>>Ok, maybe it can't be done, but maybe it's just semantics too...
>>
>>In the example below, I would like to see only lines 1, 2, 11, 12 and 14. Just the main heading and current top-level posts. Not the original post, or all the ones that fill up my screen each morning. Just the top-level of those I haven't read yet, under each main heading (category?).
>
>Ok, in your previous messages you mentioned you didn't want to see the Categories, indirectly by only saying Forums and first messages of the thread, so I was confused.
>
>Yes, this can be done. If that setting is unchecked, you should get exactly what you want.

No, now I get this:

+ (folder icon) Visual FoxPro 
+ (folder icon) Chatter 

Now I have to expand on the plus sign, and when I do, I see all the messages for that thread from the current one I haven't read down to the last posted. I would like just the top-level messages. They are there once I click on the plus sign, but come with all the other messages too. I'm guessing that it's either all expanded, or none. Sorry if it's not clear, but I have no idea whether I want to look at a forum/category unless I can see the thread title, so I click on it, then I end up seeing all those in the thread that I haven't read yet, not just the top one. If I choose to expand all in the settings, then I see every forum/categories thread messages that I haven't read yet. I know I'm not being clear, but I thought the original example I gave explained it fairly well.