| Q: | Do I have to “join” DialogTime to see how it operates? |
| A: | Yes. DialogTime is easy to use, simple to navigate and very intuitive. The best way to get an understanding of the many DialogTime features is to give it a try. When you click on “Sign Up for a Free Account” you will be asked to read and agree to the Terms of Service. Then you will enter a Display Name (the name that will be used when you post a message), your email address, and a login password. That’s all there is to it! You can now join a DialogGroup or create your own DialogGroup and invite others to participate. Welcome aboard. |
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| Q: | How can I create my own DialogGroup? |
| A: | Anyone can create their own DialogGroup and it is quite easy to do. On the Home Page of DialogTime you will find a button in the upper right – “Create a DialogGroup”. Click this button and you will go through a simple process. First, you will be asked to identify a category for your DialogGroup. Select one from the listing or click on “Other” if you can’t find an appropriate category. Then, you will be asked to provide a name for your group and a short description. Try and make your name and description as clear and as complete as possible so people can easily find your DialogGroup. You will be asked to specify whether it is a Public Group (anyone can join) or a Private Group (people can only join if they are invited by you). And finally, you will be asked to create the initial Forum that will be used for your group dialogue (the Forum can always be changed later on). When finished, click “Create New DialogGroup.” This submits your request to DialogTime administration. You will get an email when your DialogGroup has been approved. When approved, you become the Group Coordinator for your DialogGroup. |
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| Q: | Why do DialogGroups have to be approved? |
| A: | DialogTime has been designed with a number of safeguards to try and maintain the quality of the system. One of these safeguards is the DialogGroup approval process. All requests for DialogGroups are individually assessed to make sure they are in accordance with the Terms of Service. |
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| Q: | How do I join other DialogGroups? |
| A: | The process to join another DialogGroup is really very simple. Click on “Join a DialogGroup” and then click on a group category to identify groups that may be of interest to you. If you select a Private Group you will be instructed to complete a simple form which will be sent to the Group Coordinator for permission to join the Private Group. When you enter the DialogTime system your homepage will list all of the DialogGroups of which you are a member. |
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| Q: | Can I join more than one DialogGroup? |
| A: | Absolutely. You can join as many DialogGroups as you would like. Just follow the regular “Join a DialogGroup” procedure. |
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| Q: | What if I create a DialogGroup and no one joins? |
| A: | It’s no fun to have a DialogGroup with no one in it! Inviting participants is a key responsibility of the Group Coordinator. DialogTime has made the task easier by providing a “Send Group Invitations” feature. Enter the email addresses of people you would like in your DialogGroup and click on “Send Invitations.” An email with the URL and name of your DialogGroup will be immediately sent to each of your invitees. If your DialogGroup is setup as a Private Group, the code contained within the email invitation will automatically authorize the recipient to join your Private Group. |
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| Q: | How do I unsubscribe from a DialogGroup? |
| A: | It is easy to unsubscribe from a DialogGroup at any time. However, it may be a bit difficult to find the location where you do the actual unsubscribing. Go to My Profile and scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see a button marked, Unsubscribe from this DialogGroup. After you click this button you will be taken to another page where you will have a final chance to change your choice “No, Do Not Unsubscribe from this DialogGroup” or “Yes, Unsubscribe from this DialogGroup.”
The Group Coordinator of a DialogGroup can not unsubscribe from his/her group.
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| Q: | How do I delete my DialogTime account? |
| A: | Deleting a DialogTime account is very easy - just do nothing. In order to maintain the integrity and security of the DialogTime system, user accounts are automatically scanned for inactivity. When an account is inactive for a period of 5 months it is flagged and an automated email is sent advising that the acocunt will be closed at the end of one more month. A second email advisory is sent one week prior to closing the account.
If you do not want your account closed, just log on to the DialogTime system and your account will be automatically renewed. That is all there is to it.
We certainly hope you will stay with DialogTime and become an active user. |
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| Q: | How is DialogTime different from other online messaging systems? |
| A: | An important difference between the more typical bulletin board and DialogTime is DialogTime’s use of a threaded discussion system (which requires complex programming and larger storage space). Whereas Bulletin Boards allow you to make postings in response to other postings, the new postings are shown only in the order they are received. Bulletin boards are designed primarily for the posting of messages - they are not designed to encourage ongoing discussion. With DialogTime ALL new postings are shown indented and directly below the posting they are responding to. And WHY is this important? It allows the member to follow the flow of a number of separate threads of thought from beginning to end – and then add his/her own thought/reaction directly following the prior posting. It’s great for creating dialogue!
DialogTime (threaded display)
#1 – Posting A
#2 – Response to Posting A
#3 - Response to Posting A
#7 – Response to Posting A
#9 – Response to Posting A
#5 – Posting B
#6 – Response to Posting B
#8 – Response to #6
#11 – Response to #6
#10 – Response to Posting B
Online Bulletin Board (linear display)
#1 – Posting A
#2 – Response to Posting A
#3 – Response to Posting A
#4 – Response to #3
#7 – Response to Posting A
#9 – Response to Posting A
#12 – Response to #4
#13 – Response to #2
#5 – Posting B
#6 – Response to Posting B
#8 – Response to #6
#10 – Response to Posting B
#11 – Response to #6
As you explore DialogTime you will find many features that make it different from other systems and just as powerful as some very expensive ones (unread postings are flagged, postings can be bookmarked for later re-reading, Private Messages can be sent to other group members, messages can be ordered by Subject, Poster, or Date/Time, etc.) In addition, if you are a Group Coordinator you will be able to access a number of additional features to assist you in making your DialogGroup successful.
But the best way to understand the differences that make DialogTime so unique is to try it!
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| Q: | What is the difference between a Public DialogGroup and a Private DialogGroup? |
| A: | Both Public and Private DialogGroups are shown in the “Join a DialogGroup” listing. A Public DialogGroup is open for anyone to join. A Private DialogGroup is available only by invitation of the Group Coordinator. To request an invitation to join a Private DialogGroup, click on the name of the Private Group and complete the simple request form. This form will be sent to the Group Coordinator who will then respond directly to you.
If you are a Group Coordinator and would like to invite others to participate in your Private Group, click on “Send Group Invitations”. Enter the email addresses of people you would like in your Private Group and click on “Send Invitations.” An email with the URL and name of your Private Group will be immediately sent to each of your invitees. The code contained within the email invitation will automatically authorize the recipient to join your Private Group.
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| Q: | What does a Group Coordinator do? |
| A: | The key to the success of any DialogGroup is the Group Coordinator! The Group Coordinator is responsible for understanding the Terms of Service, creating the DialogGroup, establishing the initial Forums, posting announcements and resource materials for members to see, inviting participants, and encouraging participation. In addition, the Group Coordinator has the responsibility of keeping the DialogGroup clearly focused on the topic and reminding members, when necessary, about any concerns with postings that may not comply with the Terms of Service. The Group Coordinator has access to the email addresses of all DialogGroup members and also has the ability to remove members if necessary. Though individual DialogGroup members can unsubscribe from a DialogGroup at any time, the Group Coordinator can NOT unsubscribe from a DialogGroup. |
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| Q: | Must I install special software on my server in order to use DialogTime? |
| A: | Absolutely not! All of the work has been done for you. DialogTime operates on its own server. All you have to do is login. There is no uploading of programs to your server, no setting up spam filters or screening for viruses, no allotting storage space for messages – or any of the many other tasks that go along with installing a threaded discussion board on your own server. And, best of all, you can customize your DialogGroup website so it has all of the appearance of your own website. What could be simpler! |
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| Q: | How can I evaluate DialogTime to see if it is right for my group? |
| A: | It is easy to try DialogTime to see if it will work with your group. To evaluate DialogTime just go to DialogTime Lite, create a free account ,and set up a trial DialogGroup. Then, invite some members of your group to join you in dialogue. It will only take you a few minutes to see how powerful DialogTime is. |
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| Q: | How do I post my profile so others in my DialogGroup will learn about me? |
| A: | As a participant in DialogTime you are encouraged to post a short description/profile so that others in the DialogGroup can better know who you are. To do this just click on My Profile. There are places for you to enter a short description, include a photograph and create a signature block that will automatically be added to all messages you post to the DialogGroup. You must create separate profiles for each DialogGroup to which you belong – each profile is unique to the DialogGroup where it was created. |
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| Q: | Where can I find the profiles of participants in my DialogGroup? |
| A: | To read a profile of someone in your DialogGroup just click on his/her name wherever you see it highlighted and underlined. You will be taken to that person’s profile page. The Profile Page, in addition to showing the profile posted by the member, shows when the person joined the DialogGroup, when they last logged into the group, how many messages they have posted, and the date of the last message posting. The member can also be sent a Private Message from their Profile Page. |
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| Q: | How do I find out the email addresses of the DialogGroup members? |
| A: | DialogTime maintains a database of home email addresses of members. However, home email addresses of members are kept confidential. We do not share personally identifiable information with third parties. (Please see the Privacy Policy) A Group Coordinator does have access to the home email addresses of the members of his/her DialogGroup. |
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| Q: | How do I know which messages I have read? |
| A: | As you scroll down the Thread Detail in your DialogGroup (click on Message Forums and then select a Forum) you will see a small envelope icon to the left of the subject of each message. If the envelope has a red arrow it means that the message has not been read. The first time you open the message the arrow will disappear and only an envelope will remain. You can easily identify unread messages by looking for the envelope icons with the red arrow. |
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| Q: | How do I attach a picture to a posting? |
| A: | DialogTime Lite, the free version of DialogTime, does not allow image file attachments. DialogTiome Pro does allow image file attachments to a posted message. In DialogTime Pro, use the checkbox included at the bottom of the message composing screen to browse your computer and select the file to be attached. Members of your DialogGroup will be able to download the file by clicking on the hot link included in your message. |
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| Q: | How do I know if someone has responded to a posting I have made in my DialogGroup? |
| A: | A very convenient feature of DialogTime is the automated message reporting option. When you have finished composing a message to post to your DialogGroup click the box at the bottom of the page that says, “Send me email notification when replies are posted to this message.” When someone responds to your posting an automated email will be sent to your home email account with a handy link to connect you directly to your DialogGroup. To reduce excessive notices to your home email account, only a single notification will be sent to you (regardless of how many responses your posting receives) until the next time you enter DialogTime. |
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| Q: | Why is one of the messages highlighted in red? |
| A: | As you read a posting in your DialogGroup, other postings to that Forum will be listed in the Thread Detail directly below the message you are reading. The message that you are reading is highlighted in red in the Thread Detail. This very conveniently shows you exactly what other messages this particular posting relates to and the order in which they have been received. |
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| Q: | What do I do if someone in my DialogGroup is posting inappropriate messages? |
| A: | First you should notify your Group Coordinator. You can send a Private Message to your Group Coordinator by clicking on his/her name wherever you see it highlighted and underlined. If you feel further action is needed, please send a message to the DialogTime administration. In all cases, you should identify the name of your DialogGroup and the name of the person posting the inappropriate message. DialogTime does not condone content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable. |
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| Q: | How do I send a Private Message to someone on DialogTime? |
| A: | DialogTime includes an internal messaging system - Private Messages - which allows members of DialogGroups to send messages to each other. To send a private message to “Mary Smith”, go to her Profile Page and click on “Send a Private Message to Mary Smith”. To find a member’s Profile Page just click on his/her name wherever you see it highlighted and underlined.
Private messages are sent and received on the DialogTime system. Private messages are not sent to a member’s home email address. When a member sends a Private Message to you, an email will be sent to your home email address notifying you that you have received a Private Message that can be read on DialogTime. Enter DialogTime and click on the Private Message button to read your message.
Note: Home email addresses of members are kept confidential to protect identities of all members. A Group Coordinator, however, does have access to the home email address of the members of his/her DialogGroup.
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| Q: | How do I find a Private Message that has been sent to me on DialogTime? |
| A: | When a Private Message is sent to you, you will receive an email at your home email account. The message will look like this:
This is an automated message from DialogTime.
Xxxxx Yyyyyy has just sent you a Private Message with the
following subject:
If you would like to view this message now, please click on
the link below:
http://www.dialogtime.com/messaging/view/ZZ/
To find/read a Private Message that has been sent to you, enter DialogTime. You will see the number of messages waiting for you in the Private Message button. Clicking on the Private Message button will take you to your Private Message area.
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| Q: | What is the difference between a free DialogGroup and a pay DialogGroup? |
| A: | DialogTime Lite
The free version of DialogTime (DialogTime Lite) is made available for small group use - no more than 20 members. It is ideal as a discussion platform for small groups of colleagues, family members, student study groups, a seminar/class, or neighborhood organizations that need a “place to meet” and share ideas. DialogTime Lite uses the full functioning version of the DialogTime system and operates to bring your group together to discuss topics of mutual interest. Resource Materials/Image Files can not be included on DialogTime Lite and message attachments are not permitted to be included with postings. A total of 10 Meg of storage space is available for each DialogTime Lite group. Advertising, appropriate to the focus of a DialogGroup, is included. DialogTime Lite is the ideal way for you to find out how powerful the DialogTime system can be. And, it is available for FREE.
DialogTime Professional
Full featured DialogTime service (DialogTime Professional) is available to support educational programs, online classes and seminars, corporate communications, community organizations, religious groups, interactive websites, special interest groups, conferences/workshops, and just about any type of distance education program/service. All software and user files are hosted on the DialogTime server - nothing to clog up your own computer system. The system is priced at the unbelievably low rate of US $99 - providing a full year of active discussion for your group. DialogTime Professional can be customized with the logo/graphic of your group/organization and created with your own unique page color formats. No advertising is included on the pages of DialogTime Professional. The system allows your group to interact around the clock on the topics you identify. It is your own threaded discussion system. All file types (.doc, .jpg, .gif, .pdf, etc.) are supported by DialogTime Professional and can be attached to postings as resource materials on your very own DialogTime website. An unlimited number of people can be invited to join your DialogTime Professional DialogGroup. DialogGroup members are provided a seamless and direct access to their web-based discussion group (they don't have to enter via the public access pages of DialogTime). A total of 200 Meg of storage space is available to support each DialogTime Professional account.
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| Q: | What if I don’t use my DialogTime Lite account for a long time? |
| A: | We hope you find DialogTime really useful and use it frequently. However, if a long period of time goes by without you using DialogTime Lite, here is what happens:
After a 5 month period of non-usage (you haven’t logged in to DialogTime Lite) you will receive an automated email.
The email will remind you of your DialogTime Lite account information and encourage you to login again.
You will be advised that your account will be deleted if, after one more month, you haven’t logged in.
One week prior to the 6 month deletion date you will receive a final automated email reminder.
At the end of the 6 month inactivity period your DialogTime Lite account will be deleted.
For Group Coordinators a similar procedure is used. When we identify a DialogGroup that has had no messages posted for a period of 5 months the Group Coordinator will be notified with an automated email. A second reminder will be automatically sent one week prior to deleting the DialogGorup. After 6 months of non-usage the DialogGroup will be deleted.
This practice of continually examining our usage information and deleting inactive users and DialogGroups allows us to be more efficient in how we operate DialogTime Lite. The good news, of course, is that you are encouraged to return to DialogTime at any time – just re-register and welcome back!
NOTE: DialogTime Pro accounts do not receive these automated emails and no members of these groups are deleted for inactivity during the subscription period.
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| Q: | What if I have a question not answered in this FAQ? |
| A: | Impossible! However, if you think of a question that might have just accidentally slipped by us, please send it to:
We will have an answer on the way back to you in no time at all.
We look forward to having you as a frequent DialogTime user! In fact, what do you think about the idea of...
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