A: Subscriptions let you specify particular forums and threads you are interested in. Marrowforums will keep track of updated threads in those forums and new posts in those threads, so you can find out what's new since your last visit.

Examples: To keep track of the latest updated thread in the MDS forum, subscribe to that forum. To keep track of new posts in the New Member Welcome thread, subscribe to that thread.

Once you have subscribed, you can check what's new by clicking My Settings at the top of any forum page. You can also be notified of new threads or posts by email, as described below.

When you subscribe to a thread, a "new post" means one that was made since you last visited Marrowforums, no matter how recent or long ago it was. If you've been away for a week, a post from 6 days ago would be "new" to you.

To subscribe to a forum you are viewing, click Subscribe to This Forum in the Forum Tools drop-down at the top of the forum page, select a Notification Type, and click the Add Subscription button.

Note: Instant email notification is not available for forum subscriptions. To watch for all new threads in particular forums, see How do I use a newsreader to watch forums?.

To subscribe to a thread you are viewing, click Subscribe to this Thread in the Thread Tools drop-down at the top of the thread page, select a Notification Type, and then click the Add Subscription button.

If you have the Automatic Subscription option set (see below), you will automatically be subscribed to threads you create and threads in which you post. For such threads there is no need to click Subscribe to this Thread. If you do open the Thread Tools menu, it will instead say Unsubscribe from this Thread.

A: The Notification Type determines how you are notified of new threads and new posts. You can pick a Notification Type each time you subscribe to a forum or thread. You can set a default Notification Type in your User Options (see below).

There are four Notification Types:

1. No email notification. You are not sent email about new threads and new posts.
2. Instant email notification. You are sent email when a new post is made in a thread you have subscribed to. The email message shows you some of the text of the post and has a link to take you to the full post in the forums.

   If many new posts are made to the thread while you are away, you are sent a message for only the first new post, but the link takes you to the page(s) where you can read all new posts in that thread. Once you visit Marrowforums to read what you've missed, the tracking system is reset so you will again receive email when another new post is made (see example below).

   Note: Instant email notification is not available for forum subscriptions. To watch for new threads in particular forums, see How do I use a newsreader to watch forums?.

3. Daily email notification. You are sent a "digest" email once a day to notify you of new threads in forums you have subscribed to or new posts in threads you have subscribed to.
4. Weekly email notification. You are sent a "digest" email once a week to notify you of new threads in forums you have subscribed to or new posts in threads you have subscribed to.

Example of Instant email notification:

You are interested in the Time for a Checkup thread so you subscribe to it and choose Instant email notification. You read Post #1 through Post #5 at Marrowforums and then logoff or leave the site.

While you are away, 3 people post (Post #6, Post #7, Post #8) and you are sent email about Post #6. When you read the message and click the link, you will be taken to Post #6, where you can read all three new posts.

If you again leave Marrowforums and Post #9 is made you are sent email about Post #9.

A: View your User Options and fill in your Default Thread Subscription Mode.

If you pick Do not subscribe, the Automatic Subscription option will be off. You can still subscribe to forums and threads manually (see above).

If you pick any of the four Notification Types described above, then the Automatic Subscription option will be on, which means that you will automatically be subscribed to any thread you create and any thread in which you post.

Click My Settings at the top of any forum page. This page displays the subscribed threads for which there are new posts and all of your subscribed forums. To remove a thread subscription, click Unsubscribe under the thread title. To remove a forum subscription, click Unsubscribe from this Forum under the forum title.

For a complete list of your thread subscriptions, view your Subscriptions page. To remove one or more thread subscriptions, check their checkboxes, select Delete Subscription in the Selected Threads drop-down list at the bottom of the page, and click the Go button.

To remove a thread subscription while viewing the thread's display page, click the Unsubscribe from this Thread link in the Thread Tools menu at the top of the page.