UnionBook: Help!

Almost certainly you did receive a confirmation email message - but it's probably been caught by your spam filter and is sitting in your junk mail folder. Please check there first.

If you cannot find the email message from us - and you're sure you've entered your correct email address - write to unionbook@labourstart.org and tell us the email address you used in order to register. We'll enable the account manually for you.

2. I want to register, but the system is having problem with the name I'm using. What are the rules about user names?

We're hoping to have this sorted out so that you'll know the rules before trying to login, but in general we strongly recommend that you choose a user name without spaces. So if your name is Groucho Marx, a good user name to choose would be 'grouchomarx'.

3. I registered, I've used the site, but for some reason cannot login anymore.

Maybe you're inputting the wrong password? Maybe your caps lock key is on? If you're sure that everything is working as before, request a new password to be sent to you (click here). When you do this, you'll need to confirm the email message you receive from us (see point 1, above).

4. I want to find out which Groups are available for me to join.

On the menu on top of our screen, click on 'Tools' and then select 'Groups' from the drop-down menu. In the menu on the left side of the page, click on 'All site groups' to see all the groups on UnionBook. This link should also work.

5. How do I create a group?

Click on this link - once you've logged into UnionBook, of course.

6. I've created a group - but cannot find it by seaching. What do I have to do so that my group can be found?

This was a tricky one, but we've found the solution. When you set up a group, there's a field called 'Interests'. Put there all the words you want Search to use to find your group. Separate them with commas. We just did this for the Union Books group. Now if you search for 'books' on UnionBook, you'll find the group.

7. How do I create a blog?

You already have a blog, automatically. All you need to do is to add entries (content). Here's how you do it:

Login to UnionBook.
Select 'Blogs' from the 'Tools' menu on top of the page.
From the menu on the left side of the page, click on 'Write a blog post'.
Write your blog post and save it. That's it, you're done.

8. Find my way through Unionbook?

Take some time to get acquainted with the user interface. You have
several sections where links to the different functions appear:

On the very top, you have links to your own profile (a portrait
shadow unless you have uploaded your own photo), the dashboard where
you can locate the services you use most often, and a drop down
“Tools” menu where you can find quick access to the different
functions. On the right hand, pay attention to the search function
which lets you find people, blogs, groups and more.

In the main window, information and composition will change
according to the function/service you have chosen

Below the main window, there is the spotlight section where you can
find general information on UnionBook.

On the very bottom, you find more links to the most important
functions you presumably will use most often.

9. How do I update my profile - including adding my photo and adding widgets to
the profile site?

Once you are registered as a user, updating your profile is easy:

Make sure you are *logged in* with your user name and password.

Click on the *small icon on the top left* – This is a shadow of a
portrait as long as you have not loaded up your own photo, or your
picture once you have set it. Clicking on the items brings you to
your profile page .

Chose the blue “*edit details*” link to change your profile.

In the “edit profile” section (which opens by default) you can
provide information about yourself – who you are, your interests and
contact details. You can do that extensively or less so – preferring
more privacy or more openness to others as you see fit. You can chose
for every bit of information who will be able to see it – logged-in
Unionbook users, the public, or you yourself only.

- to add your photo, click “edit profile icon” in the grey box on the
left side. *Browse* your computer and *upload* the picture you would
like to use as your profile icon. Make sure the picture is not too
big in order to avoid long loading times. The photo will then appear
in the lower part of the window, where you can click and drag a
square to chose the clipping that will become your actual profile
icon (avatar). Click “*create your atavar*” to save your choice.

*Next, add widgets to your profile page: *

You can let people know what you’re doing on Unionbook by adding
so-called “widgets” – small boxes showing different kinds of activity
to your profile page. To do so,

- Click the grey “*Edit page*” box on the right site of the profile
page.

- Draw the widget you would like to show on your profile page from
the widget gallery to the column where you would like to make them
appear (*click and draw*). Pointing with the mouse over the *small
blue-and-white “i” icon* will provide you with a short explanation
about each widget.

- Don’t forget to *save your changes*.

- After saving, you can also determine, who will be able to see the
respective widget – whether they are private, accessible to all
logged-in users, or public. To do so, click on the “*edit*” link in
the near the widget name.

10. How do I invite my friends to sign up?

The Unionbook network should expand beyond those who are already
subscribed! You can invite your friends to sign up easily:

- Go to the “friends” section of your page – either through the
“friends” link under your photo, or through the link at the very
bottom of the page, or through the “Tools->Friends” link on the top
of the page.

- Chose “Invite Friends” and fill in their email-adresses (separated
by comma) and an invitation message into the respective fields, then
click “Invite”.

11. What's ELGG?

Attentive readers will notice a couple of references to, and links to, Elgg.org.

Elgg is open source software to create a social networking website -- like Facebook or MySpace.

It can be downloaded and installed on any web server, meaning that we can create social networks for our own organizations -- and not rely on hosted services we do not own or control (including Ning).

Elgg is currently in version 1.x and at the time of UnionBook's launch, we were using the very latest version of the software. The largest installation of Elgg currently has over 50,000 participants, so we know that this is tried and tested software -- even if we stumble on the occasional bug.

12. This isn't really ready for prime time, is it?

UnionBook may not feel as polished or complete as sites like FaceBook. There are a couple of reasons for that.

First of all, as we like to say, UnionBook is beta-testing at the moment. In other words, by signing up here, you're helping us find all the bugs and work out all the kinks -- and we appreciate your help and your patience.

Second, we're never going to feel as polished as FaceBook because we're never going to have its 300 employees or $700 million in revenue (most recent estimates).

Everyone's going to find little things they don't like here, or things that could work a little bit better, and we aim to respond to all these issues. But it's also important that we prioritize, and fix the most important things first. We're counting on your help.

13. How can I help UnionBook?

We need the following kinds of help right now:

1. New members. Invite your friends and fellow union members to join. Publicize UnionBook within your workplace and your union.

2. New content. You can help make UnionBook a rich and interesting place. Consider these options:

Publish a blog here.
Upload your photos - especially photos of your union in action.
Create a group - such as a group for your local union. Join existing groups that are relevant to you.
Participate actively in a discussion forum.
Post short messages to The Wire.

Remember that if you want people to see any of these, you have to indicate they are either 'public' or for 'logged in members'.

3. New languages. We need your help to create UnionBook in languages other than English. Please join the Internationalization Group for more information.

4. Speak tech? UnionBook is open source software, running on a LAMP platform. If you know PHP and are willing to help, join our Techies Group for more information.

14. UnionBook isn't Facebook, is it?

Facebook is -- at the moment -- the world's largest social networking platform. With tens of millions of users it aims to be all things to all people. As a commercial enterprise, it also exists primarily to make money. Because of its rapid growth, Facebook has attracted a very large number of software developers who've written many applications that make the site an attractive -- even addictive -- place to send time.

Obviously UnionBook cannot compete with that and we have no intention of competing with that.

Here's what we do that Facebook can't:

1. We're non-commercial -- and that means no paid advertising on our site.

2. We respect your privacy -- which means that we're never going to use your details for commercial marketing.

3. We're owned by, and designed to be used by, trade unionists. So unlike Facebook, we welcome unions to create groups here, to recruit members here, and to campaign here.

If you have a Facebook account, by all means keep it. Use Facebook for the fun things you already may use it for -- such as posting videos of your cat.

But when you want to do your union stuff online, we're working hard to ensure that UnionBook will be the best place for you to do it.

Stuff we're working on

We get lots of requests for changes to UnionBook. We fix lots of things you ask for. Here's a current list of things people have asked us to do and the status of each one. (If we've already made the change, it won't be on this list.)