Users Guide: How to Use the Board - Updated

[JustAskJulie]

If you are using the Quick Reply mode (the little box at the end of the thread) to reply to a thread and you decide you want to preview your post for a chance to catch spelling/ grammar mistakes or just to easily reread it so that you can see if you left something out. Hit the "Go Advanced" button. That will take you to the full reply box, with all the posting options. But above that will be what you had typed into the "Quick Reply" box. What you had already typed will also still be in the reply box for easy edit.

[JustAskJulie]

We now have Spell Check.... and this time it's not run by religious nazis. you can spellcheck your posts from either the quick reply or the full posting screen. Just look for the icon above the message box to the right and click it.

The first time you use it you may have to download iespell. *This may not work for Macs (but you don't care because you have built in spell check).

[JustAskJulie]

Start a new thread as you normally would. Instead of hitting the first "submit" button, scroll down and you will see several other options including one for posting a poll. Check the box to post a poll and enter the number of options you plan to have in the poll (this can be changed if you need more or less), then hit submit.

You will then be taken to another page that will have you input the poll question and options.

If you want users to be able to select more than one answer to the poll then be sure to check the box next to "allow multiple choice".

If you find after you have submitted the poll that you didn't add an option you should have added, you can go back and edit it later. Just return to the thread and click "thread tools" on the top right of the thread and "edit poll".

[JustAskJulie]

There are two main ways to post a picture. You can include an inline picture (if you have enough posts to have permission to do so) or you can post an image or file as an attachment.

To post an inline picture just click the button above the message box and type in or paste the url of the image.

To post an attachment you must be on the full reply page (or be posting a new thread). To get to the full reply page, click "go advanced" under the quick reply box.

Under the initial "submit reply" option you will see "additional options" one of which is "attach files". Click the "manage attachments" button and from there you can browse into your computer to find the attachment you wish to upload.You can attach up to 3 files to one post. Once you have uploaded all of the files you want to attach just close the window and when you submit your post, the files will be submitted with it.

In MOST cases, files have to be approved before they will be visible to the general viewing, however some forums automatically allow images. So, if you don't see your image with your post right away it is most likely awaiting moderation.

[JustAskJulie]

To add a picture to your profile you must first have a minimum of 10 posts. Once you have reached this minimum the option to "edit profile picture" will be avialable via your User CP.

Please remember that pictures should be no more than R rated.

[JustAskJulie]

You may edit your posts for up to 3 hours after you initially post. We feel that this is sufficient time to allow you to correct any mistakes you may have found in your post, but not so much time that it allows users to come back and change vital information disrupting the entire flow of the thread.

[JustAskJulie]

Any registered user can now add an event to the calendar, however events will be moderated unless you are a Club Host or Moderator. This will allow users to post their own private parties if they wish, but we will still be on guard for spam.

To post your event on the calendar...
Click Calendar on the navigation menu
Click "Add New Event" this will give you a drop down box with 3 options.
"Single / All Day Event" - this is for events that are happening just one time on one day. ie. you are having a party this saturday (or whenever but it is not going to span multiple days nor is it going to be repeated every week).
"Ranged Event" - this is for events spanning multiple days (ie. a party that starts on Friday and goes through Sunday or a week long trip).
"Recurring Event" - this is for an event that occurs regularly (ie. every friday, first Saturday of every month, etc).

Select the appropriate option and then input the information for your event.

[JustAskJulie]

When replying to a thread sometimes you may want to quote a bit from a previous post (or posts) in the thread.

To quote just one post, click the "Quote" button at the bottom of the post you wish to quote. Then from the reply box edit the thread you are quoting to only show the part of the post you wish to quote.

If you want to quote multiple posts in a thread, you can now do so easily. Under each post that you want to quote, click the button that looks like quote marks. You will need to click this on EACH post you wish to quote. Then once you are ready to post your reply click the "reply" button at the bottom left of the thread. This will open the advanced editor with each post you wanted to quote already included in the reply box. Again, edit the quotes to show just hte parts of the posts you want to quote.

[JustAskJulie]

You can also use Multiple Quotes to quote posts from different threads. Click the button on the posts you wish to quote, go to the next thread and click the button again on any other posts you wish to quote. When you are done click the "go advanced" button or the Reply button at the bottom left of the thread you wish to post in, or start a new thread. Underneath the box where you type your post you will see a message that says that you have additional posts to quote and asking you waht you want to do with them. You can either include those other posts or remove them from your saved list. If you do nothing they will remain to use/quote later.

[JustAskJulie]

We have Buddy Lists and Ignore Lists and you can add people to either one.

The Ignore List is for users whose posts you wish to not see. So if someone really annoys you and you just don't want to see their posts add them to this list.

The Buddy list is for your friends and those that you communicate with a lot on the board. Your buddy list will give you easy access to see when they are online and to send them PMs.

You can also access these lists and add people directly by going to your User CP then on the left side scroll down and near the bottom you will see a link for "Buddy/Ignore Lists". From there you will see everyone already in either list and you can uncheck them to remove them, and you will see a textbox to enter the name of someone you want to add to either list.

Other uses for buddy lists are so that you can easily see when your friends are online, or easily send PMs to people you communicate with often. You can open your buddy list in a popup anytime by clicking on "Quick Links" on the navigation menu then "Open Buddy List". From that popup you can easily see which of your buddies are online and/or send a PM to one or more of your buddies.

[JustAskJulie]

Blogs are a recent addition to the board. Each user has their own blog and controls who can read it and respond to it. You can use this to record whatever you'd like - to share your own personal experiences or to keep a daily journal or anything you like.

Your blog can be made public (for all to view), private (only you can view it), friends only (only those on your buddy list can view it), or public except for those on your ignore list. You also control who can comment to your blog and whether or not comments are posted automatically or if they are screened by you prior to being publicly visible. (Obviously, if someone doesn't have permission to view your blog they won't be replying to it).