You can search for posts based on username, words in the post or just in the subject, and by date. You can restrict your search to particular forums. To access the search feature, click on the "Search" link in the toolbar at the top of every page.

You can search any forum that you have permission to search - you will not be allowed to search through private forums unless you have been given access to the forum.

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Yes. To send an email to another user, just click the button on any post made by that user.

This will open a page that contains a form where you can enter your message. When you have finished typing your message, press the Send button and your message will be sent instantly. Note that for privacy reasons, the email address of the recipient is not revealed to you during this process.

If you cannot find an email button or link for a user, it means the user in question has specified that they do not wish to receive email from other users of the forums.

Another useful email function is the ability to send a friend a link to a thread you think they may find interesting. Whenever you view a thread, you will find a link at the bottom of the page which will allow you to send a brief message to anyone you like.

Registered users can also send messages to other forum users using the private messaging system. For more information about private messaging, click here.

Registered users may send each other private messages.

Sending Private Messages

Private messages work a little like email, but are limited to registered users of the forums. You can include BB Code, smilies and images in private messages that you send.

You may send a private message to a forums user by clicking the Send A Private Message link on your Private Messaging page, or by clicking the button in a user's posts.

When you send a message, you have the option to save a copy of the message in your Sent Items folder.

Private Message Folders

By default, you will have two folders in your private message area. These are the Inbox and the Sent Items folders.

The Inbox folder contains any new messages you receive, and allows you to view all the messages you have received, along with the name of the person who sent the message to you, and the date and time the message was sent.

The Sent Items folder contains a copy of any messages that you have sent, where you have specified that you wish to keep a copy of the message for future reference.

You may create additional folders for your messages by clicking the Edit Folders link.

Each folder has a set of message controls which allow you to select messages, then either move them to one of your custom folders, or delete them completely. You can also forward multiple messages from a folder to another user.

You will need to periodically delete old messages, to avoid hitting your private messages quota (the maximum number of messages you're allowed to store). If you exceed your quota, you will not be able to send or receive new messages until you delete some old messages.

Whenever you read a message, you will have the option to reply to the message, or forward that message to another user. You may also have the ability to forward that message to multiple members of your Buddy list.

Message Tracking

When you send a new private message, you can request a read-receipt for that message. This will allow you to check whether or not a message has been read by its recipient by viewing the Private Message Tracking page.

This page is divided into two sections: unread messages and read messages.

The unread messages section shows all messages that you have sent with a read-receipt request, that have not yet been read by their recipient. The time of the last activity of the message recipient is also shown. Messages in this section can be cancelled if you decide that their contents are no longer relevant, or for any other reason. Cancelled messages can also be restored to active status if the adminstrator has enabled this feature.

The read messages section shows all messages you have sent with a receipt request that have been read and acknowledged by their recipient. The time that the message was read is also shown.

You may choose to end the tracking on any message you choose by selecting the message and clicking the [end tracking] button.

When you recieve a message with a read-receipt request, you may have the option to read the message while denying the read-receipt request. To do this, simply click the "no receipt" link rather than the title of the message.

Announcements are special messages posted by administrators or forum moderators. They are designed to be a simple one-way communication with users. If you wish to discuss announcements, you will have to create a new thread in the forum, since you cannot reply to announcements.