¿ªÔÆÌåÓý


Re: How do I know if a member is reading our content

 

If you have a free group with limited membership, and perhaps a waiting list, you would want those on the list to participate or leave so that others can join.
?
Steve M?


Re: Owner locked out

 

Hi Emily,
have a look at the next topic in this group - ?Owner status changed¡° - where Dan reports an almost identical problem. He eventually found out that his provider had made a software change, basically setting up an experimental VPN connection, which caused a loss of owner rights for some of his groups. I suggest you contact him to find out if you both maybe have the same provider.
Kind regards
Thomas


Re: How do I know if a member is reading our content

 

Barry
?
Another way is if someone ¡°likes¡± a post.?
?
We have 1,254 members, of which probably 25 actively post.?


Re: How do I know if a member is reading our content

 

On Sun, Feb 16, 2025 at 05:47 AM, Barry wrote:

I have 20 or more relatively new members (in the last 12 months say) who
generally do not contribute. How do I know whether they are even reading our
content or otherwise ?
You don't - unless they happen to reply

Its always the same people who contribute (give or take a little)
That's how it usually is, so what? Nobody likes to see the inbox filled with inane messages from dozens or hundreds of people.

groetjes/?is, Ronaldo


Re: How do I know if a member is reading our content

 

Why is it any business of yours if they are reading messages?? Is there a requirement for membership in your group to participate publicly?


?>....doesnt show when a member reads content only if they ever contribute


_._,_._,_


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Damn, I think by now I think we've all seen your replies. Like I said previously, I am glad that it's all working.

On Feb 15, 2025, at 4:06?PM, Dan Lepinski, P.E. via groups.io <Dan@...> wrote:

Joseph (and everyone),
?
We don't have a "Premium" account because the Groups sites under discussion are for a non-profit organization with a very small annual budget.? (Emphasis on "small").? I provide my time as a volunteer, as do others.
?
Please see my post that preceded this one.? The problem turned out to be some experimental VPN software downloaded by my provider into our modem yesterday.? We learned a flaw in their code affects a tiny fraction of websites.? Unfortunately, Groups.io was one of them, and I just happened to be the first to experience it.? My provider has deactivated the software in our and other modems.? I'm now able to log in normally, and am shown as "Owner" on all four sites again.? Why this affected Groups.io, and why only two of the four groups sites?? I don't know.? However, this issue has caused my provider to cease their testing until the cause can be found and corrected.? They also promised not to download any more firmware into our modem without first informing their customers.
?
Regards to all,
?
Dan
?


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Wow, I'm glad that your provider was able to help you fix this problem. I would never think of a provider doing some testing and then having a simple glitch. I don't know who you use is your provider, but I hope they never do that to me here. As I like being able to approve members via the web and do other things via the web when I have to do anything with the site.

On Feb 15, 2025, at 3:53?PM, Dan Lepinski, P.E. via groups.io <Dan@...> wrote:

The more people commented they are (and were) not affected, the more convinced I became this was something that involved and impacted only me.
?
Since by the process of elimination I'd ruled out my own hardware and software, I took the next logical step in the analysis process.
A few moments ago, I got off the phone with the tech support dept for my upline provider where I'd spent nearly a hour working with them to get this resolved. ?Turns out they are (or were) trying to implement a form of embedded VPN, and are using selected customers as guinea pigs. ?Problem is, they didn't tell their customers, including me. ?After some troubleshooting, it was determined that data streams for certain URLs are getting fractionally corrupted by their experimental VPN software. ?The flaw affected a fraction of sites, but not most others. ?Why there should be a difference with Groups.io groups, I don't know. ?Neither does my provider. ?They turned the function off on my end (it's firmware they downloaded into the modem), and as of a few minutes ago, I've regained normal "Owner" status on all four of my sites with no changes on my end.
?
The tech wizards at my provider don't know how this experimental VPN firmware was causing the problem I described, but whatever it is .. Groups.io servers and/or software interpreted the data in a manner that caused the inconsistency I described.
To be candid, I'm not sure Mark could have figured it out because the issue occurs at a deep level within the code, and perhaps at the server level either at the Groups.io site, or somewhere between. ?My provider's test code was downloaded into my modem yesterday. ?As we all know, Microsoft is infamous for bugs in their code. ?This one was at my provider's end, not with MS, and it affected all of my systems regardless of the operating system or browser.
?
Clearly this issue has stopped my provider from conducting any future testing until their glitch is corrected. ?They promised to tell me next time they try again, if ever.
?
I will send an update to the Groups.io support e-mail and let them know this has been resolved.
?
Thank you all for your input, comments, and suggestions.
?
Dan
?


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Something that is missing, if you guys wanna check this out, we don't even need his password. Wicked send his email address a login link, and all he's gonna do is forward it to us and then we could click on it and look in his account. That is the much more simpler way of doing it. Because you're gonna get the same results. This is what I do, whenever I have to help somebody who needs help with the site. It's much more easier that way.

On Feb 15, 2025, at 2:24?PM, Christos Psarras <christos@...> wrote:

Dan,

One thing you haven't mentioned is if you cleared the Groups.io cookies on all the computers and browsers you use(d) so you can (forcefully) start a brand-new fresh session and see if that clears it, if you haven't give that a shot, maybe something incorrect has gotten cached somewhere locally.

Another possibility to help clarify if it's on your local end, temporarily change your groups.io password, find someone trustworthy* outside your ISP area, and let them login as you and see what they get onscreen.
If they get the same strange result then it must be some data corruption in the groups.io database, I doubt code changes would create this type of random weirdness, and the doesn't seem to indicate it could somehow create this.?
If they get the correct result then it has to be something on your end.

Cheers,
Christos

* I can help with that if you want.



How do I know if a member is reading our content

 

I have 20 or more relatively new members (in the last 12 months say) who generally do not contribute. How do I know whether they are even reading our content or otherwise ? Its always the same people who contribute (give or take a little) but our activity tab doesnt show when a member reads content only if they ever contribute - barry?


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Bruce,

The source of the problem has been traced to VPN firmware downloaded into our modem by our local service provider (phone company). The flaw affected a tiny fraction of websites, but not most.? I wasn't aware this firmware had been downloaded by our provider yesterday, and was (according to them) the first to report any issues.? They have since deleted the firmware and restored our modem to normal operation.

No accounts were merged, so that wasn't at issue.? If you have time to go back through what has become more than 20 messages in this thread, you'll find my comments where I conducted rather extensive detective work on my end before reaching out.

Thanks again!

Dan

On 2/15/25 4:24 PM, Bruce Bowman via groups.io wrote:

On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 04:59 PM, Dan Lepinski, P.E. wrote:
Further checking: Two of my four groups still show me as "owner".? One group now shows me as a moderator (not owner), and the 4th group (the one where I need to review messages) now shows me as just a standard "member".? All of my four groups still show up under the "My Groups" heading, and "posting" privileges listed for me in the groups are correct.
If you're sure you're logged in correctly, the only time I've seen this happen is when someone merged two accounts (email addresses). If you didn't do that, I'm at a loss.
?
Since you aren't running a paid group, you might have more luck reporting this as a #bug in instead of sending an email to support. Leaving a group ownerless is theoretically not possible, so if this truly did happen Mark should be able to verify that and not only reinstate you but also head off whatever circumstances allowed it to occur.
?
Hope this helps,
Bruce


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

On Fri, Feb 14, 2025 at 04:59 PM, Dan Lepinski, P.E. wrote:
Further checking: Two of my four groups still show me as "owner".? One group now shows me as a moderator (not owner), and the 4th group (the one where I need to review messages) now shows me as just a standard "member".? All of my four groups still show up under the "My Groups" heading, and "posting" privileges listed for me in the groups are correct.
If you're sure you're logged in correctly, the only time I've seen this happen is when someone merged two accounts (email addresses). If you didn't do that, I'm at a loss.
?
Since you aren't running a paid group, you might have more luck reporting this as a #bug in instead of sending an email to support. Leaving a group ownerless is theoretically not possible, so if this truly did happen Mark should be able to verify that and not only reinstate you but also head off whatever circumstances allowed it to occur.
?
Hope this helps,
Bruce


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý



On 2025-02-15 16:32, Jane Gilman via groups.io wrote:
I am experiencing many of the same problems?since and need help as soon as possible.? I am Owner/Moderator of 3 groups and can't locate the ADMIN button.? It doesn't appear.

More than likely in your case, you're logged in with a different email address than the one who's the owner.

Go to and go to your account settings, on the blue bar at the upper right of screen, is the address shown in there the correct owner one? If not, you need to log out and log back in with the correct address.

Cheers,
Christos


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Thomas,

Your suggestion was well taken.? I've now added a "backup" owner and e-mail address to each of the four groups that I can access from a tablet and its browser, and which works via the phone system.

Thanks!

Dan


On 2/15/25 11:56 AM, Thomas Gruber via groups.io wrote:
Hi Dan,
maybe you can at least fix the group where you are moderator (instead of owner as you were). And ignore the following if you¡®ve already tried that.?
Try this:
click on ?Admin¡° - it should then show the options?
- Pending
- Members
- Activity
- Membership (with sub-options)
- Preferences ?(with sub-options)
?
Click ?Members¡° - it should show the member list. Go though it (or search) to your own account. I assume it will say ?Mod¡° beside the email address.
click on the name - it should show ?User Details¡° and Role ?Moderator¡° underneath. Click on ?Moderator¡° - it should open a list with ?Member¡°, ?Moderator¡°, ?Owner¡°. Select ?Owner¡° - then scroll to the bottom and ?Save¡°.?
I hope the system will allow these actions. That should set you back to Owner status hopefully. Log out and back in to verify that this has worked.
?
If that has worked, and even if not, click on ?Activity¡° under ?Admin¡° and try to find in the log any action from the last few days that could have caused the change of your Owner status. Hopefully that group doesn¡®t have too much activity so that you have a chance to find something.
Good luck!
Thomas
?
-- Dan Lepinski, P.E. Professional Solar Consultant & Electrical Design Engineer ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý the Solar Industry Since 1972 817.884.6081 (cell) Texas License 123654 Texas Registered Firm F-17965 * United States Department of Energy National Building Codes Assistance Project (One of only two engineers selected nationwide for the program.) * Voting Member - UL 1741 / UL 62109 Standards Technical Panel * Voting Member - IEEE 1547 Standards Development Committee * Voting Member - North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Codes Coordinating Committee * Voting Member - North Central Texas Council of Governments Electrical Code Advisory Board * State of Texas Energy Advisory Council Member * State of Texas Contracted Subject Matter Expert on Solar Energy * International Code Council Preferred Education Provider (#2882) Professional Profile: "Scientists investigate that which already is; engineers create that which has never been." ~ Albert Einstein Unless indicated otherwise, all information contained in this message is privileged and confidential. As such, it is intended only for use by the addressee(s) named above, and others who have been specifically authorized to receive it. Correspondence designated as privileged and confidential is subject to all terms and conditions of any Confidentiality Agreements and/or Non-Disclosure Agreements in effect between our respective parties.


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

Joseph (and everyone),
?
We don't have a "Premium" account because the Groups sites under discussion are for a non-profit organization with a very small annual budget.? (Emphasis on "small").? I provide my time as a volunteer, as do others.
?
Please see my post that preceded this one.? The problem turned out to be some experimental VPN software downloaded by my provider into our modem yesterday.? We learned a flaw in their code affects a tiny fraction of websites.? Unfortunately, Groups.io was one of them, and I just happened to be the first to experience it.? My provider has deactivated the software in our and other modems.? I'm now able to log in normally, and am shown as "Owner" on all four sites again.? Why this affected Groups.io, and why only two of the four groups sites?? I don't know.? However, this issue has caused my provider to cease their testing until the cause can be found and corrected.? They also promised not to download any more firmware into our modem without first informing their customers.
?
Regards to all,
?
Dan
?


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

The more people commented they are (and were) not affected, the more convinced I became this was something that involved and impacted only me.
?
Since by the process of elimination I'd ruled out my own hardware and software, I took the next logical step in the analysis process.
A few moments ago, I got off the phone with the tech support dept for my upline provider where I'd spent nearly a hour working with them to get this resolved. ?Turns out they are (or were) trying to implement a form of embedded VPN, and are using selected customers as guinea pigs. ?Problem is, they didn't tell their customers, including me. ?After some troubleshooting, it was determined that data streams for certain URLs are getting fractionally corrupted by their experimental VPN software. ?The flaw affected a fraction of sites, but not most others. ?Why there should be a difference with Groups.io groups, I don't know. ?Neither does my provider. ?They turned the function off on my end (it's firmware they downloaded into the modem), and as of a few minutes ago, I've regained normal "Owner" status on all four of my sites with no changes on my end.
?
The tech wizards at my provider don't know how this experimental VPN firmware was causing the problem I described, but whatever it is .. Groups.io servers and/or software interpreted the data in a manner that caused the inconsistency I described.
To be candid, I'm not sure Mark could have figured it out because the issue occurs at a deep level within the code, and perhaps at the server level either at the Groups.io site, or somewhere between. ?My provider's test code was downloaded into my modem yesterday. ?As we all know, Microsoft is infamous for bugs in their code. ?This one was at my provider's end, not with MS, and it affected all of my systems regardless of the operating system or browser.
?
Clearly this issue has stopped my provider from conducting any future testing until their glitch is corrected. ?They promised to tell me next time they try again, if ever.
?
I will send an update to the Groups.io support e-mail and let them know this has been resolved.
?
Thank you all for your input, comments, and suggestions.
?
Dan
?


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

At this point, I suggest searching for any differences between your two groups that still show you as moderator and the two that don't. Differences could be in the history of the four groups or difference in the flavor of groups-io that the groups are using.
?
The elusiveness of this phenomenon suggests to me that it could be the result of a transient race condition that caused an unexpected change to the state of two of your groups on the groups-io servers. I say this because I saw something like this on a completely unrelated system that my team developed and had us stumped for weeks until a pair of eagle eyes spotted an anomaly in the ordering of events in our internal logs. Since we wrote the code, it didn't take us too long to figure it after we saw it.
?
Just a suggestion.
Best, Marv Waschke


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

Jane Gilman
 

I am experiencing many of the same problems?since and need help as soon as possible.? I am Owner/Moderator of 3 groups and can't locate the ADMIN button.? It doesn't appear. The 2 screens below may be helpful.?







Group Settings.png


On Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 9:08?AM Dan Lepinski, P.E. via <Dan=[email protected]> wrote:

I'm basing it on the following:

In the top menu bar, one of the options is the "Your Groups" drop-down box.? Clicking that drop-down displays the groups of which the user is a member.? All four of the groups I own are listed.

Clicking on a group name opens that selected group, as all of you know.

Then, at the top of the "Menu" column on the left side of the page is the "Home" option.? Two of my four groups still show me as "Owner" with an "Owner" icon immediately adjacent to the "Home" menu option.

Those same two groups also show an "Administration" option as "Admin" in the menu column.

The group in question no longer shows the "Owner" icon next to the "Home" option.? In fact, no icon of any sort is present.? The "Admin" option is also not shown.

To the people asking if I'm logging in with the correct e-mail address ... please note: I've owned these groups since Groups.io was founded.? I'm one of the original members and owners, and own four groups.? I use the same e-mail address for logging into all four of my groups.? If I was logged in with an [otherwise] incorrect e-mail address, it would not show the "Owner" icon for two of the four groups.

Something within Groups.io itself has changed my status.? I am the owner of all four of these groups.? Two of the groups still show the "Owner" icon next to the "Home" option in the menu column.? One of the four groups now shows me as a "Moderator" (with a "Mod" icon) instead of "Owner", and the 4th group doesn't show anything at all next to "Home".

I have changed NOTHING on my end related to Groups.io.? I had to upgrade my operating system on my main computer in the past two days.? When I logged into Groups.io on the updated computer, the aforementioned problems were noted.? Thinking something may have changed, I then used a backup computer with all of the original software and settings that had been working perfectly on Groups.io just hours earlier.? Same result.? Subsequently, it doesn't appear to be anything related to the updated computer.

Please realize I teach computers and the Internet at the Ph.D and post-doctoral levels, and have a reasonably good grasp on how things work in that respect.? This appears something has changed within Groups.io as associated with my accounts.

Dan




On 2/15/25 7:23 AM, Duane via wrote:
On Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 12:59 AM, Dan Lepinski, P.E. wrote:
However, when I log into that group, I'm now at the status of a regular member.? No "owner" privileges.
What are you basing this on?? The more details you can provide, the better we can try to figure out what's going on.
?
Duane
--
Lots of detailed information can be found in the Owners Manual and Members Manual.


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

Mine are almost all legacy groups and all are badged and working as expected

The thing that strikes me is that Dan is the only group owner of the many in this group who is reporting the problem, if it was a global problem, surely everyone would have the problem and not just Dan?

Has anyone else found the same problem?

Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK)

On 15/02/2025 20:20, Frances via groups.io wrote:
On Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 01:28 PM, Dan Lepinski, P.E. wrote:
1) There's been an obscure change in the Groups.io software, that
affects legacy groups,
My groups (6) are legacy. No problems with mine.
Frances


Re: Owner locked out

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý


On 2025-02-15 10:42, Bill Mosca via groups.io wrote:
I recently started using a VPN to connect to the internet. Several sites reported that my password was incorrect. I closed the VPN and I could easily log into the sites that were refusing my password.
_._,_._,_

I would contact that VPN's support about this since it clearly is causing the problem.

Cheers,
Christos


Re: Owner Status Changed #access #groupowner #owner

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Dan,

One thing you haven't mentioned is if you cleared the Groups.io cookies on all the computers and browsers you use(d) so you can (forcefully) start a brand-new fresh session and see if that clears it, if you haven't give that a shot, maybe something incorrect has gotten cached somewhere locally.

Another possibility to help clarify if it's on your local end, temporarily change your groups.io password, find someone trustworthy* outside your ISP area, and let them login as you and see what they get onscreen.
If they get the same strange result then it must be some data corruption in the groups.io database, I doubt code changes would create this type of random weirdness, and the doesn't seem to indicate it could somehow create this.?
If they get the correct result then it has to be something on your end.

Cheers,
Christos

* I can help with that if you want.