Did you ever want to send a message to a select group of people within your iGrOOp?  The communication system sends/displays messages for all members of the iGrOOp, and the private message system is ideal for one-on-one private communication, but what about a groop inside your groop?  Enter the subgroops.

A subgroop is a member created group within an iGrOOp.  This groop has their own web forum category where posts can be sent by e-mail to ONLY the members of the subgroop.  In addition, only members of the subgroop (and the iGrOOp's administrators) can see the subgroop listing and read the posts.  Subgroops are a great tool for private group communication.

Creating a Subgroop

Any member of an iGrOOp can create an unlimited number of subgroops within an iGrOOp.  Subgroops are created through the user preferences in the Communication System.

To create a subgroop:

1. Click on the user preferences link (wrench icon) inside your communication system.
2. Scroll down to the section labeled "Your SubGrOOps"
3. Here you enter one subgroop per line with the following format:
   
   [optional "*"]Subgroop name::description::MemberNickname1,MemberNick2
4. Scroll to the bottom and click "Save User Preferences"

Note: The iGrOOp administrators will be able to see all subgroops and access content, unlike the private messages.

The format explained.

• If you enter a "*" (without the quotes) before the subgroop name, you are setting the subgroop as a one-way communication subgroop.  This means that only you, the subgroop starter, will have the option of sending messages via e-mail to the group members.  Other members in the group will still be able to post to the web forum, but will not be able to send their posts to the e-mail list.
• The subgroop name is a simple name containing only letters, spaces, and/or numbers that represents what your subgroop is about.
• The description is a detailed description of your subgroop.  Remember that only members of your subgroop will read this description.
• The member list is a coma separated list of iGrOOps nicknames (case sensitive) that are part of your list.  Make sure you have the nicknames spelled correctly using the correct case. 

To send a message to your subgroop:

1. Within your iGrOOp communication system, click on the "show forum categories" link.
2. At the end of the listings, all of the subgroops that you have started and that you are a member of will be listed.  Click on the subgroop name where you want to post a message.
3. Post a message just like you would any other forum or private message post.
4. Depending on how the subgroop is setup, you may be able leave the "post on forum only" box unchecked -- this will send an e-mail with your message to all the members of the subgroop (NOT the entire iGrOOp).

Some extra points to consider:

• Subgroops can be abused if members use them to send unwanted messages to other group members.  Spamming can be grounds for having a membership canceled.
• Administrators will not be notified for each post made within a subgroop, just like private messages.  Unless the administrator is part of the subgroop.
• By default, posts will be e-mailed out to all members of the subgroop.  Check the "post on forum only" box to NOT have the message sent via e-mail.  If you do not see this option, the starter of the subgroop has made this a one-way list and you do not have the option to have your posts e-mailed to the subgroop.
• If you change the name of the subgroop after posts have been made, you need to notify your iGrOOp administrator and ask him/her to move the posts to the new name FIRST.