ModTools

THIS PAGE IS BEING UPDATED.

Starting with Modtools

If you're using a phone/tablet, then you should get the ModTools app from the Play Store or iTunes. That will work best, and you'll get notifications when there's stuff to do.

If you're not on a phone/tablet, you can use ModTools from a browser, e.g. Chrome, Edge or Firefox. If you don't have a preference, use Chrome. https://modtools.org/modtools

Getting Set Up

First things first - set up ModTools for you and your community. Select Settings from the left hand menu bar.

You will see 4 tabs/sections for this:

• Personal - these are ModTools setting just for you.
• Community - choose ModTools settings for each community you are moderating, either as an active moderator or a backup. For more information on shortlinks, have a look at Shortlinks.
• Standard Messages - these are a range of template messages that you can use for moderating posts and members on your community.

Substitution strings are used on lots of messages; they are a special terminology you can put in standard messages, which ModTools expands to put in fuller information before it sends a message. For a full explanation of these, have a look at Substitution Strings.

• Bulk Operations - this section will have some actions that you can use - watch this space!

You may like to get going with the basic features offered and once you are confident, come back and edit as you gain confidence or things change. It is also a good idea to review these, say, annually to check that everything is still fit for purpose.

Now your Settings are sorted, you are ready to go. ModTools should be self explanatory on each of the sections/pages, but for some more information and ideas for each of the sections in the left hand menu, there are other sources/pages that can help.

Dashboard

For more information on stats, have a look at Statistics

Messages

If you need extra message templates to deal with any member messages, see Sample Messages for ideas.

Pending

This is where the messages that need moderating arrive, whether generated on the website, email or via Trash Nothing. The red number shows those for groups where you are lead moderator, the blue for those you are back-up moderator.

Approved

The list of all messages on your community/communities.

Review

Messages that are not subject to moderation might have worry words involved, so these are flagged up here for you to review.

Edits

When members edit their approved posts, you can see the edits in this section.

Members

Member Notes gives more information about the facility to add notes to a member's account.

Pending

These members are awaiting your approval to join your community. Here are some reasons why you should consider whether approving members should be your community setting - Pre-approving Members.

Approved

List of all members in your community/communities.

Member Review

This section flags up members who have unusual freegling behaviour. Further information about possible spammer behaviours and present measures can be found here - Spammers.

Chat Review

Chats between members which include worry words or might be spam or scams are diverted for moderation. This allows you to review the messages and to catch anything that might be a concern. Spammers gives more information about spam detection.

Related

These are members who have used the same device for different member accounts. You can merge members who you know have ended up with more than one account within Members>Approved section, but this section automatically detect possibles and lets you send an auto message asking if they wish to merge.

Feedback

See Feedback for more information about this. Member Ratings also has some information.

Misc Moderation

Admins

See Admins for some templates you can use for Admin messages for your community.

Spammers

See Spammers for a full explanation of how the spam system works.

Misc Admin

Help

This takes you to the same place as the 'Us' button. See below here for explanation.

Top Menu

Red/Orange/Green Dot

You will notice that there are different colour 'dots' that appear over the blue home icon at the top left of each page. These dots denote the platform status - just click to see what is happening.

Us

This button on the top menu bar takes you to the Discourse website, where you will find all the national discussion groups. See Central Groups for more detail. All volunteers that are registered on Modtools are given automatic access to Discourse.

Chats

This button will take you to the Chats section. This is where all the emails can be accessed between you and your members, along with other emails from volunteers who work with you on your communities. Each of these chats (other than those you initiated) can be hidden from your view by clicking on the top left downwards chevron on the top right of the chat screen.

Your list of chats is pre-populated with the communities you are on, so you can use those to chat to the other members of your team in ech of them if you wish.

Help and other links

• Questions and help with using ModTools, contact support@ilovefreegle.org
• Questions and observations about ModTools, post on https://freegle.in/tech
• There is a Yahoo Group open to all ModTools users https://uk.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ModTools/info

Other pages that might help:

• Add a Member using Mod Tools
• ChitChat
• Member Chat
• ModTools History