Can we have more informative subject lines in the emails that notify profile managers about profile messages?

+33 votes
352 views

The subject lines in the email notifications about profile messages are profoundly uninformative. These messages identify the sender of he message (e.g., "Comment from Ellen Smith"), but not the subject of the message. I wonder if WikiTree could arrange for the messages to include some identification of the topic, such as "Comment on Bishop-1234 from Ellen Smith".

When our only communication with another particular member is about one or two specific profiles, the current subject line is probably adequate to help us identify and follow an email conversation, but it can get confusing when two members intersect on more than a couple of profiles. And when a project profile is receiving messages about a large number of profiles that are of interest to many people (which is why they are managed by a project), things can get pretty crazy -- particularly when those messages go into an email account or a Google Group webpage where messages are grouped by subject line. For example, the Google Group for WikiTree-8 (the New Netherland Settlers Project Account) contains numerous messages that are labeled "Comment from Carrie Quackenbush." All of those messages get grouped together as a single "conversation," although each individual message is probably just Carrie's side of a conversation occurring on a specific profile page (with one or more other members who typically also comment on multiple NNS profiles). It is impossible to use the email -- and particularly not the Google Group -- to follow a conversation taking place on the profile.

Changing those subject lines to include the subject of the message (rather than just the name of the sender) would make it a good bit easier for project leaders and other members to follow a conversation.

Previous G2G question on a related topic: https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/308825/could-the-subject-line-on-g2g-comment-emails-be-revised

in Policy and Style by Ellen Smith G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)
Hear, hear!
If this can be done, it would help tremendously.
Especially for project management !
Hi Ellen. That's a good idea and should be easy to add. We'll do it.
Yea! Thank you Chris
{{dancing bear with cymbals}}
Woohoo! Thanks, Chris!
Excellent news! My inbox thanks you, Chris!
Thanks, Chris!

5 Answers

+11 votes
 
Best answer
Hi Ellen,

I'll add this to our improvements list. Thanks!
by Abby Glann G2G6 Pilot (718k points)
selected by Julie Ricketts
I've got this one, Abby. Thanks!
+15 votes
The ones that drive me crazy are the ones headed "Your page on WikiTree".  The sender *could* change the header to something more informative.  And when I reply, I always change it.
by Ros Haywood G2G Astronaut (1.9m points)
The instructions for private messages advise people to change the subject line, but too few people pay attention. But at least you can change those subject lines. That's not an option for notifications of profile messages.
That one drives me nuts and I always change it when I send a PM.
+11 votes
I completely agree.  When you wake up to a full inbox and many of them say "Your Page on WikiTree" or something similar, they get lost in the crowd.
by Emma MacBeath G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
+7 votes
It was a problem for me when I made the original post and even more now that I’m part of several projects. I really hope something can be done. Thanks for bringing it back up, Ellen.
by Debi Hoag G2G6 Pilot (391k points)
+6 votes
Wowza! This improvement has been implemented! I've now had my first sighting of a profile message with the new subject line. Thanks, Chris.
by Ellen Smith G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)
Rats, my most recent emails must have just missed the implementation. I'm not seeing anything yet. What's the old saying about watched pots?
The notification with the new wording has a time stamp (from a Google Group) of 4:51 pm; I think that's Eastern Standard Time.

Ahh, that provided the clue I needed to test it. I posted a comment to a profile page and you're right. "Comment from Debi Hoag" has been replaced by "Comment on WikiTree-32 from Debi Hoag."

That will make threading much more useful.  Thanks Chris!

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