Instructions for group members

A group’s owner might allow members to make changes to the content of their own messages in the message archive (that is, after the messages have been posted to the group).

Group members who are not owners or moderators can edit only messages that they have posted.

! Important: In this situation, edited messages are emailed to all group members automatically. Think carefully about whether you really need to flood other members’ email inboxes with minor corrections such as fixed typos.

To edit the content of a message that you posted:

1. On the group’s website, locate and open the message you want to edit.
2. Click or tap More at the lower right of the message and select Edit Message from the popup menu.
3. On the Edit Message page, make your changes. In addition, it is good practice to include a short note that explains your edits. Enter the note in the text box under the body of the message. That note will be included in the updated message that is sent to the group.
   Note: You cannot change the subject line because it appears in all messages that are in that topic. Only group owners and moderators with the appropriate permissions can change a topic’s subject line.
4. Click or tap the Save And Send To Group button. The edited message is sent to all group members.

In the archive, a blue Edited badge appears next to the message, at the far right under the original timestamp. All group members can click or tap that badge to see the message’s history and, if desired, compare revisions.

Instructions for group owners and moderators

Owners, and moderators with the appropriate permissions, can edit the content of all messages that are in the message archive on the group’s website.

Note: 

• To edit messages before they are delivered by email and posted to the archive, you need to use some form of moderation on members or messages.
• To change a topic’s subject line or hashtags, you need to edit the topic’s properties. See Editing the properties of topics in the archive. 

To edit the content of a message that has already been posted to the group:

1. On the group’s website, locate and open the message you want to edit.
2. Click or tap More at the lower right and select Edit Message from the popup menu.
3. On the Edit Message page that appears:
   • Make your edits to the body of the message.
   • In the text box after the message body, add a brief note about the change.
     Note: This note is optional but recommended so the reason for the change is documented. The note appears in the edited message if you choose to send it to the group by email. The note also can be viewed by members who click or tap the blue Edited badge that appears next to edited messages on the group's website.
4. Click or tap the appropriate button:
   • Save and Send to Group: Use this button if you want to send the edited message to the group by email. The message will include a statement that the message was edited along with the note you entered.
   • Save Without Sending: Use this button if you want to just save the edited message in the archive without emailing it to all group members. A copy will be sent to the original poster.

The message is sent or saved, according to the action that you took. In the archive, a blue Edited badge appears next to the message, at the far right under the original timestamp. All group members can click or tap that badge to see the message’s history and, if desired, compare revisions.