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Level 1

14 points

what does "follow" mean?

I looked at the page Learn how to use Manage Subscriptions and use My Subscriptions. It was quite helpful, but didn't explain the basic term "follow". What happens when I "follow" something?

Also, I couldn't work out which community to post to - none of the ones in the list seemed appropriate. And there didn't seem to be any "Reply" option at the above link (though other people had replied). So I've used the "Category" (whatever that is!) of "Feedback about Discussions".

iPad Mini, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on May 3, 2016 11:13 PM

Best reply

ManSinha

Level 6

12,171 points

Posted on May 3, 2016 11:52 PM

Follow means to keep track of that discussion or poster(s) - similar to following someone or topic on other social media 🙂

If you check to where you want to be sent email updates - posts from the threads you follow will appear in your email inbox

View in context

34 replies

Mike JD Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2016 7:36 PM in response to Mike JD

when finding an answer, one or two additional questions pop up.

Why are there 2 URLs for this page?

discussions.apple.com/message/30157820

discussions.apple.com/message/30161638

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,924 points

May 4, 2016 7:46 PM in response to Mike JD

Those are direct links (called PermaLinks elsewhere) to individual messages

The link tot he "thread" has "thread" in the pathname > https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7552431

turingtest2

Level 10

272,985 points

May 4, 2016 7:49 PM in response to Mike JD

Each thread has a unique thread ID. Each post has a unique message ID. A thread is made up of a number of posts. Message urls should get you to the correct message within a thread. Your post above is on this URL https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7552431?answerId=30161873022#30161873022

The #<messageID> bit at the end scrolls to the right bit of the page.

tt2

babowa

Level 9

78,163 points

May 4, 2016 7:56 PM in response to turingtest2

That is when that works. Never has worked for me - no matter which post in which thread. I always land at the first post.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,985 points

May 4, 2016 7:58 PM in response to babowa

There goes Murphy's Law again.

tt2

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,924 points

May 4, 2016 8:00 PM in response to turingtest2

.:😁:.

^^^^

Mike JD Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2016 8:02 PM in response to ChitlinsCC

Those are direct links (called PermaLinks elsewhere) to individual messages

The link tot he "thread" has "thread" in the pathname > https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7552431

Thanks. The 'thread' URL would seem to be the best for permanent bookmarking of the discussion (in your browser). How do you find out what it is? The links in the notification emails lead to 'message' URLs.

turingtest2

Level 10

272,985 points

May 4, 2016 8:06 PM in response to Mike JD

Use the Go to original post link at the bottom of the page (I think a minimum of two replies is needed before it appears) or copy the url from the community where the thread is listed.

tt2

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,924 points

May 4, 2016 8:10 PM in response to Mike JD

Go to the forum list
navigate to thread from there
bookmark it (I HATE ASC bookmarks!)

BTW - the "message" URL is the same thing as Link to this post (don't ask me why there is nnnnnnn#nnnnnnn = same number delimited by "#")

ChitlinsCC

Level 7

20,924 points

May 4, 2016 8:12 PM in response to turingtest2

Yaahhh!

Mike JD Author

Level 1

14 points

May 4, 2016 8:13 PM in response to turingtest2

Use the Go to original post link at the bottom of the page (I think a minimum of two replies is needed before it appears) or copy the url from the community where the thread is listed.

Thanks. I've also noticed that the thread number is included in the URLs of the 'Correct Answer' and 'Helpful Answer' buttons in the notification email. Can't think of any more questions at the moment! 🙂

turingtest2

Level 10

272,985 points

May 4, 2016 8:16 PM in response to ChitlinsCC

ChitlinsCC wrote:

BTW - the "message" URL is the same thing as Link to this post (don't ask me why there is nnnnnnn#nnnnnnn = same number delimited by "#")

message/nnnnnnnn gets you to the page in the thread where that message appears. The #nnnnnnnn scrolls to the right part of the page. Except when it doesn't. 😉

tt2