Link to Groups.io

Using groups.io

groups.io ...
​... is used by Pi members to share information, help each other, and request assistance. groups.io is an online service that supports both interactive email and posting to the Pi's groups.io pages. Between meetings, groups.io is where all the Pi action happens, and it is your direct line for technical assistance. Click here to learn more about what groups.io has to offer Pi members.

This page will show you how to:

• Create a groups.io account
• Log into your groups.io account
• Request access to the Pi pages on groups.io
• Access and navigate the Pi pages on groups.​​
• Search groups.io for topics of interest
• ​Start a new groups.io Special Interest Group

Using this information as a How To Guide:
​Keep this page open in one tab (or window) of your browser and open groups.io in another tab. You can then easily switch back and forth from the steps outlined below to the groups.io pages where you can see what we are talking about or follow along to accomplish what you want to do.

Create a groups.io account:

1. If you already have a groups.io account for one or more other organizations, login to your account and request access to the pi pages (see the two procedures below). Otherwise,...
2.  If you don't have a groups.io account, click to go to applepi.groups.io/register.
3. Enter the email address to use for your groups.io account. This email can be different than the email you used for your Pi Join It account, but we strongly suggest you use the same email for both to avoid future confusion.
4. Enter the password you want to use for the groups.io account you are creating.
5. Click CREATE AN ACCOUNT.​

Log into your groups.io account:

1. Click to go to groups.io/login.
2. Enter your groups.io email address and password.
3. Click LOG IN.​

Request access to the Pi pages on groups.io:

1. Click to go to applepi.groups.io/g/main.
2. Click APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THIS GROUP. Note: you only need to do this once. After your request is approved, you will receive an email notification to your Pi account email address (the one you provided to Join It). This approval may take a day or two.
3. You will now be able to access the Pi pages in groups.io. See the next procedure.​

Access and navigate the Pi pages on groups.io:

1. Click to go to applepi.groups.io/g/main.
2. If your name appears in the top right of the page, go to step 4.
3. If your name does not appear, click LOG IN to log in with your groups.io email and password. A locally stored cookie should keep you logged into the site unless you specifically log out.
4. This is the main Pi page in groups.io. You can return to this page my clicking HOME. The primary locations on this page are described below. Click on each section to go there. Clicking HOME will return you to the main Pi page.
   1. SUBSCRIPTION: The Subscription area is where you can set your preferences for how you are notified about messages that are posted. Various options are available for importance and frequency. 
   2. MESSAGES: Here you can view the topics (information, questions, answers) posted by Pi members. You can view by Topic, which keeps all messages for that topic together, or you can view by message which presents all posted messages in chronological order. If you have selected a subgroup (see below), only the messages for that subgroup will be displayed.
   3. NEW TOPIC: Click here to post a new discussion topic or to ask a question of Pi members. If you have selected a subgroup (see below), your new post will only appear in the messages for that subgroup.
   4. SUBGROUPS: The Pi pages in groups.io include several Subgroups which you may optionally join. Click here to learn about them and request to join the ones that interest you.
   5. YOUR GROUPS (in the top banner): Click here to see all of the your groups.io affiliations, including the Pi. Any Pi subgroups you have joined will also be shown. Select Washington Apple Pi to go to the main Pi page. Select a particular Pi subgroup to switch from the main Pi area to the groups.io area for that subgroup. 
   6. CALENDAR: Click this section to display a calendar of Pi events or, if you have switched to a subgroup, the events for that subgroup.
   7. DIRECTORY:Click this section to display a directory of the Pi members. If the Directory doesn't display, you will receive a message that you need to change your Profile Privacy to "Other Members of Your Group." The message will contain a link to allow you to easily do this. We encourage all Pi members to use this setting. It will allow you to, right from the Directory, email other Pi members and others to email you.  

Search groups.io for topics of interest:

1. Click to go to applepi.groups.io/g/main/topics. This is the Messages page of the main Apple Pi area.
2. Type the topic you are searching for in the Search field at the upper right of the page. Enclose search terms of more than one word in quotation marks. For example, you might search for M2, "iPhone 16", "chat notes", "stage manager", or HomePod.
3. Hit Return or click the magnifying glass icon next to the Search field.​
4. This will search the main Pi area. To search only within the postings for a subgroup, switch to that subgroup (see above Your Groups procedure) and then submit your search.

Start a new groups.io Special Interest Group:

1. Send an email to the Pi President proposing your idea for a new Special Interest Group (SIG).
2. Optionally, for priority consideration, authorize an electronic transfer of 100 Bitcoin to the Pi.
3. Be alert, this request could very well be interpreted as your volunteering to be the discussion leader for the SIG.