This page refers to the archiving process that iVillage boards went through prior to the March 2003 Message Board Upgrade. Since those archives were moved to our new board software, cruising through them may lead you to wonder how the archives worked in the past. The new boards do NOT archive and all posts stay live. The active topics float to the top of the board.

 Quick Archive Facts

• Boards Archive in the middle of the night ET
• Boards require at least 56 threads on the board to archive
• Always use a cgi-bin url to get to your board to make sure you are at the current board. Check the Profiles page for more information on cgi-bin links
• Check your archived board to make sure the post button doesn't remain. If the post button is still there post a thank you to the archive fairy and a link to the fresh board for your members
• It is good practice to start a clean board off with a roll call. Roll calls should be along the lines of Who is here? followed by a question. Not name/age/sex/location checks.
• A welcome post with basic information about the board, any special rules for the board (such as adding trigger to the subject line in sensitive posts) and helpful links is also a good idea at this time if needed.
  
  

Confusion over archives is common. Part of it is because of the mysterious workings of the archive fairy. She shows up to swiffer your board clean when your board has 56 threads on it by the wee hours. (Currently the archive fairy has been doing her magic around 5:30 am) Fifty-six threads does not mean the top post will necessarily be fifty-six. If you have had threads removed or if there has been some glitch where a number has been skipped…as happens from time to time, the number may say something much higher than 56 and you still won’t archive. Count the threads on the board if you are looking to see if it will archive that night.

Sometimes we get the urge to archive a board right away. It is heavy and slow loading. It is full of discussions we would like to see die. We are just in the mood for fun and silliness. Well that brings me to the next topic: archive parties. I in general DO NOT like them. There are a number of reasons for this. On a topical board, members, especially newbies who have asked a question may come back and not be able to find their post. It may be buried at the bottom. It may have archived. Even if they do find it, they probably won’t find answers because everyone is up at the top of the board playing in the archive party.

Which brings me to another point: archive parties kill serious discussion and good threads. No one wants to drag a board down discussing serious issues when jokes, silliness and noises abound. Don’t be disrespectful of our members who come to our boards for the purpose the board is intended, talking about things that interest them, receiving our support and encouragement for issues that trouble or affect them. That is what community is all about.