also a drop down list so you can filter on a specific member and see all updates for that person.

You can also go direct to the persons tree from here too.

No delete option it seems, but does it really matter? If the persons tree is irrelevant to you then perhaps you should delete them from your contact list altogether.

In all, I think it could be quite useful. The main thing for me is that it saves checking manualy to see if someone has added to their tree.

SylviaInCanada

SylviaInCanada Report 4 Aug 2009 18:52

I discovered that you could mark Yes or No for receiving news on tree updates



so I have kept those few contacts who are actually connected to me, and (hopefully) deleted the ones who are of no interest to me.


we will wait and see what happens!




Of course, I guess what I do has no effect on what my "contacts" will see in their Message and Contact Updates ........... so I can't really keep my activities secret!!!


However, as I only have a very small fraction of my tree on here, and as I have not added anyone for a year ................... then they aren't going to get much information!


There is also the fact that most of the people on here who are connected to my dad's family have in fact got the vast majority of their information from me. Hot Matches are just a waste of time for me!!!





sylvia

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 5 Aug 2009 07:35

freddie,

Not quite sure what you mean by your comment on restricting to those who have given you access. Isn't that what the default already is?

e.g. " I would like to receive updates from all members who have shared their tree with me"

I also think it is unfair to say it is poorly though to out, in fact I think it is well thought out - yes there can always be improvements to any new facilities but don't be too quick to knock it.

InspectorGreenPen

InspectorGreenPen Report 5 Aug 2009 12:45

I agree, it would be nice to have an option to keep certain ones where perhaps a tree update has some relevance to you. Trouble is you still have to check it. A suggestion to GR, perhaps?

Personally I do very few updates manually, usually only to correct an error that I have spotted or has been pointed out. Like many I upload a gedcom file from time to time.

It also has been a wake-up call to perhaps cull your permissions list. If you don't want someone to be aware that you have made changes to your tree or posted on the board, then perhaps they should not be allowed to see your tree.

Similarly some have pointed out they can see updates from members who have opened their without being asked, and which are not relevant. Again why not just delete the contact, or maintain a list of members whose updates you are interested in.

Sally

Sally Report 5 Aug 2009 20:27

hello all i am not sure if i like this i tried it yesterday and this evening but i keep getting the same 7 or 8 people

whatever page i try and ithink one is not in my contact,s what worry,s me who is looking at my tree without my

my permishion

sally