This post will give some basic tips on how to post... And perhaps some advanced stuff later. If you have more tips, please add them after this post! (I'll then edit this first post to incorporate your suggestions...)
How To Have The Forum Remember Your Preferences
As you log in, click on the "Remember Me?" button. Then, don't log out! The forum will then remember all your preferences, even if you turn your computer off and on again later... (And you won't have to bother logging in again - it will be automatic!)
(It's best to do this only on your computer at home or at your office. Better not to do it, though, when you're on a public computer - such as at a library or at an internet cafe.)
This can save you a lot of time logging in and out!
Most Important Rules of the Forum
There are only a couple simple rules... Which are:
- No insults or personal attacks.
- No blatant ads.
However, adding a "signature" to the end of your post (with a promotional link) is okay and encouraged as long as you don't abuse it!
The most blatant abuse is the drive-by post, also called the "me too" post. Usually new people will try this, they will post several short responses, mostly of the "I like" or "me too" variety and leave their signature links. This will get your signature deleted until you participate more in the forum.
Basic Stuff
How To Post A New Thread: On the main forum page
http://www.sowpub.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=2 , you'll see a button near the top that says "New Thread". Just click on that. Note:
You do not have to register in order to post!
However, if you post without registering, you can't use the "name" of a registered user. (If you are already a registered user and want to post without logging in, just add a period "." to the end of your name, or alter it in some small insignificant way.)
How To Reply To A Post: At the end of the post you want to reply to, you'll see a button which says "Quote". Just click on that! (Your post will include a quote from the post you're replying to.) Alternatively, if you want to just make a general reply to the thread, at the end of the thread you'll see a button which says "Post Reply" which you can use.
How To Send An Email/Private Message (PM) To Other People On The Forum: To email/PM someone, find one of their posts, and click on their name near the top of their post. You'll see some options "pop up" - among those options you can choose to send them an email or private message. Click "Save Changes" at the end of the page when you're done. (You must be a registered user and logged in to use this feature, and this will only work to send email/private messages to other registered users who have agreed to accept them.)
How To Be Able To Receive Emails/Private Messages: You can only receive emails and/or private messages from others if you have these features enabled. To enable them, log in, then go to "User CP" (near the top left of most pages). Then click on "Edit Options". There, you can select your options for receiving emails and/or private messages. Click "Save Changes" at the end of the page when you're done. (You have to be a registered user to receive emails and/or private messages.)
AOL Users: If you use AOL, you may have to check the "Remember Me?" box when logging in, to be able to use all the features. (You'll find the "Remember Me?" box next to where you enter your log in details.)
How To Get Email Notifications Of New Posts: You can get email notifications of all new posts! First, you have to be registered (it's free), and logged in. Then, while you're in a forum, click on "Forum Tools", and select "Subscribe to this Forum" from the drop-down box. You can then choose to get daily or weekly updates by email. Every email also contains an "unsubscribe" link if you ever want to stop receiving the notices.
More Advanced Stuff
What To Do If You Forgot Your Password or Username: Go to
http://www.sowpub.com/forum/login.php?do=lostpw,
put in the email address you used when you registered, and it will email your username and you can "reset" your password. (If you can't access that email address any more or have some other problem, email me at
[email protected] .)
How To Create A "Signature": A "signature" is some text that is automatically added to the end of your posts. It can link to your web site or contain a humorous or promotional message. To create a "signature", log in, then go to "User CP" (near the top left of most pages). Then click on "Edit Signature". There, you can create or modify your "signature". Click "Save Changes" at the end of the page when you're done.
How To Create A Poll: You can create polls when you're starting a new thread. Click on the "New Thread" button. There, you can write your post to help introduce your poll. At the end of the page, you'll see a check box which says "Post a Poll", and you can select how many items you want in your poll. Check that box to post a poll. Then click the "Submit New Thread" button. The next pages will then prompt you to fill in the different options in your poll.
How To Change Your User Title: If you have registered, you can change your User Title. (The default is "Member".) Log in (if you're not logged in already), then go to the "User CP" link near the top of the page, then click on "Edit Profile". You'll see you can set a "Custom User Title". Click "Save Changes" at the end of the page when you're done.
How To Reply To Multiple Posts At Once: You can actually reply to multiple posts (in the same thread) at once, and quote them all. Make sure you have "Display Mode" set to "Linear Mode" or "Hybrid Mode" (so you see multiple posts in the thread at once). Then, click on the little
"+ symbol near the end of one of the posts (to the right of the word "Quote"). It will turn red. You can click on more than one from different posts. Then, when you push the "Quote" button, you'll be quoting more than one post!
I'll add more as time goes by! Please post any other suggestions you have in this thread... :)
- Dien
