Using the plugin

From PluginWiki

With all this function, it can be a bit difficult to see how you actually use the blasted thing. So here are some common ways to do so, to get the hang of it.

Processing Pending Messages

(This assumes you're using the default, which is to open standard messages in a new tab. If you're not doing that, please look at Changing the way tabs work - it's the recommended way to do it.)

Do it like this:

• Go to the Pending messages page and let the extension load up.
• Scan down the pending messages, and for each one do one of the following
  • Set the next action to Approve if it looks green and has no worry words.
  • Set the next action to Delete if it looks like a duplicate or spam.
  • Click on a standard rejection text if it looks wrong, or flagged as a crosspost. This will open a new tab, but don't go to it yet.
• If was a valid OFFER and there aren't any DB entries saying otherwise, change the moderation status to group (this assumes your policy is that new members come off moderation once they've made a valid offer).
• Get to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes. This will dispatch any approved messages and delete any you didn't want.
• Then work your way through each new tab in turn:
  • If it was an auto-send message and it worked, just close it.
  • If it needs editing, do so and then send it.
• When you've dealt with all the new tabs, you're back at the page showing you the results of what happened when you clicked on Save Changes.
• Click on the Pending link on the left hand side again and start all over again.

Processing Approved Messages

This is much the same as for Pending, except:

• You might put people back on moderation or add them to the DB if they sent a bad message. It's easy to get carried away and start putting lots of people back on moderation, just because it's so straightforward to do. So be careful - they'll probably object if you do.
• You'll be sending follow-up mails rather than rejections.

Processing Pending Members

Also much the same as Pending Messages. Standard messages can be set up for things such as:

• Reminder to send reply to pending membership questionnaire (if your group uses one)
• Re-send files that were sent when a pending member signed up. For example, if you sent them a reminder that their responses are still needed for the pending membership questionnaire, and they reply back that they never got it, you could have a standard message that would re-send. If more than one file needs to be re-sent, set up the appropriate number of standard message buttons for this purpose.
• A simple question -- if you have a follow-up question that you would like to ask before approving the membership, a button could be set up with a basic framework for the message (Dear $memberid, <message>, etc.), saving time and manual emailing.

Note that Approve, Deny, or No Action can be attached to the standard message, to save time. So if you wish to send someone a personalized welcome note at the same time as you approve their membership, simply set up a standard message of the "Approve" type. Similarly, you might use "Deny" if a known spammer has applied to your group -- you could send them a message and deny their membership at the same time. The examples in the section above would most likely be "No Action" type.