Frequently Asked Questions about Modbee.com

Q. I am having trouble with registration - what gives?

A. Our site has two levels of registration, one for subscribers to the print edition of The Bee and one for non-subscribers. Both levels allow for access to all news and advertising content on our site, but the subscriber-members get access to expanded archives and other premiums.

Q. I am a subscriber, but I can't activate my account.

Many times trouble in activating accounts arises from a misspelling in our system, whether of your last name or your street address. A couple of tips that might help include:

Enter only your street number and street name. Leave off any words like 'Drive,' 'Street' or 'Way,' or their abbreviations.
If your street is commonly misspelled try to use that incorrect spelling. For example, if you live on Wildwood Drive but it is often spelled as "Wild Wood" try that.
If you get The Bee delivered at a business the process becomes more tricky. The first and last name fields when a business name is used are not always logical. It might be best to contact us for help at the e-mail below.

If none of these work, send an e-mail to webstaff@modbee.com and one of our staff will help get your account straightened out.

Q. What is the best way to conduct a search of your site?

A. Use the search bar at the top of any page on the site and make sure it's set to search modbee.com. Start with the most specific information you have. For example, if you know the headline, use that. If not, but you know the name of someone in the story, use that, especially if that person is not often in the paper. For best results, put the term you're searching for in quotation marks, as in "Barney Fife" or "McHenry Museum."

Do NOT enter dates as a search query. You will not get the results you want.

Q. Where are the long-term archives?

A. We have two types of archives, current and long-term. For most searches, the current search function is all you'll need. Look for the search bar atop most pages on the site, directly below the main navigation bar. Most local content stays live on the site for a minimum of three months and often as long as a year. National and international stories from our wire services disappear within a week or two, and some within 24 hours. Enter your search term in the search box and hit submit, and you'll be shown a results page with the most recent stories on top. SUGGESTION: Enter your search term in quotations - e.g., "Ronald Reagan" or "Ernest T. Bass" - and you'll get much more accurate results.

If you need stories from farther back, we have an expanded archive at http://www.modbee.com/archive/ that contains stories dating back to 1989. Searching this archive is free, but there is a minimal fee to download each story. If you have trouble, please call the Information Center at (209) 238-4514.

Q. What if I want to find a story before you established your online archive system?

A. You can contact either our BeeSearch Library service by calling 209-238-4514, or check with the Stanislaus County Library in Modesto. They have all of our past newspapers archived on microfilm.

Q. Why can't I find the story or photo I saw in The Bee on modbee.com?

A. The majority of local content published in The Bee (stories, photos, etc) are on modbee.com on a daily basis. However, we generally do not publish wire stories from the printed paper. Instead, we provide continuously updated wire feeds accessible through various parts of the site. In general, wire stories appear on the site well ahead of print publication.

Q. What browser should I use to view modbee.com?

A. The site will support versions 6.0 and higher of all modern browsers. Users of older browsers or users with AOL browsers may not experience the look and feel of the site as we've intended but won't miss out on any content.

To get the most out of modbee.com and other Web sites, we recommend downloading the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox.

Q. I logged on to modbee.com, and the stories were all from a few days (or weeks) ago. What's wrong?

A. You need to clear your browser's cache. The method for doing this varies depending on your browser version and your operating system, but is most often accomplished by holding down the SHIFT key on your keyboard and clicking the RELOAD/REFRESH button on your browser. If this doesn't work, check your browser's Help menu. After clearing your cache, reload Modbee.com to get the current content.

Q. How do I advertise on modbee.com?

A. We offer a variety of online advertising opportunities, including banner advertisements, Web site creation and products for specific markets, including car dealerships, apartments and new homes. For online rate and product information, contact online sales manager Josh Bower at 209-578-2060.

Q. How do I place a classified ad on modbee.com?

A. All classified ads published in the print edition of The Modesto Bee are posted online for a modest charge. For more information on placing a classified ad, call (209) 521-7777. You can also place a classified ad using our online order system 24-hours per day.